Music Overview: aespa – Wealthy Man

It might merely be my exhaustion with present Okay-pop tendencies talking, however I really feel like companies typically be taught the improper classes from their successes. aespa’s most profitable title tracks have hinged on various ranges of repetition, however ever since final 12 months’s Whiplash it looks like SM Leisure has been on autopilot with the group’s materials, providing retreads of a monotonous track construction wrapped in several musical guises. June’s Soiled Work suffered from this strategy and new single Wealthy Man additionally struggles to interrupt free from its repeated catchphrases.

Judging by any metric, aespa are one of many greatest lady teams on the planet. Nevertheless, songs like Wealthy Man don’t really feel worthy of that title. I dig the observe’s dirty, guitar-infused instrumental, however there are lots of factors the place the vitality drags unnecessarily. That is most evident in the course of the refrain, which deserves a weightier association that will assist distinguish it from the verses. It doesn’t assist that Wealthy Man‘s “la la la” hook is puny and throwaway, barely even attempting to supply an fascinating melodic centerpiece.

As a substitute — as at all times — Wealthy Man depends on charisma. Charisma is superior and the Okay-pop trade has a surplus of it. Charisma can raise a so-so track, however you already know you’re in hassle when even charisma begins to really feel monotonous. Charisma with out the means to channel it looks like a fantastically adorned field holding nothing. I wouldn’t say Wealthy Man is “nothing,” nevertheless it’s a reasonably boring entry into the overstuffed self-empowerment sub-genre. There are solely so many instances you’ll be able to say “I’m a wealthy man” and anticipate your viewers to be enthralled. It’s a complete lot of telling and little or no displaying, which makes the entire train really feel stilted and surprisingly joyless.

Grade: C-