Rookie group KiiiKiii have launched their fourth music video from their debut mini album, milking the project far more than most acts would. I appreciate this “visual album” approach, though it would have been more satisfying if I also loved the music behind it. Of all the songs on the EP, Groundwork points toward the most interesting way forward for KiiiKiii. I just wish their composers could find a way to meld experimentalism with satisfying pop hooks.
I’ve seen some compare Groundwork to f(x)’s work (a discography I’m very familiar with!). However, the quality that made those f(x) songs so brilliant was their ability to fuse leftfield production choices with glistening melodies and abundant hooks. With the rise of sub-genres like hyper pop, K-pop clearly wants to go experimental but doesn’t seem to have as much interest in generous top lines. This is where a song like Groundwork gets into trouble with a listener like me. I admire its prickly sound and the girls sell it well, but the extended “groooouuuunnnnddddwork” hook just doesn’t do anything for me.
Because of this, I’m forced to enjoy the song more as a performance piece than a hit on its own. Given K-pop’s hyper-visual component, this approach makes sense. But without that aural element, the song fizzles. It might be that I’m approaching this song with the wrong mindset, but the best K-pop classics stand as something I’m eager to watch and listen to. Groundwork could have easily conquered both fields if as much thought had been put into its songwriting as its production and performance.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Yep, if you are going to go minimal, it actually takes some crystal clear ideas done well.
This song here as produced sounds like a cover of, say, the middle track on the second side of some OMD album in the early 80’s without half of the synth lines of the the clever beeps and boops and second voice harmony and strange aural overlays they would do. Here, just about the main vocal and one synth line and the drum kit, and that is it. That’s it?
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not to go full annoying ‘but why didn’t they promote my favorite b side of choice’ but i really think it’s a missed opportunity to not do anything with there they go, their best song by a country mile and one that would have definitely fit this mv and their whole weird girl kitchen sink approach a lot more to me
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“weird girl kitchen sink” is a perfect word to describe this approach/genre of music!
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0 aura
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I like this until the harsh loud grating chorus. I suppose I could get used to that. I like the quirkiness.
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i can see the appeal of this, but ultimately it just makes my ears tired. Especially the ending part which unfortunately was also my favorite
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I like the chorus, but honestly can’t sit through the rest of the song in order to enjoy it.
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It’s bad, what a surprise.
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I do me is the only good song from the album
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#GiveWJSNaComebackStarshit
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