A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.
CRAVITY deserve praise for releasing a massive, twelve-track album. In these days of idol groups calling eight or nine tracks (two of them being interludes) a “full” album, twelve new songs is an outright compendium. This length also guarantees a certain amount of filler, but on the whole CRAVITY’s Dare To Crave is pretty solid. I have the same issue with it that I’ve always had with the group’s work. To me, they lack a distinct sound, making everything feel a bit generic. However, “generic” isn’t always a bad thing as long as the songwriting is strong.
When it comes to highlights, I really like the rock energy of Underdog and the anthemic melodies of opening track On My Way. My favorite b-side happens to be a unit track, performed by members Allen, Wonjin and Hyeongjun. Stadium erupts with the kind of upbeat funk bombast I always crave in K-pop.
Apart from a needless rap breakdown and grating “la la la” chant (two tropes that have long since worn out their welcome), Stadium is a burst of addictive energy. I love how full the production sounds on the chorus. The rugged electro beat has great drive that makes the song feel like a coiled spring ready to attack at every turn. The hooks could be stronger, but this sound is a great fit for the members and comes across as a nice blend of refreshing and swaggering.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
