Review: TVXQ! - Utsuroi
One of the worst factors of being a fan of a legendary group is knowing that very likely their best days are behind them. Even if The Beatles had survived 1969, it is likely they would not have released a new Abbey Road. For many reasons, TVXQ's best days remain their incredible run from 2003-10. As a quintet, the group had the vocal firepower to be considered the best in the business. Additionally, strong behind-the-scenes collaborators such as Yoo Young-Jin and H.U.B crafted their most iconic songs within this period. The end result was one of the greatest discographies of all time.
Even after this phase, the group somehow persisted as a duo. Every time I assumed TVXQ had overextended their time as a group, they provide something new to keep me hooked. This happened back in March with the fantastic EP Epitaph. I hope another moment of such stature arrives soon because Utsuroi might be one of TVXQ's worst singles ever.
Katsuhiko Yamamoto has worked with TVXQ before, but he is no Yoo Young-Jin. Utsuroi is his first TVXQ single, and frankly, I am not sure he was ready for the promotion just yet. Utsuroi is mid-tempo R&B TVXQ. While this jazzy coffee-shop sound may not be for me, TVXQ have mastered this sound, it is their bread-and-butter.
The issue is, for songs like this, there are two essential ingredients. Vocal harmonies and melody. Look at 2018's Truth for example. Yunho and Changmin's voices play off each other perfectly, leading to the fantastic chorus falsetto. At the same time, the hooks are just sticky enough that you can remember them, but smooth enough that they flow off each other really well.
Instead of this, Utsuroi focuses on its production. This in itself is not bad, but the percussion-heavy production here lacks uniqueness, while also not having any consistent beats that last alongside with you. Something a little left-of-center (think Changmin's solo debut Chocolate) or traditional and nostalgic (2018's aforementioned Truth) could have worked, but Utsuroi finds itself in the uncanny valley of production. Too stale to surprise, but too off-center to stick.
This would still be forgivable if the song provided the aforementioned hooks and harmonies. It fails in both. The hooks are too slippery to stick, and the harmonies too predictable. For the first time as far as I can remember, I struggled to remember the refrain for a TVXQ song mere minutes after hearing it.
A few days ago, I reserved harsh criticism for Girls' Generation's Forever 1. I had said, "They say you are harshest on those you care for most, and I know Girls' Generation can, and have, released much better songs." This statement holds true for Utsuroi, but even more so. TVXQ can and have done better. Hopefully the upcoming release's b-side The Reflex covers for Utsuroi's many, many flaws.
Rating: 6/10
Stream or purchase TVXQ's Utsuroi's here!
The b-side is so good.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is much better than THIS for sure!
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