Whenever an act releases a digital single with little lead-up time and no official comeback attached, I always assume one of two things. Either the song is too good and has too much chart potential to wait for an accompanying album, or it’s just a stop gap to get something new into the market between bigger-budget comebacks. Listening to TXT’s new Love Language, I’m convinced it belongs in the latter group.
This is definitely not the kind of career-defining hit guaranteed to conquer charts for months. In fact, its Bieber-circa-2015 tropical sound is quite a throwback that doesn’t echo many current global trends. I happen to be a fan of this sound and never begrudge a song for digging back in pop music’s past… as long as it does something fun with the artifacts it unearths. But here’s where Love Language gets in trouble and veers dangerously close to “stop gap” territory. It sets its ambitions too low. From melody to production, its reheating of old trends drains most of what made those trends so enjoyable.
My favorite part of the track (the tropical synth loop echoing each chorus) only reminds me how mighty What Do You Mean and Sorry were as avatars for this sonic texture. Love Language just doesn’t have the hooks needed to make it a vital retread. It’s nice to hear the members sing with some verve — especially as the production softens to allow room for them to belt it out during the pre-choruses and bridge — but everything else is incredibly slight, like the type of music you’d hear playing in the background at a pool or lounge. Its summer vibes are pleasant enough, but vibes alone don’t make a standout single.
Hooks
7
Production
7
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
7.5