Since their Japanese debut in 2020, Stray Youngsters have amassed a moderately giant J-pop discography. JYP Leisure has at all times been good at holding 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 up a extra melodic method.
It’s powerful with Stray Youngsters as a result of I usually discover myself wishing they’d lean extra into melody and dispatch with the (usually gimmicky) shout-chanting that characterizes a lot of their tracks. But, after they do go for one thing softer like Hole, the melodies hardly ever 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 ingredient, from the instrumental to the vocals, is smothered by this hazy mattress of filters that drains character from the monitor. This makes it onerous for any particular person piece to interrupt by and absolutely seize consideration.
Manufacturing apart, Hole is kind of workmanlike in its method. Every part about it’s relentlessly nice, from the requisite rap verse to the biking construction of the refrain. Nonetheless, 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-