After nearly a year of pre-releases, NCT’s Mark is finally scheduled to drop his debut album early next month. It’s been a long-gestating project, so I’m eager to see what he’s got in store. We don’t have to wait until April for new music, though. Pre-release +82 Pressin pairs him with bandmate Haechan.
This duo is a long-time fan favorite, ever since their dual appearance on Korea’s version of Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club in 2015 (yes, this actually existed). They’ve grown up together, making +82 Pressin both nostalgic and triumphant in its own way. A decade in the industry is no joke — especially for such young idols. This sentimental setting ends up being more compelling than the actual music, but fans will still find plenty to love. Of all Mark’s solos, this feels the most like an NCT song to me. Maybe it’s just the result of having both members on the same track. The contrast between their tones has a well-worn familiarity and gives +82 Pressin plenty of texture.
More interesting production would have elevated this track. With the renewed popularity of early-2000’s Neptunes-style beats, I’m surprised +82 Pressin didn’t opt for that sense of loose funk. The percussion here is unremarkable and a bit too tinny and the whistled loop during the chorus is downright obnoxious. While the song’s hooks aren’t anything to write home, they deserve a warmer sound palette that compliments the liveliness of the performance.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I do admit my status as a devout NCTzen is clouding my judgement. Objectively, this is not that notable a track – nothing that hasn’t been done (and done better) on NCT albums and just in general in the pop landscape. But I do really love that contrast of vocal tones (as you point out). Plus, I don’t really tend to find many percussive sounds irritating, so I find the whistled loop more charming than anything else.
The post-chorus is the obvious highlight, when the song becomes just a little bit more ambitious with its musical scope (little more, though, not significantly). I just wish the track had more melodic lift and a bit more diversity in sounds.
Otherwise, though, I’ll be looping this for sure.
Hooks 7
Production 8
Longevity 8
Bias 9
= 8
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also Haechan is my ult bias….. maybe that impacts my score too 😳
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its nothing new but it’s a fun little neo bop and, I mean it’s Mark and Haechan in a Sin City style MV so
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I vibe with this. The whistled loop also lowkey grinds my gears (especially in the beginning), but somehow it’s toned down a bit during the choruses, so I’m cool with that (I mean, if then 15 year old me could happily shimmy to Sticker’s broken flute during my massive NCTzen phase, then I can easily stomach the most obnoxious whistle loops). Otherwise, this song’s nothing too spectacular, just decent, albeit toned down, funk.
8.25 (8, 8, 9, 8) for me.
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I like it. It’s a bit slight, but they both elevate it and it’s not a car crash like some of Marks’s solo songs.
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As my kids would say “It’s a bit mid”, except they wouldn’t say that this year, they said that years ago, this year its something else, so it is an “It’s a bit mid” meaning it is so years ago.
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My second review as a metaphor:
A new game popped up in my free game app “Offline Games” I was like how do I play this game kid and he was like how do you not know flappy bird and I am like I don’t know and he was like you just do this and proceeded to actually flop the flappy over and over and I was like ha ha kid and he was like its just not the same.
Its like that.
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