NewJeans are spoiling fans with back to back releases of double A-side singles. Last month gave us Bubble Gum and How Sweet, while June promises Right Now and Supernatural. And if you're one of the many NewJeans faithful, you'll be happy the group has stuck with their trademark, lighter-than-air sound.
On the plus side, songs like Right Now are trendy and perfectly slot within our streaming, playlist-centered lifestyle. Like most songs since their debut era, this is very smooth, very easy listening. Familiar elements abound, from the shuffling percussion to the flattened, repetitive melody lines. And as expected, Right Now is in and out in just over two minutes.
This time around, the production rests heavily on drum and bass. If I'm being extra critical, I've become more convinced that NewJeans' sole intent is to see how many sub-genres they can drain all the life from. Next up will be Supernatural's take on New Jack Swing... so we'll see how that goes. If I'm being charitable, the group has managed to twist a variety of genres to their own musical landscape, resulting in a sonically cohesive discography even as individual songs experiment with different sounds. Right Now's particular experiment isn't for me. It feels more like an extended interlude than a fully fleshed out idea and I don't like how the already-subdued energy plummets midway through. But really, this is business as usual for NewJeans. If you're already a fan, you'll probably enjoy it. If you're less convinced by their take on post-PinkPantheress pop, Right Now will do nothing to win you over.
Hooks | 7 |
Production | 8 |
Longevity | 7 |
Bias | 7 |
RATING | 7.25 |
Grade: C
No comments:
Post a Comment