Buried Treasure: ZEROBASEONE – Road Movie

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.

I didn’t have elevated anticipation for ZEROBASEONE’s newest album, but it’s quickly become my favorite project they’ve released. There’s not a song I dislike, with Kill The Romeo and Insomnia standing out most on first listen. However, sometimes it’s better to wait a few days before posting a “buried treasure” because late-album track Road Movie has emerged as a big sleeper hit.

On first listen, I don’t think I could get past Road Movie’s predictable chanting. But digging under the hood, this song has a far more interesting structure and execution than expected. Yes, there’s a bunch of that “boy group 101” chant-singing, but the track completely changes during its vocal-forward pre-choruses. These segments have the drama of musical theater, drawing upon the members’ voices in ways no other ZB1 song has yet attempted. The melodies here are strong and beautiful, colliding with the gruff, experimental nature of the choruses in a compelling way. And when the guys do opt for a more NCT-style performance, the instrumental delivers a series of fascinating swerves over sparse production that reminds me of SHINee’s excellent One Minute Back.

I love the way the chorus blends in with the second verse, giving Road Movie far more continuity than you’d think. I’m actually surprised how often I’m returning to this song, especially when it’s surrounded by others that are usually more my style.

Grade: B+