It’s a big week for the number 8. Today, 8TURN are making their comeback. Tomorrow, LUN8 are following suit. Based on the names alone, it would be easy to get these two groups mixed up, but so far 8TURN have released more songs that I’ve enjoyed. However, they’ve yet to find (and stick with) a signature sound that sets them apart from others. New title track Stagefright is yet another sonic shift.

This time, we’re mining a pop/R&B well similar to many other boy groups over the past few years. Stagefright‘s chorus is underlined with that ultra-familiar Neptunes Like I Love You guitar-strumming production, but its verses offer something a little more dynamic. I like the instrumental stabs placed throughout the track. They give Stagefright a nice sense of drama. Mini climaxes spread throughout the song, giving it plenty of movement.

With this said, Stagefright could use a stronger chorus. The refrain is totally serviceable, but I’m not sure how easily it will stick in listeners’ memory. It feels like the topline is in service of the instrumental rather than the other way around, tracing the lines of the groove in a way that makes it (and by extension, 8TURN’s performance) feel secondary. Luckily, the groove is solid, making this a fine addition to this overstuffed boy group sub-genre. Following this week’s trend, a rating of “8” feels suitable.

Grade: B-