Oh, I love some bad green screen effects! I don’t usually comment on K-pop’s music videos, but the new one for X:IN’s Dazzle Flash is unintentionally hilarious, as the group soars over various landscapes on a futuristic hoverboard of sorts. Honestly, I’d rather see this level of cringe than the latest look-alike video from a trend-chasing comeback. At least these visuals are memorable!
As for the song, Dazzle Flash also boasts ambition that takes some strange turns. The group tries their hand at K-pop’s latest trend: talking charismatically over a club beat. The club beat in question is a fun one, as if the producers typed the prompt into ChatGPT and emerged with a satisfying (but terrifyingly predictable) ‘oontz oontz’ thump. The girls proceed to speak awkwardly over this production — cooing, taunting and adopting as many modern girl group affectations as they can. As with the video, its clunkiness has a certain charm the first few times. However, without an actual chorus in sight, Dazzle Flash quickly loses its novelty. The pre-chorus is nice, though!
| Hooks | 5 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 6 |
| Bias | 6 |
| RATING | 6 |
Grade: D-
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I actually like the beat here, it gets pretty sprightly often and gives the song some personality, it’s like RRRUN but that song still had fun verses. And the girls’ vocals are pretty weak except for Nizz (the one who sings the pre-chorus), and them singing in affected tones doesn’t help either. So it’s basically a producer’s showcase featuring the group, as always, sigh.
7.25 (6, 9, 7, 7) for me.
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Also, the fact that ever since this year started, every week or so, we’re getting a song rated in the 6s as compared to an 8.25+ rated song in who-knows-how-long is depressing… time to prepare a Nicki Minaj coke rant if I see another song rated 6 or below…
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This reminds me a bit of Minzy (of 2NE1) “nano ni nano” from way back in 2017. Which means the song is not only not original, it is far away from trend. I am not one who seeks out club beats, so there are probably many more as it seems to be a basic “hey google give me an oontz oontz beat”. I might give this one a flat 7, to be generous.
As for video, I am OK with cheap but (kinda) stylish. As a child of the 80’s, I can attest first hand that for every expensive Peter Gabriel stop motion “Sledgehammer” there was a Van Halen “Panama” guys on the set for a day goofing off, and both were in heavy rotation on MTV.
Minzy, here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmZGpBIz_Gg
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I’m pretty sure I remember posting on a prior X:IN review that this GG is a guilty pleasure of mine. Their vocals are hit and miss for sure. I’ll give some thoughts on the album in case anybody is curious.
https://preview.redd.it/do-your-part-v0-t4wfs4c977hc1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=e3cf14e9b5d6fb7386d27adda69180734d2e0ceb
Dazzle Flash 7,7,7,8 = 7.25
This song is fine but all other songs on the album are better.
No Clarity 8,8,7,8 = 7.75
Sounds like a Kiss of Life song, with admittedly worse vocals while still serviceable.
Coming Home 9,9,8,8 = 8.5
Coming Home is trying to bring a full experience that really shows some ambition. This would be the song I’d listen to if only listening to one song on the album and would be a hit if performed by a more popular/stronger group. This would have been a better album closer.
Who Dat 8,7,7,7 = 7.25
This should be track 2 on the album. This sounds like something Young Posse might release. It’s got lots of things we’ve heard before but generally works if those are your jam. Def too noisy in some parts.
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What day i’ll get better with embeds… :_(
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