September is the month of SHINee solos, with three of four members releasing music or mvs over the next few weeks. It’s interesting to hear what they’re up to under new management, and for Onew the change seems to have ignited a sense of groove. When I think of his solo work, I’m more liable to imagine a ballad. However, new single Beat Drum (매력) sees him flirting with hip-hop and rhythmic pop.
For me, this is a good thing. He has a gorgeous voice for ballads, but there are few things better than a SHINee banger. Beat Drum does what it says on its label, giving him a percussive playground to showcase a variety of performance styles. His nimble vocals match the sound well, though the song’s ambitions are ultimately more tempered than I would have liked. Ironically, given its title the percussion is mostly forgettable, borrowing sounds we’ve heard in many other songs. A greater spotlight on actual drums would have been very satisfying.
Melodically, Beat Drum is a mixed bag. It’s sprightly all the way through, yet most of the hooks slide by without leaving much impression. An ascending “da da da” rounds out each chorus and verges on cloying, though Onew’s effortless vocal lends it credence. The song will probably end up growing on me (as most SHINee-related things do), but for now I’m not quite sold on it.
Hooks
7
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
8
RATING
7.75