EXO's soloists each have their own distinct sound, and Chen has become the group's reliable balladeer. He has the voice to match, and his music scratches a certain sentimental itch that has made it a fan favorite. However, it takes a whole lot for a ballad to stand out on my playlist. When I love them, I tend to LOVE them -- but only a few songs occupy that vaulted position.
More often, I find K-pop ballads overly mushy and melodically dull. Empty falls within this category. It keeps the mush at bay, but its melodies and structure don't do much to distinguish it from the many, many tracks already within this space. Chen's vocal is always nice to hear and he imbues Empty with plenty of emotion. But the song never allows this passion to fully break through, stuck within a narrow framework that simply follows the expected notes of a mainstream Korean pop ballad.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
Grade: C-
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