Like many groups from smaller agencies, DKB has diversified their audience by touring extensively overseas. Their smooth, hip-hop inspired sound holds big international appeal, but new single I Need Love takes them in a direction more suited to the dancefloor.
There’s a great song packed in here, but the structure and production seem intent on sabotaging it from every angle. After the teasers, I thought we were in for a house-flavored summer banger in the same family as ONF’s Complete or many Brave Brothers-produced tracks of years past. I Need Love gets there in fits and starts — mainly during its hypnotic chorus. But rather than lean into its propulsion, the track sputters. Its second verse sacrifices momentum and feels ripped from an entirely different song. Meanwhile, verse one needs more oomph behind it to really work.
When I Need Love is firing on all cylinders, it’s a nice bit of tropical-flavored K-pop. I like the wispy texture of the vocals and some of the melodies during the pre-chorus — even if the production here is weirdly sparse. I just wish these moments held together to create a dynamic whole.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 7.75 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I felt genuinely confused when the prechorus came back in the second time. I didn’t think it was a prechorus so I wasn’t expecting it to be repeated. Removing the prechorus and the beginning of verse one would make for a more cohesive song.
I really wanna root for dkb since they’re attached to brave sound, but their music never fully connects with me unfortunately
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Are you watching queendom puzzle?
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Hah, yeah, I agree, if they just laid a backing beat that continues through the whole damn song it would be so much better, some ting ting pft ting on 4:4 time. It sounds like there might have been a such like a click track which was then deleted for the final cut.
Otherwise, I think it is actually nice. Bright and poppy and summery without being too young or cloying.
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Off topic:
I am crushing on the new Jung Seung Hwan “Epilogue” song out today.
Its very cinematic like old IU, complete with a great symphonic break excursion and then a great key change =just for me=. It just builds and builds. Also, the song takes its time old school-like, and only gets to the chorus 1:15 when other songs would be half over. The symphonic break is just soars.
Let me talk about the key change – it’s at 3:24. Others would place the key change half a bar earlier. Instead Jung Seung Hwan goes full S tier and sings the first three notes in the old key then just switches the key himself mid-bar. No cues, no orchestral lead in, just sings it. This is Nam Woo Hyun “Chaser”-level key change.
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A lot of potential but it just doesn’t do it for me. Anyways have you finished watching Peak Time yet? I’m really curious to know what you thought of it along with its songs
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