Now that the expansion of the NCT project has ended and its first member has enlisted in the military, I predict we’ll see more solo work from the guys. This has been a long time coming. There’s a wealth of talent under the sprawling NCT umbrella. Doyoung’s voice has always been one of my favorite aspects of the various units, going all the way back to 2016’s Without You. But if I have one overriding complaint about solo releases for K-pop vocalists, it’s that agencies rely too heavily on the artists’ skills to elevate boring material.
Little Light (반딧불) tether’s Doyoung’s warm tone to a rock arrangement, but if you strip away all the guitars you’ve got a track that feels very OST-ready. This has never been an approach that compells me, as these songs tend to favor sentiment over interesting melody and production. Little Light is high on emotion. It’s like one long moment of catharsis. Doyoung’s voice suits this well and he performs with confidence and gusto. I enjoy the overall vibe of the track, but nothing about it hits me on a level beyond that. It doesn’t build toward a clear climax or moment of interest and the melodies feel rote and unadventurous.
To me, Little Light feels like coffeehouse music trussed up with a more boisterous instrumental. It makes for a pleasant backdrop and gives Doyoung a chance to unleash his inner rock star, but the track holds the listener at an arm’s length. It’s pretty but a little unapproachable.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I think it is really good. Expansive. Firmly within that OST / soloist / musical crossover Korean music sphere – like his audition reel for the above. I mean, a lot of people make a steady income playing in that space, which is largely invisible to us outside of Korea.
For me, I have so many regulars that I follow that I don’t know if this will be added to my usual go-to list, I don’t know if this song is compelling enough right now. Maybe next one.
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Listening to the album, I definitely enjoyed ‘From Little Wave’ the most. It remains within that ‘OST’ vibe but I think it’s much more dynamic and lively compared to the title track
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ITA. The instrumental has personality and the guitar is emoting as much as Doyoung. That’s the kind of ballads I grew up with in olden Tim’s. It’s really good.
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times, jeez.
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this was what I kinda expected from him
7.25/10 for me
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The album reads as a collection of OSTS–whether or not that’s a good thing depends on the listener. DY’s voice is undoubtedly the saving grace here. His airy warm tone and emotive delivery are major positives and elevate what could’ve been meh tracks. I’m not disappointed by this at all nor am I in love with it but I don’t feel like I wasted my time which is commendable.
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