With Kai serving his obligatory army enlistment, it’s been simply over two years since I’ve gotten to write down about considered one of his solo singles. However now that he’s again, he’s wasted no time entering into the studio. A brand new mini album is on the best way with pre-release Grownup Swim tiding us over within the meantime.
This isn’t honest to Kai in any respect, however I typically crave one thing totally different from his solo music. The world is so quick on a sure type of virtuosic male popstar that dotted pop music’s previous. I’m pondering Michael Jackson, Prince, George Michael, Usher — or in Okay-pop phrases, Taemin. It’s rather more frequent for these acts to embrace a moodier, vibier sound that feels intentionally modest. To me, this merely belies their expertise. Such is the case with Kai and Grownup Swim. The track appears aimed for max virality, hinging on a spoken-word, catchphrase hook that actually anybody repeat. That’s the factor, although. I would like popstars to ship work that I can’t replicate. That’s the enjoyable in being a fan!
Even by these requirements, Grownup Slim is sort of slight. Past its mumbled hook, the monitor presents a muted verse over percussion that’s feeling increasingly more generic inside SM Leisure’s latest output. The melodies are so-so, killing time however by no means providing fascinating turns or prospers. Grownup Swim begins to select up towards its finale, however even right here the track depends on clipped, repetitive hooks that don’t elicit a lot of something. In one other world, this type might be repurposed into one thing hypnotic and compelling. However for as thrilling a performer as Kai is, Grownup Swim is doing little or no for me. Possibly SM ought to have spent his enlistment time crafting the most important, greatest comeback track they might discover.
| Hooks | 6 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7 |
Grade: C-