On prime of their hit-filled Korean discography, IVE are rapidly establishing a stable string of Japanese singles. Crush is their follow-up to final yr’s Wave, a tune I loved and one which already appears to be a fan favourite. Now, the group has returned to the grand pop sound of highlights I Am and Love Dive, although Crush feels a bit watered down in comparison with these highlights.
My first emotion upon listening to Crush was reduction. Although IVE’s Korean work has remained stable, I haven’t been the most important fan of their two most up-to-date albums. Crush operates in my most well-liked IVE panorama, fueling its melodic hooks with a chugging beat and loads of strings. The tune blossoms proper from the beginning, draping its verse with layered vocals that give it a stately attraction. IVE sound notably beautiful in the course of the pre-chorus, which jettisons a lot of the instrumental to shine full highlight on their voices.
Crush‘s refrain has an identical impact. The melody is a bit too ethereal for me and lacks the influence of songs like I Am, however the general sound performs to their strengths and acts as a worthy centerpiece. The one factor holding again Crush is a way that the group has already recorded stronger variations of this tune. It doesn’t do a lot to differentiate itself, selecting as a substitute to waft on goodwill and please followers with a sound they already love.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Manufacturing | 9 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
Grade: B
