I often consider Boyfriend one of K-pop’s most underrated acts, especially when it comes to international fans. While they may not have ever reached the A-list, their run with Sweetune remains as epic as any of their contemporaries. Unfortunately, once they started to work with other producers their sound took a noticeable dip. We’d still get a great Japanese single here and there, but their Korean work lost almost all character.
The group has now reunited ahead of their fourteenth anniversary and it’s telling that their focus seems to be solely on Japan. They’ll be holding a showcase there and new single Time Limit is aimed at the Japanese market. It feels like a fan song — the kind of inconsequential fluff you’d expect to mark these type of idol milestones. The track is melodic and sentimental, recapturing hints of the drama from their peak. However, for all its ornate touches the instrumental feels overly muddled. I’m not sure if this is down to the mixing or simply because the production lacks a distinct calling card. Either way, it’s nice to hear from the guys again but please do yourself a favor and go listen to Janus or I Yah or Love Style or any other banger they churned out during their imperial phase.
Hooks
7
Production
7
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
7.5