Though IVE have occasionally dipped into different genres, they’ve enjoyed their biggest chart success with a bombastic pop sound. You don’t have to look any further than this year’s Rebel Heart and Attitude, with the anthemic pre-release easily outperforming the actual title track. New single XOXZ sees them returning to an edgier hip-hop sound with underwhelming results.
I’m not sure how many fans were clamoring for “IVE over a trap beat,” but if that’s been your greatest desire you’re in luck with XOXZ. The group takes a much more minimalist approach here, with sparse production and a chorus driven by talking rather than singing. This approach might fare better if so many other acts weren’t already using it. After all, I can still remember how fresh and transformative SNSD’s The Boys sounded so many years ago. However, K-pop has traversed so much sonic ground since then, making most songs come across as new takes on existing tropes rather than legitimately new horizons.
In the case of XOXZ, we’ve got a missmatch between artist and song. Yes, part of IVE’s appeal is their stylish iciness and this track brings that out in spades, but a bigger reason for their success involves iconic melodies and a sense of musical storytelling. Under that criteria, XOXZ feels undercooked. Its verses are limp and unmemorable and the pre-chorus (often home to their most bombastic melodies) comes and goes without much effect. The resounding chorus is more successful, but only by a hair. Its echoey sound fools us into thinking the hook is more grand than it is. Still, it’s like we’re only hearing the boring, filler parts of XOXZ while its highlights were somehow left on the cutting room floor. It’s a confounding choice for a title track, especially from IVE.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I think the chorus here works way better than Accendio’s chorus to me but something is missing and idk what it is. The lack of melodies?, the production not being quite there? the trap beat? not really sure but the chorus is such an earworm.
the biggest “wtf”listening to this was the end: it transitioned into an afrobeat which was pretty cool and then climaxed into the same dumb trap beat lmao..
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looking back, it might have been the forgettable verses lmao
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Sigh, what a nothing burger… IVE, I expected better :’)
6.75 (7, 7, 7, 6) for me.
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ive…what happened…eleven, love dive, after like, i am… why cant we have another one of those
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I like the bridge, but what is Starship even doing anymore with these girls I’m just baffled. Baddie wasn’t even well-received among the fandom, no one was asking for another one. they should’ve just promoted TKO if they wanted a more hip-hop title track, since that one was actually good.
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i agree with the bridge, that was actually the highlight of the song to me!
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What an odd choice, especially happening = right now = when so many people think they are the original demon hunters, why didn’t they lean into that acquired persona with a mad crazy foot stomping banger? Instead we and the world get this chill trap thing.
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Someone among the higher ups must have said “We are doing well in Korea but not in the US. These big melodic choruses don’t do well there, so let’s change that”. Meantime “Golden” came out, not only ravaging the charts worldwide (including the US), but also outperforming the IVE songs that clearly inspired it “I AM” and “REBEL HEART”. The irony … 😅
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Yeah, I’m done.
Burn Starship.
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chill
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I’m chill, lol.
But that’s the last lukewarm release from IVE for me.
It’s been downhill ever since Baddie.
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you’re right that ive’s quality has been declining since baddie. however accendio was pretty decent
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I won’t say it’s been downhill. IVE never got a proper sound (the difference between Eleven and Love Dive was outrageous for ex), but they are great with sounds like “I am” or “After Like”.
Their production team seems not very inspired lately. But they sure have potential to make a great cb – if not getting a proper esthetic.
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I lowkey like it, got it better first listen compared to Eleven and Baddie. The downgrade in music this year has to be studied though.
It’s sad now comparing top 4th gen girl group music compared to how 3/2nd gen was releasing hit after hit when they were active
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A bit revisionist – I have ipods full of three hit wonders from back when, about whom we wonder “oh yeah whatever happened to them” when they come around on a random shuffle.
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I liked it more when I was half listening while working than when I stopped to take a legitimate listen. The “highlights left on the cutting room floor” is a perfect way to describe the song.
6,8,8,7 = 7.25
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I probably shouldn’t love this as much as I do.
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Idk I think there is room for this song as the ending credits to a Fast and Furious movie.
Once again, Ive is just not for me.
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In a way, it recalls “God is a Woman” by Ariana Grande, only with none of the things that make that song impressive or memorable.
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😭😵💫
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Especially since I started following IVE more closely after REBEL HEART and ATTITUDE (which I both absolutely loved), I’m pretty disappointed with how they switched up so unnecessarily for this title track. (7,8,8,7 = 7.5) Wild Bird from the album is a immediate highlight for me though–it does a much better job at blending rougher textures with the poppier energy (even featuring some funky, pretty much acoustic guitar) that their best singles bring, and the melody was instantly catchy for me! I’d even say GOTCHA does a better job than XOXZ with the spoken chorus.
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I was really hoping this would be better than KiiiKiii’s comeback. I think Gotcha is my favorite song off the new EP.
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I do like the echoing beat, but it doesn’t sound like a standout triumph either. My other problem is that I keep reading XOXZ as “socks” in my head. Hard to tell whether it’ll grow on me on repeat listens and become an unexpected favourite, but I don’t think it’s too likely
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As an IVE fan I really like it! I have to admit that after the fantastic full album, nothing really interested me. The last EP was a huge letdown for me, especially Rebel Heart which everyone loved. This kind of Disney-princess Avril Lavigne pop/rock doesn’t suit them at all. Attitude was completely ruined by that sample/interpolation, which was completely unnecessary. So were all the others in their songs like Heya and the ones who used Lovefool and Whitney. I also like the new EP much more then the previous EPs. IVE are at their best when they’re icy, bitc*y and cun*y fashion models. In this sense the new song delivers. It’s much better than say, Easy by Le Sserafim, which is I guess what they were going for?
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I’m a really huge dive, I think this song could’ve developed more if they gave it time to grew instead of finishing it in less that 3 minutes. This song kinda feels like a fever dream and also a nothing burger, haha. I feel like with longer verses and a proper chorus and post chorus, it would’ve become really dazzling.
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It’s better than BADDIE but can’t touch HEYA or ASCENDIO…the other album tracks sound much better…(7/10) 🥺🥺
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It’s great.
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I liked it, rather short and feels like it’s missing something. After listening to it a few times it gets stuck in my head.
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I think the song is alright but the verses are so forgettable. I can’t recall them or the pre chorus for the life of me
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I like every song that makes me feel like I’m floating in space, so I like XOXZ. It’s IVE’s take on the current “chill” trend and if you look at it from this perspective, it’s not boring, and it has punchiness unlike Somi’s Extra for example (which I love and you called it sleepy haha)
This trend will not last forever. It will pass like all kpop trends.
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garbage song 3/10
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Kind of a banger?
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