One in all 2024’s greatest success tales was SM Leisure’s reigning woman group aespa. Going into the 12 months they had been already very talked-about, however the trio of Supernova, Armageddon and Whiplash jolted them to a brand new degree, turning into ubiquitous hits that also have a maintain on the charts months later. Somewhat than return with a model new album, aespa are slowly feeding followers with standalone single Soiled Work. However given the scope of its massive funds video, that is no stopgap. SM are clearly throwing their weight behind the mission.

My expertise with aespa’s 2024 singles was extra blended than most of the people’s. Supernova stays one of many 12 months’s greatest songs, however Armageddon didn’t enchantment to me and Whiplash rapidly misplaced its luster due to a repetitive, spoken-word strategy. Comparable frustrations stick with Soiled Work. The visuals are unbelievable, the elastic bass has a lot potential, however the precise track quantities to little greater than charismatic speaking. Typically I really feel like I’m going loopy, however I desperately need to hear totally sung melodies over the sort of soundscape. Like… simply do one thing with the beat.

Soiled Work‘s oft-repeated chorus is admittedly catchy, nevertheless it operates in the identical method Whiplash did: trendy and amusing the primary few instances however in the end too monotone to go the lengthy haul. aespa’s efficiency drips with charisma. That’s by no means a grievance I’d degree at a track like this. They’re fierce, in command and all the opposite essential buzzwords that trigger on-line followers to publish over-the-top tweets about how a lot an artist ate/slayed/devoured/and so on. The instrumental consists of some fascinating textures — particularly through the refrain — and we get a peek at extra dynamic construction through the bridge. However… and I can’t imagine I’m going to say this in 2025… at three minutes the track is overlong. It exhausts its minimal concepts in about thirty seconds and desires extra improvement to stay compelling. For all its bluster, it’s a little bit of a bore.

Grade: C-