Kiss Of Life have quickly become one of K-pop’s buzziest acts and their ascent seems to have come about naturally. They’re not from a major agency, but their producers seem to have their finger on the pulse of popular sounds. In a K-pop summer devoid of big hits, their Sticky became an emblem of the season. They’re set to build upon this success with a new mini album, teased by pre-release R.E.M.
One thing I appreciate about Kiss Of Life is how their vocal style recalls the virtuosic approach of 90’s R&B. Even in more subdued material, the girls sing with plenty of zeal. This helped buoy the hazy nature of Sticky and the girls try to replicate that with R.E.M. Unfortunately, this time around the song is just boring.
R.E.M echoes the prevailing girl group trend of the moment, smoothing its edges until the track becomes little more than a vibe. Muted synths provide a bed for tickling, trap-influenced percussion. The song wafts by like mist, anchored only by the group’s performance. The melodies are pretty but dull, repeating often without modulating toward a compelling endpoint. This enhances R.E.M‘s sleepy flat line, making it feel like the backdrop to a lazy morning in bed. I suppose this has a certain amount of utility, but it doesn’t excite me in any way.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I agree with the rating for this song but I’m still excited for the mini album.
on a side note, did you listen to their song Maestro of my heart? What did you think of that song if you did.
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A decent serviceable R&B song.
7.5 (8, 7, 8, 7) for me.
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its fine, but I prefer sticky and midas touch more
7.5/10 for me
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That’s sugarcane that tasted good, that’s cinnamon, that’s Hollywood ….ooops sorry that was REM “Imitation of Life”, speaking of which this song here is an imitation of a watered down 90’s R&B. Pass.
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It could be nice as a background track, but then I feel like the singing is a bit too dominant and loud for that, too. It’ s a shrug for me, to be honest.
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Nothing is way superior, that song was pure excellence
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They suit the genre, but they can do so much more to match the 90’s vibe
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This is their first release that I really don’t need to listen to again. Sad, but given that it’s just a pre-release, hope isn’t lost yet.
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