Ever since breaking out with the self-penned Rooftop earlier this year, N.Flying have taken more creative control of their music. This has been something of a mixed bag. Their follow-up single, Spring Memories, was an oddly subdued choice and failed to set the charts alight in the same way as its predecessor. With new release Good Bam (굿밤), the guys have upped the energy for a groovy, disco-infused pop track.

I’m all for groove, and I’m all for disco — especially when tethered to a tight rock band formation. With that said, I’ll always prefer the more unrestrained, raucous material the group delivered throughout 2017 and 2018. It just seemed to fit their personalities so well. Good Bam is fun and suitably rhythmic, but it feels more like a comedown than a party starter. This is reinforced by the song’s wistful lyrics and relatively straightforward structure.

Good Bam flirts between breezy melody during its chorus and laid-back, sing-song phrasing for its verses. A strong hip-hop influence has always been N.Flying’s unique calling card among idol bands, and I’m glad to hear it still being harnessed here. Leader Seunghyub and main vocal Hweseung effortlessly trade lines, offering a back-and-forth performance that takes advantage of both of their individual styles. A constant loop of rhythm guitar fuels the instrumental, bringing a new element to N.Flying’s music. But, the song could stand to a be a bit more adventurous. It’s a head-nodder for sure, but I wish it challenged itself to be something more.

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