It’s been a fraught month for HYBE, with NewJeans unwittingly caught on the heart of their controversies. Little or no of this drama has something to do with the group themselves and every little thing to do with the chaos swirling round them, however with a seeming chilly conflict brewing between the NewJeans and ILLIT camps concerning plagiarism and favoritism, I’m curious what is going to change into of the “NewJeans sound.” From their 2022 debut till now, the women have unquestionably led the development for Okay-pop’s present fashion. Now that a lot of the trade has adopted swimsuit, will they abandon their influential aesthetic for one thing new? Time will inform, however not till they’ve gotten How Candy out of their system.

Past some small manufacturing makeovers, How Candy is nearer to a holding sample than a brand new period. The instrumental manages to be each punchier and extra laidback than typical, echoing the stuttering, candy-floss r&b of the late-90’s/early-00’s. I dig the laser sound results that run via the monitor and the general groove is one among their extra satisfying head-nodders. It has a consistency and confidence that requires an equally superb melody excessive.

Sadly, that is the place NewJeans songs usually confound me. Each in melody and efficiency, the supply is so ethereal and aloof that it’s virtually impalpable. It’s like pop music inertia, floating via house with out wherever to land. Like lots of their title tracks, How Candy facilities itself round a easy melody repeated usually. This method begs for some compelling concord or vocal quirk to modify issues up and preserve curiosity all through the three:39 working time (3:39 is like an epic in Okay-pop these days!). As a substitute, the tune loops round itself, centered by that nice beat however providing little else to thrill listeners.

Grade: C