After returning from the military, Baekhyun (mostly) parted ways with SM Entertainment and set up his own label INB100. He’s not the first SM artist to do so, and likely won’t be the last. With this newfound freedom, he’s made his long awaited comeback with the synth grooves of Pineapple Slice.
Looking at this song title, the first thing that popped into my mind was Tove Lo’s (filthy!) track of the same name. This may have inadvertently colored expectations, but Baekhyun’s take on the title is far more tame. The glistening production sees him trying on his best Weeknd impression, even borrowing some of that singer’s iconic vocal tics. His voice works well against the rubbery synth tones. The instrumental bends and pulses just as often as his own performance, crafting a track that feels constantly in motion.
If anything, I wish Pineapple Slice went harder. It’s quite subdued throughout, especially as we move into the pre-chorus. Baekhyun delivers plenty of vocal firepower in the song’s second half, bringing things to a natural climax. However, a song like this calls for constant flair. The beat could be faster, the synths could be sharper and the melodies could be more dynamic. In other words, all the right ingredients are here… they just need to be kicked up from an eight to a ten to give us the full superstar experience.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I kind of love this. I’m not impartial at all, though.
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A nice ear bleach after listening to the Meovv debut. I found it great, with a great amount of groove to it. I agree it could do with a tad bit of push to make it even more grand, but I still find myself enamoured with it.
8.75 (8, 9, 9, 9) for me.
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I really like the track. Baekhyun’s vocals really fit synthwave so well.
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Song’s decent.
lol at pineapple slice.
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I liked this more than I thought I would. The first minute follows expected solo guy slinky pop, but then it does pick up. It is also super casual and unstudied. It takes a lot of practice and experience and talent to craft something so easy.
Like how in the mall, there are $20 white tshirts and there are $100 white tshirts. This is the $100 white tshirt. Still a white tshirt, but just nicer and better.
Also happy to hear a minimally processed vocal with falsetto. Hopefully, maybe just maybe, the tide is turning towards this trend, one can hope.
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Watched his performance on Music Bank last night, Baekhyun really sells it.
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Baekhyun can do anything and make it work, but I think this is both in character and a good fresh start. The Weekend’ s music is absolutely not for me, but this is a bit more upbeat and much less dark so I do like it. I’m not blown away, but it’s just really solid.
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