Not content to simply release solo music in a predictable way, Seventeen’s Dino has debuted as fictional alter-ego Picheolin. This character is the CEO of a music company specializing in retro sounds and we have an entire mini album and multiple singles to look forward to from him during the coming weeks. Joke or not, I appreciate the creativity of this venture.

The cool thing is, when it comes to the music Love Sick (아프지 않은 이별은 없다) doesn’t feel jokey at all. It comes across as a loving ode to city pop, recorded in a stylish manner with full commitment. For some reason, whenever K-pop approaches city pop it always chooses the most middle-of-the-road, downtempo option, and Love Sick is no exception. Rather than burst out of the gate with an instantly iconic song, Picheolin tempers his outlandish persona with straightforward and inoffensive production. You could imagine this appealing to audiences of all ages, and I mean that in a kind of fuddy duddy way.

While I appreciate the cinematic mood Love Sick evokes, it exists in a lineage of much stronger city pop tracks. Once you’ve heard a verse or so, you pretty much have an idea how the entire track will unfold. There are no moments of drama or tension, which is strange given Dino’s colorful personality and performance style. The song feels very OST-ready: good at setting a vibe but not particularly sticky on its own merits.

Grade: C