NCT's Jaehyun pre-released two tracks from his debut solo album earlier this month. I gave both average ratings but never returned to them again. Rather than "good" or "bad," the songs didn't have much effect on me at all. They simply existed -- nice, well-performed and very predictable. Title track Smoke continues this pattern, painting Jaehyun as an R&B crooner but failing to supply him with memorable material.
To be sure, Jaehyun has a great voice for R&B. His vocal performance is credible and engaging, but a pleasant tone only takes a song so far. As its title suggests, Smoke evaporates from memory in real time, laying down a slick groove but struggling to do anything interesting with it. The verses are smooth and atmospheric, yet too generic to stick. The song comes across as "R&B 101," leaving little room for Jaehyun to showcase his unique charms.
Still, these verses are stronger than Smoke's spoken-word chorus. The songwriters punt here, opting for a half-hearted catchphrase. This approach results in a vacuum at Smoke's core. I'm sure the intention is to appear sexy and aloof, and this probably works better in the context of live performances. On record, this chorus simply comes across as noncommittal and dull. It certainly doesn't herald an exciting solo career, making me curious what Jaehyun is seeking to convey in his music.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7 |
Grade: C-
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