Despite many forces working against him, Kim Jaejoong has become one of K-pop’s longest-running success stories. In addition to his music career, he hosts a fun online show and continues to be a successful actor. Through it all, his music hasn’t changed much. At heart, he’s still a rocker.
Rock Star is aptly named, and sounds exactly how you’d expect it to. If you’ve been following his solo work since 2013’s Mine (still his best, in my opinion), this cathartic, shredding sound feels like a natural progression. I often find these kind of straightforward, guitar-driven songs a bit flat, lacking the sonic diversity that keeps me coming back for more. However, Jaejoong’s voice is such a force of nature that it simply steamrolls over the instrumental. This pairs nicely with the song’s emotionally-charged energy. It’s clearly aiming for “anthem” status, but could do with a better chorus to fully reach those heights.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
7.75