n.SSign have promised three title tracks from their newest album, and they seem to be spreading them out. Funk Jam arrives over a month after they started promoting Happy & (a song that grew on me a lot, by the way). When I first saw the album’s track list, the combination of the words “funk” and “jam” immediately piqued my interest. Could we possibly be getting music in line with funk titans like Prince or Earth, Wind & Fire? In the tightly-structured and hyper-choreographed world of K-pop, could we actually see an idol group jam out?
Well… no and no. Honestly, I feel duped and it’s probably my own fault for getting my hopes up. In this case, both “funk” and “jam” feel like lip service. Yes, the song is a bit funky (and jazzy) in places, but delivered in a subdued style that veers much closer to K-pop stereotypes. The beat gets my head nodding but misses the extra syncopation that truly sets funk music alight. The rhythm plods where it should dance, leaving the vocals to do most of the heavy lifting.
Thankfully, those vocals are quite enjoyable. n.SSign continue to be more engaging performers than most of their music lets on, and they clearly have the skill to blow a song like this wide open. Why, then, does Funk Jam feel so constrained? If you’re going to keep the energy this steady, you might as well let the guys showboat and bend the melodies to their will, old-school EXO style.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.75