The apostrophe-averse Baby DONT Cry debuted earlier this year with two promoted songs and a fun, upbeat sound in need of development. Several months later, they’re back with the defiant I DONT CARE. Music aside, it’s become clear that the group’s management doesn’t care about the rules of capitalization and punctuation. I’d love to hear a song about that!
Thankfully, they do care about big synth riffs, and I DONT CARE is anchored by a bounding loop that helps craft an exciting centerpiece. We’ve heard a surplus of icy synth in K-pop over the past five years, but it still packs a punch if used well. I DONT CARE is mostly a catchy pop/rock track, but that added texture gives it a welcome sheen. However, when I hear an instrumental like this I really want the entire song to match its scope.
This is where I DONT CARE falters a bit. Apart from its big chorus, the track follows predictable lines and often sputters into a lower-than-anticipated energy. Contrast can be a powerful tool in a producer’s repertoire, but that’s not what’s happening here. Instead, the song simply segues into verses that are dull and (surprisingly) overlong. But, that’s the great thing about a chorus. They repeat often, and each time I DONT CARE‘s hook comes around we’re back in business. Next time, I hope Baby DONT Cry find a way to extend this exciting spirit.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
