Buried Treasure: VERIVERY – Way To Zero

A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve. VERIVERY just released an all killer, no filler mini album. Even title track Don’t Panic, which I had a few quibbles about earlier in the week, benefits from this strong context to stand as a highlight. However, I’m more excited about the tracks that take a retro synth approach. I’m a big synth guy. There’s just so much you can do with sounds and textures when it comes to synth. Because of this, I get frustrated by the way K-pop recycles the same tones over and over when there’s such a vast array of possibilities at their fingertips. I mention this because the synths in Way To Zero are a big highlight for me. It’s not that I’ve never heard this exact tone before, but it’s become so rare in K-pop that it feels like a revelation. Add to that a galloping beat and exciting, off-kilter melodies and you’ve got a track that instantly stands out. It’s not as gimmicky as many K-pop title tracks have become, bu...