Review

Song Review: ALL(H)OURS – Gimme Gimme

ALL(H)OURS joined January’s pre-release rush with the underwhelming Graffiti, but teasers for new title track Gimme Gimme seemed to promise a return to the pounding dance sound of last summer’s Shock. In this current K-pop climate, it’s more important than ever to develop a distinct sonic identity and ALL(H)OURS would do well to hitch their wagon to this high-octane approach.

Gimme Gimme is a bit rough around the edges, but that seems to be the point. Its insistent shout-rap style echoes too many of the group’s peers, but the song differs in one important way. Rather than support itself with a fitful instrumental, Gimme Gimme pulses with hard-hitting dancefloor drive. Opening with a Western motif, the track quickly abandons that influence to become bigger and clubbier. The second half of the track is my favorite. The production becomes more focused and frenzied as the song makes way for a melodic bridge.

I can’t help but wish Gimme Gimme unfurled one more indelible hook. Its “gimme gimme gimme” chorus grows a bit repetitive as the track goes on and would fare better if paired with a more melodic counterpunch. As is, this feels like super engaging production without much of a song underneath all the bombast. Still, that bombast goes a long way and every time they grunt-scream “We gotta go!!” during the chorus it’s clear they’re not taking themselves too seriously.

Hooks 8
 Production 9
 Longevity 8
 Bias 9
 RATING 8.5

Grade: B

7 thoughts on “Song Review: ALL(H)OURS – Gimme Gimme

  1. The hooks remind me of 2nd gen K-Pop in the sense that they thrived on repetitive hooks (like SuJu’s “Sorry Sorry”, “Mr. Simple” or 2NE1’s “I Am The Best), but they still had melodies injected into the repetitive hooks, which this song lacks. Yet also, the sing-songy manner in which it is sung, the production and the shouty ad-libs in between tell that the hooks are not meant to be serious (imagine if the hook was done in a monotonous manner on top of some anti-drop-ish beat? I’d rather not think that!)

    But I like this song. The beat never relents except for the bridge, which I admit was a bit jarring transition-wise. Maybe keep the energy while the guys singing there (ON:N and I guess Kunho?) sing with a bit more oomph like maybe belt the lines? Overall, it’s a fun successor of Shock, even if not as strong as it (fun fact: Shock was my 5th most-played song last year!)

    8.5 (7, 10, 8, 9) for me.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. It’s a bit hypnotic, in a way. The beats weave on and off seamlessly, so it changes flavor juuuust enough for some variety but not too much.

    It sounds like the aural descendent of the “Sorry Sorry” / “Bonamana” era. Whether this song will have the same staying power, we shall see. Maybe it will if the nostalgia is strong enough – I was looking at the Gaon chart today, and Bang Bang Bang and Eyes Nose Lips are charting again.

    Liked by 2 people

  3. I don’t want to keep comparing their songs to Shock(even though we all agree that it’s their best Title Track so far).The chorus is too repetitive for my liking,but the instrumental ways it down completely.

    I personally really enjoyed the second verse.I don’t know why but that entire section before the Chorus was so satisfying.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. Loved this. It’s very 2nd Gen esque , as many have noted, and despite me probably never going back to listen to their previous tracks, I’ve had this on repeat all day

    Liked by 2 people

  5. A little late, but I just saw their performance on one of the music shows and it was super fun. Song is great and they are defending it well…8.5

    Like

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