EXO have been inaugurated into my “K-Pop A-Z” feature, which means anything they release automatically gets a full review. To be honest, I’ve regretted that rule over the past few years since I haven’t vibed with the group’s albums since 2018.

Is there new work REVERXE any different? Read on to find out!

1. Crown // 2. Back It Up // 3. Crazy // 4. Suffocate // 5. Moonlight Shadows // 6. Back Pocket // 7. Touch & Go // 8. Flatline // 9. I’m Home

Touch & Go

We’re now at the part of REVERXE where the song titles actually describe the album. The idea of “touch and go” feels very apt for the songs here, as nearly every one of them hits its specific tone/style without bothering to develop it into something more than a passable diversion. Think about the scope of past songs like What Is Love or Love, Love, Love. Neither of these are upbeat in the way I generally prefer from pop music, but both have such a cinematic reach and sense of fullness that made them classics within their discography.

In comparison, Touch & Go is a shrug. It’s an amiable vibe throughout, featuring the kind of 90s R&B groove SM Entertainment has been mining for decades. The chorus is a missed opportunity, opting for a chanted refrain rather than any melodic heft. A soft bridge adds atmosphere, but before we know it we’re back to the same dull hook.

Grade: C