SHINEE’s Onew continues his prolific solo run with his third full album today. This was preceded by pre-release Confidence, a song that was musically impressive but failed to pull me in on a gut level. Title track Animals is a more straightforward synthpop affair, reminiscent of some sounds you might find on a SHINee album.
This also feels quite indebted to western pop, surging forward with a simple beat and uncluttered melody. It’s a predictable arrangement, even as the song occasionally stumbles into more experimental territory. Holding it all together is Onew’s inimitable voice. He doesn’t have much opportunity to show off (even a late-song power note is oddly flattened by the production), but his tone is unique enough to supply Animals with plenty of character.
That character goes a long way toward selling this song, but I wish either the melodies or production followed suit. Overall, this has the sanitized sheen of an Ed Sheeran track, making it a fine addition to any playlist but never drawing much attention to itself. I’m not sure what it is Onew needs to be releasing at this point in his career, but I’d hope for something more idiosyncratic.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
