Now that the expansion of the NCT project has ended and its first member has enlisted in the military, I predict we’ll see more solo work from the guys. This has been a long time coming. There’s a wealth of talent under the sprawling NCT umbrella. Doyoung’s voice has always been one of my favorite aspects of the various units, going all the way back to 2016’s Without You. But if I have one overriding complaint about solo releases for K-pop vocalists, it’s that agencies rely too heavily on the artists’ skills to elevate boring material.
Little Light (반딧불) tether’s Doyoung’s warm tone to a rock arrangement, but if you strip away all the guitars you’ve got a track that feels very OST-ready. This has never been an approach that compells me, as these songs tend to favor sentiment over interesting melody and production. Little Light is high on emotion. It’s like one long moment of catharsis. Doyoung’s voice suits this well and he performs with confidence and gusto. I enjoy the overall vibe of the track, but nothing about it hits me on a level beyond that. It doesn’t build toward a clear climax or moment of interest and the melodies feel rote and unadventurous.
To me, Little Light feels like coffeehouse music trussed up with a more boisterous instrumental. It makes for a pleasant backdrop and gives Doyoung a chance to unleash his inner rock star, but the track holds the listener at an arm’s length. It’s pretty but a little unapproachable.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5