Buried Treasure: Taemin – Crush

A Ok-pop act’s title observe isn’t at all times one of the best track on their album, even when it’s the one most individuals will hear. Typically, b-sides deserve recognition too. Within the singles-oriented world of Ok-pop, I wish to highlight a few of these buried treasures and provides them the props they deserve.

With a (efficiency?) video nonetheless potential for Taemin’s second title observe Horizon, I’m going to carry off on writing about that track for some time and give attention to my different favourite second on his new album. The funky Crush nods most carefully to his work with SHINee and paints him within the ultra-rhythmic famous person mode I really like finest.

From the album sampler, I already knew Crush can be a private spotlight. I simply can’t get sufficient of those retro funk hits, almost certainly because of my early historical past with (and enduring love of) artists like Michael Jackson and Prince. In some ways, Crush remembers SHINee’s 2021 b-side I Actually Need You. The track doesn’t kick up fairly the identical fury, however the guitar-led refrain lays down a equally nimble groove.

Let’s speak about that refrain, as a result of my favourite second in Crush occurs mid-way by its centerpiece when the association beefs up and extra backing vocals add a jolt of concord to the hook. It’s a easy — however very efficient — solution to truss up a comparatively easy melody and requires absolute star energy to totally click on. Taemin is nothing if not star energy personified, and the manufacturing does every little thing it will probably to raise this power.

Grade: B+