ZEROBASEONE's jubilant Sweat premiered a few weeks too early to fully capitalize on the summer season, but offered a taste of the upbeat energy the group would pursue on their new album. Title track Feel The Pop retains an upbeat sense of joy, but tempers the intensity by returning to the muted palette of their debut In Bloom.
Yep, we're back to the drum-and-bass, UK garage influence that became a big trend last year. This sound already feels a bit overplayed, but a strong song could give it legs. Feel The Pop plays around with its production here and there. Its second verse is particularly engaging, as a few interesting synth textures punctuate the percussion. But when it comes to melodic hooks, the song fall short.
This is often where modern K-pop struggles. It's like building an ornate structure atop shaky foundation. Feel The Pop is glitzy and brisk, but the the song feels slight (and even worse... kind of annoying). I'm not a fan of the lounge-style approach to the melodies. "Easy listening" has become a buzzword in K-pop and seems intent on robbing these tracks of their gutsy ambition. Feel The Pop unfolds like a catchy jingle, insistent and repetitive but with a soft filter thrown over the whole thing. Its sound and execution isn't for me.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
Grade: C
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