Big Hit is going to make me write about every one of these damn CORTIS songs, aren’t they? The group’s debut rollout has now hit its fourth music video, leaving only one album track to go. That’s a lot of promotion, but I’m curious if it’s actually bearing fruit. Their music hasn’t worked for me at all so I haven’t been seeking out any material beyond what I write about here. Because of this, I ignorantly ask: is the promo working? Is there buzz around this group?
Buzzy or not, JoyRide is probably the most accessible track CORTIS have released yet. Given its title, you might expect some acceleration in the production or arrangement, but the song is very drowsy. These guys love the slurred, hyper-affected vocal style favored by many popular Western male artists of the moment. Of course, the concept of “popular Western male artist” has been in the toilet for years now, as encroaching conservativism deems any sense of showmanship too fey to stomach. So instead, we get these disaffected voices acting as if they’re bored with the world.
You know, if all I listened to were songs like JoyRide I’d be pretty bored too. While other CORTIS singles have repelled via blunt force, this one’s a slight yawn. In this way, I’m almost impressed how the group has made me disengage with their music in so many specific — yet differing — ways. That takes a certain level of commitment and it’s kind of fun to have a musical arch nemesis of my own. I only wish they were that fun, mustache-twirling arch nemesis from the cartoons with eccentric music to match. Of course, then I’d probably love them. There are moments of satisfying atmosphere steering JoyRide (mostly in its chorus), but it all feels a bit apathetic. Maybe that’s the point?
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7 |
