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 don’t want to jinx it, but so far July has been K-pop’s strongest month of 2022 so far. It hasn’t yet borne the kind of 9+ standouts that have me thinking “year-end top ten,” but we’ve gotten a constant stream of solid albums and a few (ENHYPEN, Viviz) that have really grown on me. Super Junior’s The Road: Keep On Going is among these releases, even if it’s only half of a bigger project yet to be completed.

This being Super Junior, we have the expected ballad and groovy mid-tempo. But, the upbeat Everyday is the song that immediately caught my attention. Its blend of gritty power pop guitar and refreshing synths is right up my alley, offering a blast of energy perfect for the summer. Super Junior have always been reliable party masters, bringing heaps of personality to this style of track. Everyday shifts between fast-moving rap verses and anthemic chorus with ease. It’s not some huge artistic statement, but it sure is a lot of fun.

More than anything, Everyday feels like a K-pop track we might have heard back in 2011 or 2012, when maximalist choruses and bright, silly energy trumped the kind of murky mythology we often see today. As members of the K-pop’s older guard, this nostalgic sound suits Super Junior to a tee. It’s satisfying to hear them remain in their element after all these years.