In a sea of too-cool-for-school NewJeans clones and don’t-mess-with-us lady crush fare, CSR stand out as a vibrant, bubbly consultant of Okay-pop’s previous. Their debut album final summer time was an exquisite shock, portray them as this era’s reply to GFriend or Lovelyz.
The group have more-or-less continued alongside that path, but haven’t matched the facility of early highlights like Pop? Pop! and Euratcha. New single Shining Vibrant (빛을 따라서) takes a rockier method – suppose SNSD’s Approach To Go as heard by a One Piece opening theme. That is catnip to my ears, but I wrestle to completely embrace the only as a lot as I’d wish to.
CSR’s producers replicate this type with aplomb. The sugary stabs that open the observe instantly pull us in and the driving instrumental by no means lets up. However so far as I can inform, CSR don’t have a Yuju or Kei/Sujeong amongst their ranks to stability out the members’ brighter tones. This implies it’s all sugar, on a regular basis — with out the sturdy energy notes that make a tune like this sparkle. Due to this, Shining Vibrant feels extra like a enjoyable, frothy OST than a strong legend-in-the-making. That gained’t cease me enjoying and having fun with it, however I can’t assist however want for extra — particularly since this type is so uncommon these days.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Manufacturing | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
Grade: B
