Hey, it’s been two years with out a new Wonho single! He’s been serving his obligatory enlistment and now appears prepared to begin a brand new period. For awhile there, he was dropping banger after banger, however pop has moved into completely different territory since then. The English-language What Would You Do suits into the extra downbeat, subdued sound sweeping the charts for the time being.

Honest or not, my thoughts goes instantly to bop music once I consider Wonho. He feels most profitable right here, bringing wanted showmanship to the male solo pop star function. What Would You Do includes no dancing, selecting as a substitute to ship a Ryan Tedder fashion mopefest over resounding percussion. There’s an air of seriousness to the observe, meant extra to admire than take pleasure in. However amongst Wonho’s many charms, his voice doesn’t really feel suited to this materials. His most compelling abilities fall by the wayside in favor of a trudging vitality and performative moodiness.

A lot of my hesitance about What Would You Do facilities round its instrumental. The melodies are reasonably slight, however may sound higher with manufacturing that had extra life and spontaneity. Whereas listening, I saved enthusiastic about how properly TXT delivered angst in 2021’s 0X1=LOVESONG. The percussion there ebbed and flowed and constructed to dramatic peaks. What Would You Do simply limps alongside, largely unchanged from starting to finish.

Grade: C