1. Lucky To Be Loved // 2. Countdown! // 3. Random Play // 4. Freestyle // 5. Now Playing // 6. Go Back
LUCKY TO BE LOVED
The overriding feeling among blog readers seems to be that I’m absolutely crazy for loving TWS’s new single Countdown, but I promise you this is no PSYOP or self-justification. Though to be fair, I made the rare move of self-editing an extended version of the song for my own music library that enhances what I hear in the original and more fully represents the opinions I laid out in my review yesterday. At any rate, I occasionally feature track-by-track album reviews from some of my favorite acts in K-pop, and TWS have reached that threshold. Over the course of the next five days, I want to look at each song on their new mini album.
For those who found Countdown too much of a Plot Twist / S/N retread, album opener Lucky To Be Loved offers something quite different. Its subdued tone is much more in line with recent single Last Festival, though the song isn’t as melodically (or sonically) developed as that track. This is a nice mood for TWS because they have such strong, characteristic vocals. I love hearing their voices front and center in the mix, and they sound great here.
The song itself is the kind of mellow, mid-tempo dance track I often think of as “H&M-core.” Melding elements of UK garage with atmospheric synth, Lucky To Be Loved unfolds with a stylish nonchalance that’s hard to resist. I’ll always prefer pop music that’s a bit more energetic, but this is really well done and I wouldn’t be mad if it was chosen as a follow-up single. Of all the songs on the album, it probably has the greatest potential to grow with time since it’s such and easy, unobtrusive listen. And just like Countdown, a knockout bridge would have been very welcome.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
9
Bias
9
RATING
8.5