When last we heard from Primrose, they teased us with a Nordic title and imagery only to deliver the same cacophonous stomp favored by many of their peers. Freyja was a letdown, for sure. However, they’re back with yet another new sound. Steal Heart is a far funkier effort that puts great focus on their vocal skill.
Many K-pop songs nod back to 90’s R&B, but few get the bounce exactly right. Steal Heart manages better than most, capturing the moment when new jack swing ceded ground to other pop trends, losing some of its unique bite but imbuing the sound of the 90’s with insistent percussion. Steal Heart‘s production is addictive in its nostalgia, down to the specific drum samples and touches of gangsta rap synth. Better yet, this arrangement gives Primrose space to unleash a confident performance during the song’s layered chorus.
Vocal harmony abounds within Steal Heart, adding a sense of drama to every moment. At its best, the song reminds me of early Red Velvet. There’s a very classic SM Entertainment sound throughout, which makes sense given the 90’s influences. More than anything, Steal Heart reminds us not to discount K-pop’s nugu groups. This underknown quartet released today’s best song by a comfortable margin.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
for some reason I can hear Kiss Of Life singing this
8 (8, 8, 8, 8) for now
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Same here, I could imagine them singing this too
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KIOF has been releasing songs inspired from a similar era. Also some of the ladies in primrose have complementary tones to those of KIOF members. Ruby kinda raps like Julie, rainie’s is sharp like belles and nahyun sounds like a more sultry haneul
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I’ve discovered a new nugu! Have you listened to the whole album? I think the production is truly genius. Five tracks flow together seamlessly! It’s a level of meticulous design that’s rare in today’s K-Pop.
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ur right…. it’s kind of genius. the instrumental breaks between songs are fantastic.
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Love these vibes, absolutely! The “Oh baby baby” scratches my brain!
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I have conflicting feelings. On one hand, I’m impressed that they’ve managed to released something so good with a nice video despite their budget. On the other, disheartened knowing this won’t get the attention it deserves. I was engaged throughout, more of this please!
if there was one thing I would critique, it’s the chorus. I would’ve used it as the intro and then as a counterpoint after an exciting bridge. As is, the transition into the chorus is a tad abrupt
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Such a solid song.
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I really like this! Kind of brings me back to 3rd gen.
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