Over the years, I’ve been impressed with Just B’s willingness to experiment with their sound. To me, it seems that they’ve refashioned their underdog status into an advantage and excuse to try new things. Last year’s pop/punk anthem Daddy’s Girl was a career high, and now they’ve switched things up again with the electro hyperpop of Chest.
I’m more intrigued by this song than in love with it, which is often the case when the term “hyperpop” gets thrown around. It’s refreshing to hear new synth tones in K-pop, and the crisp arpeggio that opens the track is incredibly effective. On first listen, I was hoping Chest would capitalize on this momentum and build toward an exciting peak. Instead, the track unveils itself in fits and starts, never fully surrendering to the electronic rush at its core. As a listener, this is a disappointing, but I understand why the producers may have opted for something idiosyncratic rather than a more cliched EDM arrangement.
Still, you know me. I love my pop songs to unfold like a story, building toward a climax that harnesses every element to its fullest. Otherwise, the music simply feels incomplete. And at under three minutes, Chest could have added extra time to flesh out its ideas. Still, I’m intrigued how this sound might influence the group’s work going forward. I’d certainly love to hear more of these tones and textures.
Hooks
8
Production
9
Longevity
9
Bias
8
RATING
8.5