RIIZE have barely let a month slip by without releasing new music. This is the perfect way to unveil a rookie group, blitzing the market with material so fans have no opportunity to stray elsewhere. Just six weeks since their funk dynamo comeback Boom Boom Bass, the guys have returned with their Japanese debut. Lucky acts as a natural extension of their glossy sound, melding energetic rhythms with slick pop melody.
Over the past few years, SM Entertainment has struggled to match the musical consistency they once held in Japan. Acts like SNSD, SHINee and TVXQ have vast Japanese discographies every bit as lauded as their Korean work. With Lucky, I’m convinced RIIZE will be able to follow in their footsteps. The song isn’t ultra ambitious or unique, but it’s in keeping with the group’s biggest strengths and executed with total panache. It plays as a more straightforward version of Get A Guitar, trading that track’s rhythmic range for a straightforward disco pop groove. The production fits squarely in what I like to call “roller rink ready” music. You can imagine playing this at any sort of party, whether donning skates or sneakers. It has a carnivalesque, consistently upbeat energy that radiates joy.
Lucky centers around the oft-repeated refrain that opens the track. This melody forms its chorus, though the pulsing pre-chorus also follows a similar sound. The song’s sense of continuity and smooth transitions will pay dividends in the long run. I expect Lucky to become a playlist staple, possibly even rising as time goes on. This is in large part due to RIIZE’s airy vocal blend. Their arrangement throughout the track is stellar, recalling SM greats of the past. All that’s missing is a killer Sohee ad-lib to put the song over the top.
Hooks
9
Production
8
Longevity
9
Bias
9
RATING
8.75