Another busy year in K-pop has come and gone. With the constant bombardment of comebacks, title tracks alone can be hard to keep track of. Sometimes though, it’s nice to take a step back from the visuals and dive into the albums — from favorite groups and soloists to artists you’re barely familiar with. Nearly every album has a hidden gem just waiting to be found if we take the time to sit with it.
So, as a fan of listening to something new each morning on my commute, this edition of the SB Mixtape comprises a sampling of my favorite B-sides of the year. Though a little erratic in genre and style, it captures some of the quality we’ve seen this year beyond music show stages.