To my memory, we’ve never seen a popular K-pop group split in half and re-debut as two separate groups within a week’s time. Such is the case for the newly-reconfigured ZEROBASEONE and AND2BLE, which takes four former members and adds another. Head-to-head comparisons between the two groups will be inevitable and I wouldn’t be surprised if the agencies actively sought out that competition. But as long as the music’s good, there’s room for both acts to thrive.
AND2BLE’s company has a poor track record of sustaining the quality of their groups’ music, though they can be counted on to deliver a killer track every once and awhile. For AND2BLE, that track is hopefully still coming down the line, but Curious is a solid enough start. It makes some moves that hearken back to K-pop’s much-vaulted second generation, mainly in the dramatic layered vocals and resounding stomp that forge its chorus. It’s a different approach than most modern K-pop, and I appreciate that variety. The guys sound fantastic. They’ve got some very strong vocalists.
As far as the actual song goes, I’m not quite as sold. Despite all its twists and turns, Curious doesn’t really go anywhere. Once you’ve heard its thudding centerpiece, everything else feels like window dressing. I wish the verses and pre-choruses did something completely different, upping the tempo to deliver a shot of excitement. As it stands, almost every moment of the song is underlined by the same plodding stomp. This is thrilling at first, but grows kind of monotonous as Curious goes on.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
Grade: B-
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
The chorus is GREAT but yeah, the song is forgettable and a little plodding.
7.75 (8, 7, 8, 8) for me.
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Between to two groups? I think you mean Between the two groups? Anyway, I’ve enjoyed both this song and ZB1’s Top 5.
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I was expecting a full military percussion sound based on the first(?) teaser, I like the chorus but the anti-drop is a little jarring. still a fun debut overall, Seungeon is the best vocalist of this generation so I’m glad they’re already utilizing him well and I hope he gets more to work with in future releases.
the album is not bad, but compared to Ascend-, it lacks standout tracks.
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In the iTunes spiel for Zerobaseone’s new mini-album, it mentions that the group has split into two groups, the other being AND2BLE. It also mentions EVNNE. So, at least from ZB1’s side, they’re definitely seeking synergy between these groups.
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Between this and ZB1 I think Top 5 is the safer song while this is more interesting, but neither are quite the knockout that they needed to be. I prefer the verses to the chorus and outro, but most of all I’m glad that Seungeon has finally been given a chance to show why he was the best vocalist on Boys Planet 1.
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AND2BLE had their debut today, and I am so excited! Being a Hao bias, I was incredibly curious to see what they were going to give us sonically. Let’s dive in and see how this fares compared to ZB1’s recent comeback. 1. Curious
Prediction: 8.25–8.75
Final Rating: High 8
Analysis: The song ain’t half bad! The vocals were truly top-tier since there were a lot of harmonies, and they actually sang the chorus, not just sing talk. I just didn’t like how it was sort of a beat-drop chorus, and toward the end, there was a weird, blaring sound effect that sounded like a congested foghorn. But seriously, this is most definitely better than “Top 5” because it actually feels complete.
2. Aura
Prediction: 8.25–8.75
Final Rating: Mid 8
Analysis: This is a chill song that features good vocals, but I didn’t really care for the whispers in the chorus. It’s pretty much your average R&B B-side.
3. Sugar Rush
Prediction: 7.75–8.25
Final Rating: High 7
Analysis: This sounds like a 3rd-generation boy group B-side. I can’t quite explain it, but this is a genre that I’m not really a fan of. The song isn’t bad and feels complete, but it’s not something I would return to. It just sounds a little cringey to me.
4. BED
Prediction: 8.5–9
Final Rating: Mid 8
Analysis: I was most excited for this one, but why is it so short? Anyway, the production is a little strange; they use an interesting amount of sound effects that get a bit distracting. It needs a full chorus and bridge to fully develop the idea of the song, but it’s still pretty solid. It just needs a little more.
5. Happy&
Prediction: 8–8.5
Final Rating: Low 8
Analysis: A happy and bright song that fits perfectly with summer. I get that they are trying to make female-friendly songs (it honestly sounds like a PinkPantheress song), but they don’t really suit this style.Final Rating and Thoughts
Final Album Rating: Mid 8
Conclusion: This was a pretty solid debut. “Curious” and “BED” were the clear standouts. The vocals really shined and gave the tracks so much life. Even though I love ZB1, this release felt a little more cohesive, and the title track is better than “Top 5” because of how complete it felt.
If they stick with a concept similar to “Curious,” or even something along the lines of “Catch Me” by TVXQ or “Last Romeo” by Infinite (a fanfare or choral instrumental would sound so awesome with them), they will be leagues ahead of their competition. I’m definitely “curious” to see what they will do next!
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That name is… something… I personally think they should’ve been named NDOUBLE or sth. AND2BLE looks bad and confusing.
Anyway, the song is nth special. It’s a little safe for my liking. I’ll give it a 7.75. Probably not gonna grow on me and that’s ok. I hope they can try a little harder next time.
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