It’s been a week and I’m still recovering from the nursery rhyme assault that was NMIXX’s Young, Dumb, Stupid. Thankfully, it was only a pre-release and new single Love Me Like This will be receiving the bulk of their promotion. At this point, I’m not sure NMIXX’s music will ever be for me, but this is their most coherent song yet and that’s a step in the right direction.
NMIXX have a chorus problem. Love Me Like This doesn’t go full-on nursery rhyme (thank goodness), but the repetitive catchphrase at its core definitely underwhelms. It’s a bit Meghan Trainor in execution, and I don’t mean that as a compliment. The hook is made tolerable by jolts of brass and guitar distortion that elevates its second half. The arrangement shouldn’t have to work this hard, but it pulls the song over the line.
Love Me Like This’s verses are standard ‘attitude-first, melody-second’ 4th gen K-pop fare. They have the feel of a playground chant, bolstered by bounding percussion. The song’s most impressive moments happen during the pre-choruses and (especially) the bridge. NMIXX’s vocal line is often touted as being very strong, and we finally get to hear that potential during these segments. It’s a shame JYP Entertainment can’t find them a song that fully capitalizes on this skill. Instead, Love Me Like This is a well-produced, well-delivered example of a K-pop genre that is already over-represented by many other artists. I can see why fans would love it, but it won’t be going on my own playlist.
Hooks | 7 |
Production | 9 |
Longevity | 8 |
Bias | 7 |
RATING | 7.75 |
Grade: C+
It’s inoffensive (unlike their releases before this) so I like it. the album is decent, in my opinion.
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Bright and fresh solid girls pop song. Firmly in the current TikTok social media gestalt with the little dance clips thing going on.
Though worth noting that it is both a blessing and a meh that this could have been a solid pop song from anytime the past decade or two – to me it sounds a bit like the next generation reinterpretation of Single Ladies – Love on Top – era Bey. Yeah, I can hear Meghan Trainor too. Also old SPICA or Miss A era reinterpretation of the Single Ladies era Bey. Not bad era(s) to mimic, but a shade too close to those for my taste = low 8’s from me.
It sounds like JYP wrote it, and if he didn’t then it is JYP highly influenced JYP agency style.
Also Kim Jae Hwan has a new one out today “Spring Breeze” – I know the soft balladeer is not for everyone, and not high on Nick’s review list either, but for me, I love it. Another one of his songs that sound like it is coming home at every turn. ‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi4bGTUw3tI
Also Gaho has an EP out today – Gaho, another confident singer just spitting out his notes high and low in their full rawness.
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I vibe with this. LMLT feels like older Little Mix songs, that girl group songs that you’ve already heard many times, but you’ll put it on your playlist anyways.
I’m aware this is a LDN Noise production. Yet, pretending I have’t searched the credits, it evokes a strong British RnB/pop flavor for me.
By the way, I’m putting it on repeat.
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I thought it sounded like something little Little Mix would do too. Very Western girl group. But I get Nick’s reference to Meghan Trainor, she’s had her share of spoken choruses.
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I’ve noticed LDN Noise’s productions, even their songs for SM, have veered further away from their signature house lately, their productions are very hip hop or R&B based now, including this one.
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I personally think ‘Love Me Like Thus’ is NMIXX’s strongest and weakest title song. The song is the most coherent within NMIXX’s title songs, and it is a bit more listener-friendly than O.O or DICE. I also love how well JYPE showcased their strong vocal line, compared to their title tracks before. But I think LMLT is a bit underwhelming than DICE. It kind of lacks the ‘punch’ that NMIXX is well known for.
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In conclusion, I like this song.
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The song is extremely faceless and could’ve belonged to literally any group inside JYPE, but it is indeed their most listenable attempt so far so… congrats?
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I agree with this being their most cohesive song yet, and their vocal line is incredibly strong here. That being said, I do feel like this song doesn’t suit them? Like if another girl group did this, I would rock with it 100% because the chorus to me is catchy and I like how it builds up in the second part. But since it’s coming from a group known to change and nmixx it up (haha), it sounds a bit bland for them.
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This song reminds me of Wonder Girls’ Like This and Rihanna’s Pon De Replay
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I personally like it! It’s easily their most-straightforward title track and makes me think of a song like Fifth Harmony’s Boss or Worth It. A catchy, repetitive song that shows off a bit a vocals but has a chorus that gets stuck in your head. I wouldn’t be surprised if JYP releases an English version of this song and tries to get it pushed on American Pop radio through their deal with Republic Records.
I’m sure some people will think this is too “safe” considering their first few tracks. But, I’m not sure another Dice-type song would have done well considering the reaction to their earlier music and the fact that they are trying to bounce back from suddenly losing a popular member.
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it’s incredibly dull for me and i struggled to finish it. i love tank very much and i thought that’s the sound that they would pursue, but i guess not?
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I really didnt like the chorus in this song. Imma give 10 for bias because I like sub rappers/non rappers rap in songs but….wow.
7.75 for me (6, 8, 7, 10)
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The only melodic portions are the prechorus and bridge, otherwise the repetitive chorus dominates this song. Either you like it or not.
5/10 for me, but hey, better than Nusery Rhymns!
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that hook got old really fast… the production definitely carried the hook into tolerable territory.. everything else is just… meh. i see they were going for a throwback hit but they somehow landed on meghan trainor
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I feel bad that I like not 1 single song of theirs. I thought this one might be fine and then I got to the “Love me like this. Love me like that” over and over again chorus and just nope. I don’t like not liking a group at all. I wanna like something by them. I feel bad.
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Check the Bsides, I’m in the same boat tbh, I keep trying to give them another chance. Thankfully HOME is a solid 7/10. So I can say I like a NMIXX song finally
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This is the first and only NMIXX song that actually didn’t manage to disappoint me, unlike all of their previous works. However…the dull, ultra-repetitive chorus feels off-putting to my taste, despite myself being a fan of this concept. I can hear Meghan Trainor influence, too. Rating is about right. The song might have not fully pulled me in, but hey, it’s listenable, to say at least!
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Yikes. Reddit said that you way over the top criticizing female idols when in the other hand, you “play it safe” when it comes to male idol releases (jimins smf pt2 for example), and I kinda agree with them😬
Idk your review kinda sus with big !ncel energy
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Well, if reddit said it, it must be true! lol
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Grow up
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your comment reeks of big incel energy. none of these girl groups will fuck you just because you’re avenging an imaginary slight, lol
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Also, KARA ended SNSD? Like I like both groups, but fucking REALLY? Lmao
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I *love* this song. It’s a mega-bop. The chorus is super infectious and catchy, and there are so many moments (e.g., prechorus, bridge) where the members get to show off their vocals. It sounds so cohesive; the song’s elements blend together well and the instrumental still has this propulsive energy that keeps things moving. I know other people (not the person who wrote this post) are disappointed that the song is different than the group’s other title songs though I’m glad they did something different that works for them. I love the confident girl group energy.
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If you mean super catchy chorus in the same vein as Daft Punk – Around the World… Sure if you happen to like that kind of stuff. Honestly I’ll take Set me free Pt.2 over this, there was some emotion in that at least, if not a particularly inspired chorus
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I swear I’m going crazy but, does some parts of this song sound strangely SM-ish to you guys??? Pretty much the only parts of this song I liked were the rock guitar in the chorus and the vocal-loaded bridge, both of which immediately gave me SM vibes.
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The song’s producers are LDN Noise, they got their start in K-Pop through SM acts like SHINee, f(x), Taeyeon, EXO, and Red Velvet. They’re so prominent they’re very synonymous with SM. Recently branched out to non-SM acts especially w JYPE acts like Twice, Itzy and now NMIXX. Might be the reason?
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This one sounds good, there’s parts of the song that sound like “scent of you” by &TEAM and “nabilerra” by Hyuna. Overall better than their previous releases.
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their first good title track imo. very reminiscent of wonder girls and miss a (this sounds like an updated version of the former’s song ‘like this’) so extra points for the nostalgia
the album is cohesive too minus the pre-release song, my buried treasure would be paxxword
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Very happy to finally hear their vocals. Just another kpop trsck that reminds me how often black culture is co opted
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pleasantly surprised! its their best title track so far imo. im not a big fan of the “two different sounding songs in one” unless its executed flawlessly like next level. this seems like a step in the right direction for their youthful sound tho. its the first song of theirs i actually put this on my playlist!
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I hate this.
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I like it! Roughly an 8 so far.
Miss the ol’ Nmixx mixx, but the 2022 kpop version of single ladies does well enough without it.
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I’m neutral to this song and Nmixx but if you read this review first and then read Jimin’s SMF review you’d be shocked that this scored higher like you can just feel the annoyance here lmao.
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On one hand, the song is just fine. It isn’t as irritating as their other songs.
On the other hand, I’ve just put together a Sweetune playlist for my own listening and there is literally no reason for me to pause that one for this.
Meh.
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What’s your buried treasure for this time?
For me it’s PAXXWORD. The song is good for me
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For a moment I thought they were going to break out into black horse and a cherry tree. I think it’s a fun song, very catchy.
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