It’s hard to believe YG Entertainment’s Treasure have already reached their fifth anniversary. Their music has gone through several iterations during that time, ultimately leaning into a lighter pop/rock sound than they debuted with. New single Paradise is emblematic of this shift, offering a lightweight pop bop that’s well-suited to summer.
This bright, easy-listening approach is a boy group subgenre all its own and it’s usually one that appeals to me. However, it also runs the risk of becoming too generic for its own good. The best purveyors of this sound manage to infuse it with such strong identity that you can’t imagine anyone else performing it. That’s a struggle with Paradise, as I could imagine just about any boy group delivering this song in the same way. That’s not to say Paradise isn’t good. It’s very enjoyable and its light-on-its-feet energy goes a long way toward selling it. But if I was a diehard Treasure fan, I don’t think I’d be convinced that it sits near the top of their discography.
My favorite aspect of Paradise is the brassy accents that pepper much of the track. They give it a brisk, exciting feel that’s echoed by the catchy synth bass in verse two. While I wouldn’t consider the song a highlight on any summer playlist, it would certainly be a welcome addition. Treasure could do worse than a pleasant toe-tapper in the year 2025, but a more unique sense of personality would make Paradise stand out much more.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
