BOL4 transitioned to a solo act four years ago, but new single Lips recalls their days as a duo by enlisting aespa’s Giselle as guest rapper. This is a smart feature, as aespa are currently red hot on the charts and BOL4 could use a burst of rekindled public attention.
To be honest, there’s only one BOL4 song I fully enjoy. 2018’s Travel is a permanent part of my summer K-pop playlist, with a killer melody and optimistic drive that counteracts my personal disinterest in the overall BOL4 sound. I’m just not a big fan of Ahn Ji-young’s voice. That can happen whenever a performer has an ultra-unique tone. It’s bound to polarize audiences. And when the songs themselves aren’t particularly interesting, my personal preference gets in the way.
Sadly, Lips isn’t a hugely engaging song on its own. Giselle is barely on it with a throwaway verse and the rest of the track bops along a laidback, slightly retro, groove. It’s vaguely summer themed, but without its colorful video the music loses much of that seasonal character.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5