Rather than lean harder into their own sound, LE SSERAFIM’s newest album feels like a bid to become another NewJeans. The problem is, HYBE already has a NewJeans and they’d do much better to diversify the style of the roster. It’s easy to see why a track like Easy was chosen for promotion, and its chart positions have rewarded Source Music’s decision to play things safe. It’s less clear why the entire album has been painted with this subdued, lowkey energy. Even the tropical bounce of Smart opts for restraint.
Like Easy, this isn’t a “bad” song. It just feels so inconsequential — one idea repeated for two and a half minutes with a laissez faire attitude that’s meant to come across as cool and aloof but feels closer to disinterested. The track is very “easy listening,” which seems to be a preferred vibe for many K-pop groups at the moment. And if that’s how you consume music, it’ll likely make a nice soundtrack for just about any activity. I’ve never been a passive music listener (as evidenced by this blog!), so I struggle to find much merit in this approach.
Smart‘s narrow, sub-three-minute frame feels appropriate, as there’s not a ton of musical territory to cover. Any longer and the song would begin to grow dull, but a dynamic bridge or countermelody could have delivered a satisfying conclusion that begged for instant replays. Instead of unveiling a sonic journey, Smart is stuck in one gear, nodding its head and tapping its toe but never actually moving.
Hooks
7
Production
7
Longevity
7
Bias
7
RATING
7