I know that most (all?) fans would likely disagree with me, but my most enduring ATEEZ song remains 2019’s Wave. That track is not at all indicative of their overall sound — especially post-2020 — but has such a great build and glide that targets all my pop music pleasure centers. Because of this, a new summer-themed ATEEZ comeback is an exciting prospect. It would be unfair to expect Lemon Drop to deliver the exact thrill of its predecessor, but the song’s slow burn sound has its own charm.
Right from the start, Lemon Drop‘s synth-heavy beat deposits us back in the mid-2010’s when this style of club-ready hip-hop enjoyed a real moment in the spotlight. It’s a refreshing sound, but what really matters is the song built on top of it. Rather than hit listeners over the head, Lemon Drop plays things pretty flat. Its chorus is quite reserved and not particularly catchy, relying on its evocative beat to do most of the heavy lifting. And unlike Wave, it doesn’t even try to build toward some euphoric crescendo. It’s more of a loose vibe, tracing the edges of the rhythm without ever going for the jugular. This approach may play well in the long run, but feels a bit disappointing on initial listens.
However, I currently have a huge craving for anything remotely summer-coded and I’m happy to hear ATEEZ have a bit of fun after a few more serious concepts. While Lemon Drop feels far from a discography highlight, its groove is addictive enough to provide a nice soundtrack for the season. And pleasantly, the song grows stronger as it goes. Layered vocal melody joins the mix, making for an effective — if subtle — finale. Sometimes delayed gratification works wonders and it’s caused me to kick up my grade a notch in anticipation of this reserved approach playing well over the next few months.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
9
Bias
9
RATING
8.5