Repackage albums aren’t as common in K-pop as they used to be, but I’ve always liked them. They give artists a chance for an ultra-quick comeback and extend the promotional life of a project. CRAVITY’s Dare To Crave was already a very strong album with a killer title track, but now they’ve extended it with an epilogue led by new single Lemonade Fever.
CRAVITY’s music has enjoyed a renaissance this year and Lemonade Fever builds upon everything that made Set Net G0 so successful. As its title suggests, the song is ultra refreshing and energetic — the kind of thing you’d expect to hear released during the summer. I adore this sound, but it’s easy to fall into a generic boy group template with this style of upbeat funk. Fortunately, Lemonade Fever does two things very right. First, it builds to a whopper of a chorus. I’m already obsessed with the melodic lift the track delivers here, underlined by a percolating groove that gives it plenty of heft. This hook is simple but incredibly potent and hits like an absolute joy bomb.
Second, Lemonade Fever tempers its buoyancy with needed grit. This comes courtesy of the post-chorus hook with its distorted guitar. The producers wisely let this moment breathe, getting as much from the riff as they can. This segment reminds me of RIIZE’s Boom Boom Bass but scuzzier. The song really doesn’t put a foot wrong, adding an exciting bridge and bolstering the final chorus to send us out on a high. By their fifth year, many idol groups see diminished returns, but it feels like CRAVITY are only getting started.
Hooks
9
Production
9
Longevity
9
Bias
9
RATING
9