ONF have been a firm favorite of this blog since their debut, but trouble seemed to be in the air surrounding this new comeback. Not only does it interrupt the promising “My Identity” series the group launched earlier this year, but it completely jettisons their main producer Hwang Hyun in favor of in-house talent from RBW (who acquired WM Entertainment a few years ago). Who or what are ONF without their main collaborator?
Fortunately, the group’s brilliant performance is still intact, even if the music doesn’t hit with the same personality. Sonically, Put It Back is not too dissimilar from past efforts, leaning into bright funk with an old school hip-hop edge. You can tell RBW didn’t want to completely switch sounds and upset fans too much. However, this longtime fan hears a major difference in the melodies. Hwang Hyun has a gift for unique, memorable hooks and Put It Back fails to recapture this. As upbeat as the energy is, the chorus just doesn’t hit in the way I’d hope.
The song is anchored by a copious amount of “put it back” declarations, sung-spoken in a way that fills space but doesn’t elicit awe. This results in a serviceable ode to past glories even if you can tell it’s the Temu version. Thankfully, the group’s always-reliable vocals put their stamp on the song’s generic nature, adding just enough character to make it work.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.25 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I think you pretty much nailed it with the `Temu version’ comment. I’m relieved it’s not terrible, and neither does it irritate as an earworm, but yeah, I’m super keen they get Monotree and Hwang Hyun back ASAP.
(I wondered if they rushed this out after the blow up of “We must love” thanks to Boys II Planet.)
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They actually had their Part 2 comeback in the works and slated for a late summer release but RBW suddenly fired their CEO (producer of all their albums), dumped MonoTree, and Part 2 was shelved with this random album being pushed on us instead 🥴 ONF’s contracts end in January and the members have said Part 2 (and the pre-release song, Mirage, which they debuted at their concert May 31/June 1) will still be happening.
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That’s good! I really need Part 2 to happen, because I don’t like multi-part albums that are left unfinished.
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Ohhh, I did not know their contracts would be up in January. Interesting times, indeed.
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Agree with this and I feel like it’s a contractual obligation of some sort that they have to rush it out, not only without Hwang Hyun, but also without the members’ own involvement, which is a huge deal. Song’s too short and melodies not fleshed out.
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Hmmm, I like it but to your point, I wonder if I would like it as much if it was sang/performed by a different group. I hear ONF, but there’s something missing too, what is it?!? I can’t figure it out. I’ll say an 8, but that may be my bias acting up. Time will tell.
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Thank you for reviewing this so quickly, Nick! I agree it’s definitely the Temu version, but it’s not a total black mark on their discography as some folks had feared. It’s just nice to hear new music from ONF at this point!
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The songwriting is mid.
The performance is great. Such an easy flow, they make it look so easy. The melody has a few skips and jumps that they just fly over.
The production is great too – besides layering on juuuust enough funky elements to conceal the flaws in the songwriting, what I am hearing is a great polish on the vocals. To be more specific, they have a whole bunch of light tenors, and that one bari-bass. In ONF better songs, the two levels are balanced. As much as I have played “The Stranger” this year (and it is a lot), the shift at 0:25 just is jarring no much I try to talk myself out of it (link below). This song here smooths the timbres and registers to sound cohesive and yet fully ONF.
(Its something that Big Bang did so well – songscaping the bari-bass TOP with the scratchy GD rap with the boy band Taeyang with the atmospheric Daesung plus whatever the fifth one was singing. Since we have heard so many Big Bang-inspired songs this week, I have been listening to them a lot this week.)
I’m going to give it mid 8’s for now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEeROqUidGg
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pfft generic sounds 😂 i agree i don’t mind this song if its from other group but we are talking about ONF here, the song it self sounds like The Stranger wannabe. Yeah i just hope their contract with RBW will expired soon
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I didn’t know the info about the producer switch up, but I definitely knew something was off. I still enjoy it, but I’m a little let down because I love them so much
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As much as I love ONF, I was not looking forward to the comeback once I saw the producer credits. This is just okay, I haven’t listened to the album yet but hopefully it’s a little better. The one postive is that they finally have a Killing Voice…which was well overdue.
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