Since their Japanese debut in 2020, Stray Youngsters have amassed a moderately massive J-pop discography. JYP Leisure has all the time been good at protecting a number of markets fed, and Stray Youngsters’ self-producing standing ensures a sure stage of continuity between their multi-language catalogs. New single Hole hails from their upcoming third Japanese mini album and sees them taking over a extra melodic strategy.
It’s robust with Stray Youngsters as a result of I typically discover myself wishing they’d lean extra into melody and dispatch with the (typically gimmicky) shout-chanting that characterizes a lot of their tracks. But, once they do go for one thing softer like Hole, the melodies not often hit with me. Hole has a considerably colorless palette, fusing gritty synth to a mid-tempo beat that feels plodding regardless of moments of liftoff. Every aspect, from the instrumental to the vocals, is smothered by this hazy mattress of filters that drains character from the monitor. This makes it laborious for any particular person piece to interrupt by means of and absolutely seize consideration.
Manufacturing apart, Hole is kind of workmanlike in its strategy. Every little thing about it’s relentlessly high-quality, from the requisite rap verse to the biking construction of the refrain. Nevertheless, all of it feels flat to me. It’s like a placeholder single — one thing the group was contractually obligated to ship with no actual ardour or aptitude behind it.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7 |
Grade: C-