Whereas Astro’s Dream Pt.1 was by no means particularly promoted as a “summer time” album, it’s one of many Okay-pop tasks I most intently affiliate with the season and was launched simply earlier than considered one of Okay-pop’s most epic summers in 2017. Extra importantly, it’s extremely robust and represents a bubbly, ultra-melodic pop sound we simply don’t hear a lot of anymore. It’s a boy group album with actually no shouting in any respect. That alone is form of miraculous, proper?

1. Goals Come True

There was a short second when Okay-pop was aping the sunshine, strings-assisted dance sound of standard UK digital act Clear Bandit. This resulted in a number of classics – this music being the head. I believe Goals Come True is just about good and I’ve listened to it an insane quantity of occasions. The percolating synths that kick off this monitor are like summer time’s herald. From right here, the monitor simply grows and grows till it reaches its euphoric refrain. What a superb style of the thrilling vitality this album has in retailer for us! Positively considered one of my favourite ever Astro songs.

Ranking: 9.5

2. Child

On the time of launch, Astro had been coming off an extremely robust run of singles, inflicting me to underrate Child at first. The music has since gone on to turn into a private favourite. I like the fizzy synth and laidback groove. It’s punchy with out being too in-your-face and – as all of Astro’s early work – thrives on playful melody. It’s such a joyful sound whereas additionally feeling like a slight maturation from their debut yr.

Ranking: 9

3. You Smile

We’re bounding from energy to energy with one other pop banger. What I like most about this album (apart from its unimaginable songs) is that it holds collectively as one cohesive sound. This leans extra towards pop/rock, anchored by a stunner of a refrain. The melody right here is sharp as a tack, fully-developed and designed for fast singalongs. This was my “buried treasure” means again when and I stand by that, regardless that I in the end got here to favor Goals Come True. That is nonetheless such a head rush. Why can’t at this time’s Okay-pop acts harness this sound and vitality?

Ranking: 9.25

4. As a result of It’s You

We’re into the album’s first ballad now and… guess what? The ballads are glorious, too! This album is aware of how you can deploy its slower materials and bolster it with loads of musical drama. Simply hearken to the pre-chorus of this magnificence! These vocal harmonies are completely attractive and proceed into the confetti-drop bombast of the refrain. That is the way you wring as a lot as attainable from a pop ballad. It’s pure belt-it-out boy band bliss.

Ranking: 8.75

5. Dream Night time

This album launched in the course of the peak of Okay-pop’s tropical traits and, wanting again, I understand how a lot I miss these sparkly synth tones. Dream Night time is likely one of the extra generic tracks right here, however the instrumental is full of so many shiny tones that it simply shimmers. The varied tempo shifts work very well, significantly as a result of the monitor’s vitality by no means lags whilst we plunge right into a extra subdued second verse.

Ranking: 8.5

6. I’ll Be There

The nostalgia is powerful with this one, because the finger-snap beat and beneficiant melodies recall early-2000’s teen pop. Inside that realm, I’ll Be There is extra “filler b-side” than “standout single,” however that’s superb as a part of an album this robust. It’s nice and candy, bolstered by some nice performances that give it loads of character. It’s actually one of many quieter moments on the album however works as a late tracklist temper setter.

Ranking: 8

7. Lie

We’re onto the second ballad now, and though this may not be as robust because the improbable As a result of It’s You, it presents a extra grounded, delicate sound. At the least, that’s the case till we cost into Lie’s orchestral refrain. What the association lacks in drive it compensates with its ornate theatricality.

Ranking: 8

8. Each Minute

I like when albums shut with an enormous ol’ banger. Each Minute recaptures the magic of Dream‘s opening tracks, providing a buoyant pinwheel of electro goodness. Chugging percussion echoes this vitality, presaging the sound Astro would resume in 2022 with their single Sweet Sugar Pop. The music’s two-part refrain is a complete pleasure bomb, recalling related efforts from earlier boy group B1A4, who Astro clearly took inspiration from. That is such a victorious solution to finish a no-skip album.

Ranking: 9