Ten is one of those performers with absolutely seismic potential who just can’t seem to find material as strong as his own presence. Though I’ve enjoyed many solo Ten songs, I’ve never loved one. Stunner‘s very title seems to promise a turnaround, aiming to fully capture our attention. It succeeds in fits and starts.
Over the past year or so, there’s been a big re-emergence of early-2000’s Neptunes-style production — loose, funky percussion that gives plenty of space to build a slinky track around. Stunner flirts with this trend, but it’s actually at its strongest during the pre-choruses when it throws a more robust sound behind Ten’s vocals. These moments of grandeur bring the type of drama his solo work often forgets. The rapid-fire phrasing of the chorus is also a lot of fun, but could do with a more galvanizing arrangement.
With this in mind, Stunner improves as it goes on. The instrumental pulls in additional elements, giving the sense that the song is snowballing as it develops. This helps mask a series of so-so hooks, as does Ten’s own charisma as he lets the lyrics drip from his mouth with total ease. I’m a bit tired of choruses that pull back rather than explode, but Stunner is taut and focused with moments of true excitement.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
8