Rather than debut with a mini or full album, RIIZE have blitzed the market with digital singles. While it's nice to promote music more often, I firmly believe that -- during the first year of a rookie's debut -- every song need to be a stone-cold classic. Like... one mega-hit after another to quickly cement their status. This is easier said than done, but RIIZE's wobbly trajectory still worries me.
After debuted with the one-two punch of Memories and Get A Guitar, the group's sound feels in flux. SM Entertainment's throwing whatever they can at the wall, and in the case of Love 119 that comes dangerously close to "NCT b-side" material. The idea of a soft, emotional winter single is smart, but Love 119 doesn't lean far enough in this direction. Instead of the melodic approach suggested by the verses, the track centers itself around a boisterous chant.
What do we do about all this chanting?? I don't automatically hate chanting as a musical approach, but for whatever reason every K-pop group who uses it ends up sounding exactly the same. It's become such a cloying, canned sound. Love 119's chorus would have worked much better with a more nuanced approach -- maybe a softer spoken-word delivery rather than shouting at the top of their lungs. After all, the rhythm is catchy and I like the gentle piano that supports it. Love 119's moody soundscape fits the season well and RIIZE are clearly gifted vocalists, but so far their batting average is frustratingly inconsistent.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
Grade: C+
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