Whenever a new boy group debuts with a bright concept, it feels like we’re running against the clock before they inevitably shift toward edgier sounds. I’m not too worried about TWS in this regard, especially since their exceedingly bright title tracks have been huge chart successes. But when they do inevitably move on to new sounds, the group has already proven their skills in a variety of concepts.
It would take so little for me to dislike Double Take. Throw in some tinny, pots-and-pans percussion and posturing chants and you’ve got a recipe for instant exasperation. Yet, the song works in spite of itself. The hook is repetitive and simplistic, but the whole thing is pulled off with such flair. In between the relentless “Double, double, dou-dou-double… take!” we’ve got a stellar, vocal-led second verse. Elsewhere, the melodies are constantly moving. I’m especially charmed by the bridge, which positions surprising range over a throwback hip-hop beat.
More than anything, Double Take continues (and expands upon) TWS’s quirky style. Their strength thus far has been transforming familiar tropes into a playful narrative that plays like the soundtrack to a youth drama. Much of this is due to the specificity and detail of the songwriting/production, but the members’ charisma can’t be discounted. This winning combination buoys what could have been a tired two minute TikTok challenge into its own kind of highlight.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I’ll be honest, but from my perspective, I believe if this was released by a group like NCT, you would’ve definitely scored it lower 😓. It’s basically an NCT-adjacent style track (I can hear Taeyong’s Tap from earlier in the year, and the constant sonic shifts are a very NCT-SM style thing to do; actually got reminded of 2 Baddies’ outro and funnily enough, Baggy Jeans). Anyway, that’s my personal opinion. I think the song is fine for what it is, but I would’ve ranked it maybe in the 7s. It’s some harmless, repetitive fun.
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I would actually disagree. I can see the argument and I’m honestly not the biggest fan of this song but he pointed out in this review that a lot of what makes this song work is TWS’s quirky youthful energy. NCT 127 doesn’t quite have that and really wouldn’t be able to make this song work. I could see NCT WISH doing this and probably getting a similar score though!
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I drew the comparison with Taeyong’s Tap, which I think has a lot of similarities to the ‘quirky’ and playful delivery that was mentioned. I honestly couldn’t be sold on the ‘youthful energy’ of the song. I think it’s kinda dull here, and they’ve pull it out better on other songs in their discography.
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I mean, NCT Wish did WISH, and the reception was certainly different.
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Well WISH is a very different messy song. I can see the TAP comparison but that song has a lot of the complex NCTisms and annoying little parts that SM songs can have. I love Tap but Double Take avoids a lot of those and is a lot more simple for better or for worse. I definitely agree though that the group has done a lot better. This song is probably my least listened to from the new album but I still enjoy it!
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I need to note down the “NCTisms” lol, and probably study them a bit😂. Here comes a person who likes Baggy Jeans, a tad more than Double Take also. I can see why NCT definitely but to me this is more Seventeenesque than NCT actually. Still enjoy Double Take too.
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Jumping in to say that I also hear way more early Seventeen in this than NCT, which is probably why I prefer it to many of those NCT tracks. It’s all about presentation. This isn’t generally the kind of song I like (and it’s probably my least favorite on their mini album), but it steers clear of many elements I often find grating about this style and the members’ performance feels more fresh and playful than boastful. It’s all subjective, though (and clearly I’m biased toward TWS’s music at the moment).
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To explain further, if we go all the way to Seventeen’s first albums, we can hear elements from b-sides like Jam Jam, NO F.U.N, Ah Yeah, etc. in Double Take, the rap is very Seventeen style, and that second verse could as well come straight from Adore U if it weren’t for the lyrics (the rap in “my heart is a ball”, the way of singing “my heart races when I’m in front of you”, “mianhe”). A part of what makes TWS an exciting group is that you never know when and where a part of Seventeen will pop out of them.
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It’s a bit NCT Dream coded. I actually quite enjoyed it.
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heh, this is filmed just like some parts of 82Major’s “Choke”. Gonna agree with the other commentator that says this is basically just an NCT song and not a particularly good one at that.
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How about we just call it early 4th gen adjacent.
… though I hear more early NCT-styling than Seventeen styling. The chord on “TAKE” in the chorus is very SM “Superhuman”. The vocal fry at the end of lines is very “Limitless”. I think NCT would be weirder though in instrumental choices and construction, which makes it more Seventeen adjacent. So let’s just call it both, k.
Do I like the song? I wish it had more to it. It plays very safe. And the number of double double’s are a bit too many for me. It might have been great if the break switched to triple triple in an alt meter, like a 6/8ths. Trip-ell-ee-Trip-ell-ee-Trip-ell-ee-Trip-ell-ee.
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See, I got GD & T.O.P.’s Knock Out from this.
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Lots of folks on twitter are pointing that out and now I hear it too. Another reason I like the song, I suppose!
(of course, those people are mostly shouting “PLAGIARISM!” in all caps, as K-pop twitter is apt to do…)
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Mmhhh the hook is a BIG NOD at GD & T.O.P. “Knock out” – I’m surprised it’s been put out not changing the word “double” into something else to avoid some potential copyright clash.
I like it but if I have to be reallllly honest I far prefer TWS previous singles. I don’t find it very NCT-esque, the concept/lyrics make me cringe a little, which “Baggy Jeans” didn’t do. Guess these things are always so subjective! 🙂
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A sound like this would have totally left me unimpressed, but TWS makes it enjoyable for me.
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I don’ t know what it is lately with me and my auditory sensitivities. Those little highpitched sounds, somewhere between a beep and a chime, are aggravating to my ears. I nearly didn’ t finish the song because it felt like something stung my brain every time that sound came up.
Looking past that strange experience, I’ d say this is decent. I can hear the NCT and Seventeen similarities, but what I was reminded of immediately is this song; ‘https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlI4mcHnG_U‘. So much so that I opened 2 tabs and managed to play both songs on top of each other. The tempo and rhythm is exactly the same, and overlaying the ‘double-double’ hooks is incredibly satisfying.
A fun little sidequest, but not to say that this doesn’t stand on its own. That painful beep noise aside, this production is pretty good and varied enough to keep it interesting. I don’ t think I can listen to it again, but it’s a pretty decent song!
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