I don’t really take music videos or imagery into account when writing reviews on The Bias List, but when all is said and done I’ll likely remember this era of RM’s career more for the videos than the music. The one for new single LOST! is particularly evocative — quirky, surreal and suitably claustrophobic.
Whether LOST! holds up on its own is another matter. The song opens with an interesting vocal (sample?) that sounds like some Bavarian children’s show theme played at half speed, underlined by a warped instrumental. After this disorienting build-up, LOST! relaxes into its brisk — almost lo-fi — beat. The bass is great here, as are the eerie, old-school backing vocals. It’s a fascinating reinvention of very old pop music tropes and the whole thing works much better than I would have expected.
My biggest issue with the LOST! is that I enjoy its ideas and execution more than the actual song pulling everything together. The hook is effective and catchy, but grows a bit repetitive even across a single listen. The verses have a pleasant looseness where RM takes a sing-song approach to his delivery. As the track goes on, these loosen even further until we’re left with fragmented exclamations. They aren’t as compelling as the instrumental, even if they match the vibe of the song. Still, I have to give it to RM for always bringing a creative vision. LOST! is an example of the robust HYBE budget being put to good use.
Hooks
8
Production
9
Longevity
7
Bias
8
RATING
8