On their first few releases after debut, idol band XDinary Heroes felt a little too gimmicky for me. Songs like Happy Death Day and Hair Cut seemed overly enthused by their own cleverness, so it was refreshing to see the group unleash a straight-ahead rocker with last year’s Break The Brake. For the release of their first full album, the guys continue down this lane with an added sense of emotional catharsis.

Little Things (어리고 부끄럽고 바보 같은) may be the most ‘down the middle’ rock song XDinary Heroes have promoted yet. On first listen, it felt like a time machine back to late-90’s Green Day (or mid-2000’s My Chemical Romance). The crunchy guitars and anthemic vocals have their heart in decades of pop-punk influences and it’s a nice genre for the band to target. The guys sound great, eschewing any affectations for a hearty performance that emphasizes the pummeling power of the track.

Of course, when you go this straightforward on a track, it only makes foundational elements like melody that much more important. The melodies here are strong, but extremely familiar. I feel like I’ve heard this song many times throughout the decades — especially as we reach its chorus. With nostalgia such a driving force in pop music these days, that might not be a bad thing. However, it means Little Things struggles to find a perspective of its own. The song is comfort food for lovers of this genre, but doesn’t stretch beyond that.

Grade: B