Over the past few years, from20 has released a series of synth bangers that firmly established him as one of my favorite artists working in K-pop. With new single Demon, he makes a slight shift into funk pop, retaining his slick sound and catchy hooks.
This sound isn’t quite as thrilling to me, mainly because it’s already been traversed by many other K-pop acts this decade. from20 brings plenty of flair to the groove, but the song could do with more breathing room. At just two and half minutes, it misses the chance to unveil one final knockout chorus. This has me thinking back to classic funk workouts from artists like Prince and Michael Jackson. Those songs — even the singles — often stretched for five minutes or longer, giving the artist a chance to really sink their teeth into the rhythm and gradually work the track into a frenzy.
Demon is solid enough. After all, everything from20 releases is solid. His vocals are smooth and engaging and the song offers natural moments of build that let him show off. I just want more of it.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
Grade: B
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Just earlier this week, Michael Jackson came around on the ipod, and I was struck by how long the intros were before the vocal starts. ”The way you make me feel” is a five minute long song. The intro luxuriates in the beat – one of the few songs that can be identified by its beat alone sans any other melody or instrumental line. The verse only begins 0:40 in. The outro is a good minute and a half, just riding the good vibes.
I think, for me, it reflects how today the music is lead from the music exec perspective, with tracks composed at an office desk, or just about. Then well afterwards, a lead vocal is added on top. Back then, a performer like Michael Jackson was singing all along while it was being recorded, mentally planning his stage presentation, telling the producer and the session musicians to add another 16 bars here, another 32 there.
Back to this song, they get the sparseness right in the production. Bass, vocal, drum. Later add a guitar and synth. It leaves space for the charisma in the lead vocal to come through. Less truly is more. If I were to nitpick, besides missing the final chorus-with-feeling and substantial outro, it would be to have used backing female vocals to contrast with the male lead vocal, instead of the lead vocal also singing his own backing vocal. That said, I think it is another solid release from from20.
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also reminds me of amuro namie’s immortal a walk in the park, whose intro is 1:30 long (consisting of namie doing some “woah woah woah woah woahs”) before it enters its first verse
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I FRICKING LOVE THIS. This style . From20, I know you read this blog. Make longer songs. Thank you in advance.
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