Of all of Ok-pop’s forays into non-Korean markets, Katseye have had the most important push and have probably the most potential to turn out to be stars exterior the business. Although they’ve solely launched one EP since their debut final summer time, they’ve accomplished a good quantity of promotions and appear to have discovered a pure place throughout the general pop music dialogue. With such an extended hiatus since their final single, Gnarly is a crucial second within the group’s evolution.
Maybe HYBE is aware of this, as they’ve given the group a whole sonic makeover. Gone is the breezy pop of their debut, changed with one thing way more confrontational. As is the case with so many too-short HYBE songs of late, Gnarly runs a paltry two minutes eighteen seconds. That’s about two minutes eighteen seconds too lengthy in my estimation, however it’s proper consistent with the edgy hyperpop sound the music is focusing on. It seems Ok-pop companies have taken a really sluggish bus and are simply now arriving to final 12 months’s “Brat summer time.” I encourage of you, Ok-pop … don’t tackle this specific pattern. You’re not well-equipped to drag it off in any manner that feels genuine.
On first pay attention, it’s arduous to tell apart Gnarly as a music in any respect. It feels extra like a parody, particularly given its laughable string of cuss phrases thrown round like youngsters desperately making an attempt to freak out their dad and mom. A beneficiant manner of receiving this observe can be to name it “camp,” however camp doesn’t work once you’re making an attempt so rattling arduous to promote the gag. There’s an insufferable quantity of “making an attempt” happening right here. Gnarly strains so arduous to be innovative and in-your-face that it finally ends up not doing a lot of something. Skilled pop followers have heard its rugged, electro distortion earlier than and Gnarly‘s lame shout-outs of every thing from Tesla (actually?!?) to takis go down with a boring, eye-rolling thud. The spotlight (lowlight?) for me comes throughout verse two the place the women truly say “I’m making beats for a boring dumb b*tch” earlier than bragging about their “mansion.” I don’t know the way I’m purported to interpret this, however it actually appears like they detest their followers. That’s an attention-grabbing lyrical method! I want them… all of the luck in that regard?
However actually, I believe this group has a lot potential if given the appropriate materials. Gnarly is certainly not that materials. I truly like my pop stars to be a bit prickly and misbehaved, however not in such a contrived manner. It is a large, evident, deeply unclever cringe emoji right through. I’m truly embarrassed on their behalf.
| Hooks | 2 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Longevity | 5 |
| Bias | 3 |
| RATING | 4.25 |
Grade: F