The members of EXO are busy this month, as leader Suho follows D.O. with his own solo release. As has become common lately, he's kicking off promotions with a pre-release track. Cheese keeps things in the SM family, enlisting Red Velvet's Wendy for guest vocals.
This frothy pop-rock track feels as if it would be just as comfortable in the 70's as it is today. There's a classic appeal to its piano-led instrumental that sounds unlike anything else in EXO's discography. Paired with a stronger set of melodies, this could have forged a very fun pastiche. After all, we don't hear soft rock influences in K-pop very often. When Cheese's guitar solo comes in before the final chorus, we get a hint of how the song might sound if it fully surrendered to the eccentricities of its inspirations.
Cheese's best melodic moment happens during verse two, when Wendy first appears. Her vocals glide in here, perfectly matching the insistent beat and piano chords. Suho soon joins in, bringing a nice harmony that lasts through the second chorus. But too much of Cheese's songwriting doesn't feel adventurous enough. It's stuck at a "7" when the instrumental wants to push it to a "10." It's a fun, offbeat pre-release that simultaneously feels like a missed opportunity.
Hooks | 7 |
Production | 8 |
Longevity | 8 |
Bias | 8 |
RATING | 7.75 |
Grade: C+
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