Before he enlists in the military, NCT’s Jaehyun is set to hold a two day fancon and has released a new single to tide us over while he enters hiatus. Unconditional arrives only two months since his first solo album and continues the vibey, on-trend r&b sound he established there.
This seems to be the preferred mode for solo male artists worldwide, forgoing the bombastic showmanship of eras past for a performance style that’s much more laidback and natural. It may simply be due to my own experience with pop music, but this approach does little for me. Sure, Unconditional is a vibe. It’s relatively groovy, too. Jaehyun’s smooth vocals were made for r&b and from what I know of his personality it doesn’t seem likely he’d be super comfortable throwing down a razzle dazzle, Michael Jackson level set piece. With this in mind, Unconditional is perfectly fine and slots well within his established style.
What actually nags at me the most about Unconditional is its percussion. I just hate those insistent hi-hats. Their tinny tone sticks out like a sore thumb, playing against the instrumental’s sinuous elements. A more unique arrangement might have turned my attention, but as it stands I feel like I’ve already heard this song a hundred times over the past few years.
Hooks
8
Production
7
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.5