Review

TWS TRY WITH US: In-Depth Album Review – Lucky To Be Loved

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1. Lucky To Be Loved // 2. Countdown! // 3. Random Play // 4. Freestyle // 5. Now Playing // 6. Go Back

LUCKY TO BE LOVED

The overriding feeling among blog readers seems to be that I’m absolutely crazy for loving TWS’s new single Countdown, but I promise you this is no PSYOP or self-justification. Though to be fair, I made the rare move of self-editing an extended version of the song for my own music library that enhances what I hear in the original and more fully represents the opinions I laid out in my review yesterday. At any rate, I occasionally feature track-by-track album reviews from some of my favorite acts in K-pop, and TWS have reached that threshold. Over the course of the next five days, I want to look at each song on their new mini album.

For those who found Countdown too much of a Plot Twist / S/N retread, album opener Lucky To Be Loved offers something quite different. Its subdued tone is much more in line with recent single Last Festival, though the song isn’t as melodically (or sonically) developed as that track. This is a nice mood for TWS because they have such strong, characteristic vocals. I love hearing their voices front and center in the mix, and they sound great here.

The song itself is the kind of mellow, mid-tempo dance track I often think of as “H&M-core.” Melding elements of UK garage with atmospheric synth, Lucky To Be Loved unfolds with a stylish nonchalance that’s hard to resist. I’ll always prefer pop music that’s a bit more energetic, but this is really well done and I wouldn’t be mad if it was chosen as a follow-up single. Of all the songs on the album, it probably has the greatest potential to grow with time since it’s such and easy, unobtrusive listen. And just like Countdown, a knockout bridge would have been very welcome.

 Hooks 8
 Production 8
 Longevity 9
 Bias 9
 RATING 8.5

Grade: B

24 thoughts on “TWS TRY WITH US: In-Depth Album Review – Lucky To Be Loved”

  1. even if it’s a mellow song and just like you i tend to prefer more energetic pop, it’s objectively well done. have you also listened to chuu’s album? no more and je t’aime are probably the best songs on it. how do you feel about them?

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  3. I like the album, all the tracks are good but none of them stood out to me the same way their past releases did. GO BACK is the song I like the most, mostly because it reminds me of Adore U + Shining Diamond

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  4. This is definitely my favourite song off the album, it reminds me of a more mellow First Hooky, if that makes sense haha. I too would have loved a killer bridge but the vibes are just so easygoing and sweet, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in it!

    Another (probably random) comparison that came to mind immediately was actually Cravity’s A to Z. Both of them are light, breezy songs but with really nice and clear melodies that stand out for me!

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  5. Wait could you share that extended version of Countdown with us please? I was actually just considering making one yesterday when I have the time, what a coincidence! I also want to make one for Magic Clock by f5ve, because if that song had a bridge or dance break and a final chorus it would have a really good chance at being my song of the year, unless VERIVERY have a comeback.

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  6. “H&M-core” makes a lot of sense, as I was getting really nostalgic listening to this, and realized it reminds me a lot of the music I was listening to 10 years ago when I was an H&M regular, lol.

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