Song Review: KARD – Touch | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion

With ALLDAY PROJECT’s breakout success, co-ed K-pop groups may be having a moment. What better time for KARD to reheat the nachos they created and show the industry how it’s done? However, it’s been a very long time since those nachos felt fresh, as the group has moved from their refreshing tropical sound to a series of lesser efforts. Unfortunately, Touch continues this slide.

It’s clear that KARD are eager to push K-pop’s rating closer to “R,” and that’s fine. The industry needs all kind of material. However, hot, sweaty party music still needs to be an enjoyable listen. Touch is swaggy and sweltering but isn’t much of a song. Its production borrows from too many influences to work. I would have preferred a simpler, more memorable beat. As is, the track feels busy and formless without any element sticking out as the MVP. I would have leaned heavily into the song’s synth strings, 50 Cent style.

This is further complicated by a series of hooks that hardly hit at all. The rapped verses are effective, but without a memorable centerpiece Touch fizzles before it can get going. Hook-writing has been strangely difficult for K-pop composers this year and it feels like they just gave up here. The members talk in a vaguely rhythmic way before surrendering to a reliably rote “da da da” refrain. Nothing about this inspires confidence, which is too bad because I hear potential in much of this track.

Hooks	6
Production	7
Longevity	8
Bias	7
RATING	7

Grade: C-

8 thoughts on “Song Review: KARD – Touch”

The production is a little too messy to work well, and the hook is also a little obnoxious, but the little shot of vocals in between is pleasant and could have been developed further. Idk, it’s a mess with potential

7 (7, 7, 7, 7) for me.

LikeLiked by 2 people

I was genuinely confused about this song. I feel like the production was kind of all over the place, you know? I didn’t know what the chorus was until the second half came in and it all sounded really messed up.

LikeLike

Unrelated but you will definitely enjoy this new japanese release from myname https://youtu.be/TSla9kEmfDs?si=Fi4hAVQWQciFXtsO

LikeLike

the tone used for most reviews on this blog are so formal so the use of reheating nachos is frying me 😂

LikeLike

Oh please. You’re just dragging them because they’re going against what the mainstream goes for. They’re an adult band who is going for an audience of adults, instead of making all ages songs like BTS and StrayKids. It’s early 2000s clubbing music and you can’t call the boys and girls “cutie patooties” so it scares you

LikeLike