Rookie group Close Your Eyes completely reinvented their sound with last month’s pre-release SOB. While I initially balked at the cringe lyrics and heavy vocal effects, that song eventually won me over through the sheer force of its dance beat. However, I still enjoy the guys best on smooth, vocal-focused tracks like their killer debut All My Poetry. Thankfully, new title track X brings them closer to this sound.
X splits the difference between Poetry‘s mid-00s r&b flavor during its chorus and more rhythmic, hip-hop phrasing during its verses. Close Your Eyes’s sweet spot is definitely the former, as this approach feels unique to them and compliments their vocals so well. Maknae Kyungbae has quickly become one of my favorite voices in K-pop, adding so much character to his lines. The song lights up whenever he takes charge, but the other members are no slouches either. X brims with confidence and polish.
It’s hard to know exactly where X will settle in the long run because each one of the group’s songs has taken time to unveil its full potential. X will likely follow the same trajectory, but for now I’m not hearing that indelible quality that ultimately made Poetry such a classic. Instead, X throws down a satisfying groove and vamps over it in between strong choruses.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
