Rather than debut with a mini or full album, RIIZE have blitzed the market with digital singles. While it’s nice to promote music more often, I firmly believe that — during the first year of a rookie’s debut — every song needs to be a stone-cold classic. Like… one mega-hit after another to quickly cement their status. This is easier said than done, but RIIZE’s wobbly trajectory still worries me.
After debuting with the one-two punch of Memories and Get A Guitar, the group’s sound feels in flux. SM Entertainment’s throwing whatever they can at the wall, and in the case of Love 119 that comes dangerously close to “NCT b-side” material. The idea of a soft, emotional winter single is smart, but Love 119 doesn’t lean far enough in this direction. Instead of the melodic approach suggested by the verses, the track centers itself around a boisterous chant.
What do we do about all this chanting?? I don’t automatically hate chanting as a musical approach, but for whatever reason every K-pop group who uses it ends up sounding exactly the same. It’s become such a cloying, canned sound. Love 119‘s chorus would have worked much better with a more nuanced approach — maybe a softer spoken-word delivery rather than shouting at the top of their lungs. After all, the rhythm is catchy and I like the gentle piano that supports it. Love 119‘s moody soundscape fits the season well and RIIZE are clearly gifted vocalists, but so far their batting average is frustratingly inconsistent.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
7.75