The month of SHINee solos concludes with the release of Key’s new mini album Pleasure Shop. He’s consistently been a K-pop artist who knows exactly what he wants from his music, and often those desires point toward the dancefloor. Last year’s Good & Great dabbled in house music and Pleasure Shop is largely a continuation of that trend. I enjoy this sound, but the song could push itself far harder.
There’s a style of modern house that fits perfectly in the background of an H&M or Forever 21 store. It’s stylish, sleek and rather unobtrusive. Most of Pleasure Shop fits in this category. Its chorus misses the opportunity to go big and bold, choosing instead to ride the groove while pulling its melodic punches. Insterestingly, the song’s most gripping segment comes during verse two, where Key adopts a rap-like flow and the momentum suddenly perks up. This forceful delivery suits him best and matches the intensity of the percussion.
More than anything, Pleasure Shop needs a better hook. You can hear shades of past SHINee songs — especially house tracks like Good Evening and View — but the melodies are too flat and unmemorable to stick. Compare this to RIIZE’s Impossible — another 2024 house track — and the difference is stark. Key elevates the material and ensures a certain level of longevity, but I’d like to hear him experiment a bit more with this genre.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
9
RATING
8.25