Every so often, SM Entertainment releases “track” videos for songs that aren’t the main focus of a promotional campaign but serve to build hype. Often, these videos spotlight only a portion of a song, but sometimes they encompass the entire thing. NCT 127 are gearing up for their tenth anniversary comeback. They’re down to five members from a high point of ten at one point — a deflated visual that made me do a double take at first. Piñata sees them going full rock with their trademark shouty hooks.
I’ve always appreciated when NCT acts add electric guitar to the mix. It brings a widescreen energy that matches the ambition of the NCT vision, but Piñata is difficult to get through. There are times when shouting a song’s hook can work, especially in punk music. K-pop just doesn’t have much success with it. The way K-pop production works, these shouted centerpieces often come across as more shrill than thrilling, and from a purely tonal approach Piñata‘s centerpiece genuinely hurts my ears. I could embrace a deliberately unpleasant track if that unpleasantness had something to say, but this is just shouting for shouting’s sake.
Piñata‘s verses are far more restrained but no less dull. The phrasing and execution are both familiar and predictable, with the song and members going through the expected motions. The song’s strongest moment comes during a too-brief bridge, which brings the kind of explosive rap that this production calls for. I would have loved to hear more of this freewheeling energy in place of the cut-and-paste badassery we get throughout most of Piñata.
| Hooks | 6 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7 |
Grade: C-
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
It’s like they tried to make the most of a mid song by turning the chorus up to 12 with the white noise set at full def con.
Also, by NCT127 standards, the song construction is rather ordinary. This could be almost any group. I’ll take a dozen Stickers over this one.
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Yawn, the pioneers of this style of boy group songs have finally succumbed to releasing reheats.
7.25 (6, 8, 8, 7) for me.
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I think it’s pretty obvious this group is kaput after losing their strongest rapper and their strongest vocalist (due to much different circumstances but alas). Like, these five have no chemistry or visual cohesion… it’s sad really.
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I am a fan of rock music, but I hate this type of rock vocals that is more shrilling than shouting. Shouting s a way to convey emotion in rock music, but this song seems to use shouting just as a song aesthetic so no wonder I can’t feel any soul from them. It is an affront to rock genre really.
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There’s a lot that could be said about this. First off, I’m happy to see 127 promoting again. On the other hand, it’s definitely not the 127 of old since half the previous members are gone. Not having Mark, Doyoung, and Jungwoo on the track is brutal, and I can already tell Mark’s absence is going to be felt heavily on this album.
As for the song, it’s alright. Having Haechan so high up in the shout mix is definitely a choice. It just makes the chorus more shrill (no shade to Haechan, he’s a great singer). I do appreciate that the track takes a more rock approach rather than basic trap or rage. I guess if anyone’s going to do shouty, melodically sparse music like this, I least mind 127 since they’re kinda the OGs of this sound 😂
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Bruh, this is not right. I used to love NCT 127 and they are one of the main groups that got me into kpop. But my taste have been changing and they just didn’t make the cut. This song is a good example of why. Little vocal showcase, screaming for a majority of the track, and boring production. This isn’t the same group I used to listen to everyday and wouldn’t listen to any other group besides TWICE. Yikes! I am probably going to check out the album but I don’t see this group with the same eyes anymore. Such a shame 😞😞😞
6.5(7, 7, 6, 6)
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i’ll stick with yuta’s solo work to get my rock fix. i’m just happy one of my ults is back.
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Who are you Hybe Fan , who ranked me 127, have you ever in your life tried writing even four lines of a song yourself? My NCT has given its best in its comeback, if you cannot understand them then They also don’t need you.
Anyway, if my 127 sparks then useless people will definitely get irritated.
i enjoyed very much this track and I am really happy to see their comeback,,,,,,💚
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