Buried Treasure: Xdinary Heroes – Night Of Fireworks

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.

Until now, I don’t think I’d listened to an Xdinary Heroes album more than once all the way through. I’m not sure what happened, but the material on their just-released Troubleshooting finally clicked with me. I don’t want to rob them of their individuality, but this new material feels like an ideal entry point for those of us who are longtime DAY6 fans. Its overall sound seems to blur the lines between the two bands.

I really enjoy the 80’s hair metal pastiche Money On My Mind, but my favorite track comes right at the end of the album. Night Of Fireworks is a sonic shift for Xdinary Heroes — a little softer but no less anthemic than their best material. The percussion has a surprising brittleness, giving the track a different texture than most. But when it comes down to it, I’m all about melody so my favorite aspect of Fireworks is its chorus. I just love the structure here. It sweeps in with a sentimental sound, coasting downward in unexpected fashion. The guys sound confident and unguarded, adding plenty of heart to the performance. It’s not nearly as punchy, but the song would pair nicely with DAY6’s megahit Time Of Our Life.

Grade: B+