Before you dive in 2 bad guys album, let’s get one thing straight first. SM Entertainment’s K-pop group NCT 127 has great potential in not only the punk noise genre, but also soft and understated genres such as the R&B and Ballads. The album dropped on September 16, 2022. The group known for their edgy tracks that grow on you are also well equipped to show a new side with each comeback.
NCT 127 Utilizes Erratic Sonic Clashes With ‘2 Baddies’ Again, But Slows Burn With B-Side Tracks – Album Review
The title track ‘2 bad guys plays on last year’s sleeper hit track’Sticker’. But not like ‘Sticker’ which was full of the experimental collaboration of music that ultimately grows on the listener,’2 bad guys is a bit disappointing. Of course, the members lived up to the song and gave a stunning performance both visually and vocally. But the sad thing is that there was a huge space for the album makers to delve into the strengths of the members as individuals and as a group, and yet they failed to reach their potential.
‘Play’ has a futuristic ‘neo’ vibe and enough reverb beats to create an aura of a video game-like setting. The ring-ring-ring of a metal bell followed by fast xylophone beats create a relaxed atmosphere in the song. black clouds begins with a rhythmic thump-thump-thump of the percussion instruments and soon turns into a melodic chorus. The song feels like it was plucked from a movie.
The next song’gold dust’ continue the soft RnB mood. gold dust is more subdued in tones and has a more atmospheric appearance. Doyoung and Taeil shine in the song with their hoarse vocals. ‘Emergency landing’ starts off with futuristic notes and flows into a stunning chorus with stretchy beats. The vocal line presents a brilliant harmony that is accentuated by the rap verse. An occasional whistle is a welcome change in the song.
‘Designer’ takes the listener back to the dance-pop genre. The song starts with rough techno beats but the song slides into a smooth dance-pop song. The rhythmic, sonorous bell-like beats in the background provide a certain rousing atmosphere on the track. ‘Vitamin’ is a sultry number. The members sing with newfound confidence, calling themselves a “vitamin” to keep love going. ‘Yummy’ is a loud song unlike its predecessor. There is a sense of urgency in the song and it is balanced with the uptempo hip hop beats. There is an air of mystery and intrigue as the members sing in sonorous harmony. The song could also be reminiscent of ‘hot sauce’ by NCT Dream because of the multiple food references.
‘Time Lapse’ begins as a postmodern electro-narrative. The vocals of the members come together to present an image of love and try to restore it. The chorus sinks into a reverb-like mood, spreading a static feel. ‘faster’ is the track to play if you want to provide background information on an epic face-off. The coarse and static beats in the bridge and the first verse set the stage for the varied techno beats in the chorus. There are also layers to the song with additions of a car touring, explosion-like tones and robotic vocal overlaps.
The penultimate songlol laugh out loud)’ is a smooth electropop song with a touch of rock. There is a sparkling upbeat mood in the song that enlivens the atmosphere when the song is played. The voices blend smoothly with the music, leaving the listeners wanting to listen to more of the song. The album ends with ‘1,2,7 (Time stops)’. The song is a nice choice of dance track infused with semi-electric beats. Taeil’s high notes in the song are impressive. The song feels like a piece of great background music for a trailer about love and friendship. It is NCT 127’s thank you note to their fans for their immense love and uninterrupted support.
Finally, 2 bad guys from NCT 127 is not that different from their previous releases, but it still has a new flavor. The group tries to break out of their comfort zone and venture into a daring space – be it in costumes or music. The album tries its best to present a new photo but ends up being the same in new packaging. The B-sides are a relief because they paint a dreamy picture between the clouds of punk rock music. The year-long wait is fruitful as it brings new music from the artists, but it would have been even better if there were a little more experimentation like they did last year with’Sticker’ – a song that grows on the listener. The album feels disappointing given the group’s previous hits. The members are talented and have proven time and again that they can give the best of themselves with every comeback. But with 2 bad guysit certainly feels that it limits their potential and it feels like a repackage of the past of glory.
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