It’s been over three years since we last heard new music from Winner’s Kang Seung Yoon. During that hiatus, he’s fulfilled his military service and taken time crafting a new full-length album. The fruits of his labor have finally arrived today in the form of new title track Me (美).
Though I haven’t fallen for most of Seung Yoon’s post-Winner solo work, his single Wild And Young from 2013 remains one of my K-pop favorites. His voice is so well-suited for anthemic rock. Thankfully, Me steers closer to that template, adding nostalgic synth shimmer for added texture. I’m missing the big crunchy guitar riffs of past work and think that Me could use a bigger and bolder arrangement, but even at its more subdued moments the song delivers a satisfying sing-along.
A track like this lives or dies on its payoff, and given K-pop’s recent obsession with short running lengths that can be a difficult proposition. Luckily, Me opts for the full meal, teasing us with a brief key change before we hit the final chorus. Again, I want the song to fully embrace its bigness here instead of the slightly tempered outro we get. However, Me‘s simplicity and melodic heft will likely keep it in good standing for the long run.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
9
Bias
9
RATING
8.5