Korean charts — as with any global music chart, really — tend to be slow to change, with some monster hits sticking around for years. As someone who is always ready to move onto the next best thing, it always surprises me when listeners are intent to play the same song over and over and over again. Such is the case with WOODZ’s Drowning, which wasn’t even a single when it was released all the way back in 2023. Yet, it’s still lodged in the top ten of MelOn‘s streaming chart.
That’s a big achievement to live up to, and WOODZ’s post-enlistment material hasn’t yet been able to reach those same heights. However, he’ll have plenty of chances with the upcoming release of his full album. That promotion starts today with its pre-release track Cinema. This song leans into the Drowning soundscape, starting slow before slowly blossoming into a sing-along chorus. WOODZ excels at this style and has an especially nice vocal tone for belting out big hooks.
With that said, I don’t see Cinema turning into some major hit. I could be wrong, as Korea seems to love OST-esque ballads, but the song feels more like a solid album track to me. It has a satisfying sense of build and release, offering plenty of catharsis. An extended outro capitalizes on this approach, making me wish Cinema would grow even bigger and bolder at its climax. The verses are also a bit trudgy for my taste, pulling the song down when I wish it would soar. Still, I’m excited to hear what he has in store for the album.
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
7
RATING
7.75