Whereas Astro’s Dream Pt.1 was by no means particularly promoted as a “summer time” album, it’s one of many Ok-pop tasks I most carefully affiliate with the season and was launched simply earlier than considered one of Ok-pop’s most epic summers in 2017. Extra importantly, it’s extremely sturdy and represents a bubbly, ultra-melodic pop sound we simply don’t hear a lot of anymore. It’s a boy group album with actually no shouting in any way. That alone is form of miraculous, proper?
1. Goals Come True
There was a short second when Ok-pop was aping the sunshine, strings-assisted dance sound of in style UK digital act Clear Bandit. This resulted in just a few classics – this track being the head. I feel Goals Come True is just about excellent and I’ve listened to it an insane quantity of instances. The percolating synths that kick off this monitor are like summer time’s herald. From right here, the monitor simply grows and grows till it reaches its euphoric refrain. What a superb style of the thrilling power this album has in retailer for us! Positively considered one of my favourite ever Astro songs.
Score: 9.5
2. Child
On the time of launch, Astro have been coming off an extremely sturdy run of singles, inflicting me to underrate Child at first. The track has since gone on to develop into a private favourite. I like the fizzy synth and laidback groove. It’s punchy with out being too in-your-face and – as all of Astro’s early work – thrives on playful melody. It’s such a joyful sound whereas additionally feeling like a slight maturation from their debut yr.
Score: 9
3. You Smile
We’re bounding from energy to energy with one other pop banger. What I like most about this album (apart from its unbelievable songs) is that it holds collectively as one cohesive sound. This leans extra towards pop/rock, anchored by a stunner of a refrain. The melody right here is sharp as a tack, fully-developed and designed for fast singalongs. This was my “buried treasure” approach again when and I stand by that, despite the fact that I in the end got here to choose Goals Come True. That is nonetheless such a head rush. Why can’t in the present day’s Ok-pop acts harness this sound and power?
Score: 9.25
4. As a result of It’s You
We’re into the album’s first ballad now and… guess what? The ballads are glorious, too! This album is aware of easy methods to deploy its slower materials and bolster it with loads of musical drama. Simply take heed to the pre-chorus of this magnificence! These vocal harmonies are completely attractive and proceed into the confetti-drop bombast of the refrain. That is the way you wring as a lot as attainable from a pop ballad. It’s pure belt-it-out boy band bliss.
Score: 8.75
5. Dream Night time
This album launched in the course of the top of Ok-pop’s tropical tendencies and, wanting again, I notice how a lot I miss these sparkly synth tones. Dream Night time is among the extra generic tracks right here, however the instrumental is filled with so many vibrant tones that it simply shimmers. The varied tempo shifts work very well, significantly as a result of the monitor’s power by no means lags at the same time as we plunge right into a extra subdued second verse.
Score: 8.5
6. I’ll Be There
The nostalgia is robust with this one, because the finger-snap beat and beneficiant melodies recall early-2000’s teen pop. Inside that realm, I’ll Be There is extra “filler b-side” than “standout single,” however that’s tremendous as a part of an album this sturdy. It’s nice and candy, bolstered by some nice performances that give it loads of character. It’s definitely one of many quieter moments on the album however works as a late tracklist temper setter.
Score: 8
7. Lie
We’re onto the second ballad now, and though this won’t be as sturdy because the unbelievable As a result of It’s You, it gives a extra grounded, delicate sound. At the very least, that’s the case till we cost into Lie’s orchestral refrain. What the association lacks in drive it compensates with its ornate theatricality.
Score: 8
8. Each Minute
I like when albums shut with an enormous ol’ banger. Each Minute recaptures the magic of Dream‘s opening tracks, providing a buoyant pinwheel of electro goodness. Chugging percussion echoes this power, presaging the sound Astro would resume in 2022 with their single Sweet Sugar Pop. The track’s two-part refrain is a complete pleasure bomb, recalling related efforts from earlier boy group B1A4, who Astro clearly took inspiration from. That is such a victorious method to finish a no-skip album.
Score: 9