Review

Song Review: Key (SHINee) – Hunter

Posted on by 23 Comments

SHINee’s Key has a history of becoming a K-pop savior on this blog, breaking long streaks of “7” and “8” rated songs with music that pushes bolder and further. That certainly occurred in early 2023 with his single Killer, but his follow-ups have been less adventurous. Both Good & Great and Pleasure Shop found him operating in an ultra-smooth, somewhat sanitized commercial dance sound. Thankfully, new single Hunter gets back to his jagged electropop roots.

When I think about the word “K-pop” and all it entails, SHINee are one of the premiere groups who immediately come to mind. So, whenever I hear something that sounds remotely like their classic period, my K-pop loving brain sparks up. Hunter might as well have been a long-lost SHINee track from the 2010s. It would have benefitted greatly from the full group on vocals, but Key delivers the track with panache all on his own.

Working with frequent SM collaborator Kenzie (among many other creators), Key has reinvigorated the funky synth sound of classics like 2015’s Married To The Music. Hunter doesn’t infuse this formula with any new ideas of its own, but sometimes all you want is a well-delivered pastiche (especially when K-pop is sounding less and less “K” these days). Hunter surges with an exciting chorus, paired with a MJ-style rhythmic coda that highlights the song’s retro leanings. The song needs an extra thirty seconds or so to bloom into its full potential, but that just isn’t the formula of today’s era. Working within 2025’s restraints, Key once again proves his unique space within the industry. I don’t know that we’re quite back to Bad Love levels yet, but Hunter is definitely his best title track since Killer.

Hooks 9
 Production 9
 Longevity 9
 Bias 9
 RATING 9

Grade: A-

23 thoughts on “Song Review: Key (SHINee) – Hunter”

    • It’s most reminiscent to Criminal and maybe Danger, but I would say Criminal itself is more reminiscent of Key’s solo work than Taemin’s. Solid banger! I think it’s best to listen to the audio, since the MV kinda distracts from the song itself. I appreciate how the energy is constantly up during the track.

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  2. Oh damn, love the funky, synth-powered production and Key executes it greatly. I also wish the track had an extra 30 seconds to send it off on a high note (figuratively and literally!), but alas, these damn 2025 trends, I hope they perish for once and for all (and a special damn you to streaming culture as well!)

    8.75 (9, 9, 8, 9) just to be safe lol.

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  5. Oh, thank God! Key lost me for a moment with his two previous mini albums. I couldn’t really understand how a guy who gave us Bad Love settled for such a decent but mostly safe and uninspiring stuff. But this? This is return to form. The whole album is! First BoA’s album, now this. My faves are killing it.

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  6. The thing about SHINee is that they have taste. Even when it sounds like the kernel of the song was crafted a decade ago, or even like it could have been done by one of their group mates (I am hearing flavors of Taemin Danger), it still sounds good. It starts the beat and keeps it going, adding and subtracting flourishes.

    The little beat that sounds a touch like Michael Jackson Thriller is nice too. (You can hear it more clearly at the very end of the song when all the other layers drop out.)

    I don’t know if I 9.0 love it, but certainly at least mid’8’s for me. (I think higher scores these days sometimes get inflated due to the rarity of good songs, the relief from actually having a good one to score.)

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  8. Key saw the Kpop soundscape lying dead and said let me reanimate it with a little vampirism.

    I quite like Strange, Glam, Trap, Picture Frame, and Lavender Love too.

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  9. One of those days during which I sit, listen to what my ult brings to the table and think “I do have taste”.

    He really is underrated when it comes to his music I think. Taemin, Jonghyun and Onew rightfully get a lot of credit for their solo work, but Kibum really has been consistently evolving. I know not everyone enjoyed G&G and Pleasure Shop, but I think he did well to take a detour. The line between signature sound and repetitive sound is thin!

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    • same, I wouldn’t want the exact same dance sound from him every single time, I like that he switches it up every so often. Pleasure Shop ended up becoming one of my favorite works of his (shout out to Overthink especially!) and he fits that house influenced style really well .

      I’m listening through this new album and so far loving how experimental it is.

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