New JYP Leisure J-pop group NEXZ made their debut in Korea earlier this 12 months with the unremarkable Experience The Vibe. Now they’re again with a fast follow-up (and their official Japanese debut) within the type of jubilant pop observe Maintain On Shifting. NEXZ are clearly tackling a lighter sound than a lot of JYP’s male acts, and that offers them a pleasant area of interest to pursue additional. Maintain On Shifting is a step in the suitable course, however the group may nonetheless profit from a extra idiosyncratic contact.
My largest problem with Experience The Vibe was its must always interrupt its groove with rhythmic modifications that did little to determine momentum. Maintain On Shifting solves this problem, bopping alongside a constant burst of power that fits the group nicely. It’s a buoyant, toe-tapping association that ought to have been launched on the onset of the summer season season. Stabs of synth give the refrain further heft, serving to to cowl a comparatively inert sequence of melodies.
Whereas Maintain On Shifting is satisfying and enjoyable, it’s nonetheless too generic to offer NEXZ the sonic calling card they want. With none actual quirks or surprises, the music feels extra like a boilerplate boy group cliché than an plain standout. There’s undoubtedly an area for this type of music, however I’ve but to listen to a convincing argument for NEXZ’s place within the pop market. What are they bringing that we will’t hear elsewhere?
| Hooks | 8 |
| Manufacturing | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
Grade: B-