When describing the concept for NCT 127’s big comeback Blingy at KCON the other week, member Jaehyun offered this fascinating word salad: “It’s uh… it’s a blingy album… ’cause we’re on a journey to find something blingy, but we figure out it’s all in our minds… with our fans too.”
Okay, then!
This confirms to me that no one in K-pop actually knows what’s going on and leads me to my biggest question: do people really still say “blingy”?
At any rate, this is NCT 127’s first comeback since 2024’s Walk and sees the group down to a paltry five members. As I mentioned in my KCON write-up, a five-member version of 127 feels very different and a bit surreal. However, they’re back to their classic Neo sound with this one. We’ve got a gritty, grimy electronic hip-hop beat with splashes of distorted guitar, a shout-chant nonsense chorus and plenty of mugging for the camera during the song’s rap-heavy verses. This familiar template should be enough to please hardcore fans, but I’m not sure it offers much for the rest of us.
As I mentioned in my review for NCT 127’s pre-release Piñata, K-pop has a way of turning chanted centerpieces into overly shrill-sounding arrangements that are unpleasant to listen to. Any vocal character NCT 127 might have is excised as their voices are tightly stacked into an irritating, generic wash. Blingy‘s instrumental is much, much stronger than the performance, and makes me wonder how it might sound if paired with a completely different song (or a “song” at all!). What happened to the towering, melodic choruses of SM Entertainment past? Even 127 made their name on these with songs like Limitless. Blingy feels like a holding pattern, simply diluting past efforts rather than pushing forward.
| Hooks | 6 |
| Production | 9 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
Grade: C
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Damn, surprised seeing a high-ish rating for you. But it grinds my gears too much…
6.5 (5, 8, 7, 6) for me
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I thought the song was okay, but it could have been stronger. Anyway, I wanted to spotlight my favorite song on the album.
Not only are Doyoung and Jungwoo’s voices heard in the song (I don’t know when the song was recorded, but I think it was recorded before the two enlisted), but I feel comfort listening to this song knowing that the seven members will always be together, no matter what.
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SAME THOUGHTS FR! This song is awesome!
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I’ll cut them some slack since they pretty much invented this type of sound that’s used in like 75% of the new boy bands these days. But yeah, it’s certainly not their best work in any way.
I’ll be generous and give it a 7(6,8,7,7)
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For me I think the instrumental’s looping melody is too monotonous or generic. I really like it’s textures but it sounds so basic.
The hook being lacklustre isnt the worst because the following verses are pleasant but it REALLY needed a good post-chorus. Either an instrumental change like Seventeen’s HIT or a catchy melody.
Also, the finale was just….more of the same? It was more…..but….just louder? The song is begging for more variety and a catchier hook
I’d give it a 7.75 the members do a great job and the verses flow smoothly but the centrepiece is lacking.
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Compare this hook to Simon says….. And that song had a killer bridge….whatever, at least pinata grew on me SO MUCH
this one is nowhere near as catchy as pinata but it might brute force itself into a grower
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it has right energy but by the 2nd chorus I was already sick of it
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This was the time to release another Limitless!!! 😭
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I BLEED NEO ✅✅✅
FIRE RAGH
IM UNBIASED
9/10
✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
GENIUS PRODUCTION, 10/10
GREAT HOOKS, 8/10
LONGEVITY 10/10
BIAS 10/10
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surprisingly, i liked this track. an okay 7.75 for me (6,9,7,8), but maybe because i lowered my expectations after reading its teaser description 😭
the instrumental is really carrying this song hARD!! i feel like that’s the only part where i can sort of see how they’re returning to their roots (aside from redoing their first mini’s album cover), but they still forgot what made their old stuff great
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are we getting that song review for baby shark boy though? 😆
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jaehyun looking too delicious this era 👅👅👅
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haechan my goat 4ever tho im loyal him in the suit is crazy
ok sorry this is my last message
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Lolz. I’m OK with it. Have fun! As long as everyone else tolerates my toleration of every Super junior song ever.
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hehehe
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1. Piñata
Final Rating: 6.5
Analysis: This track remains just as polarizing for me as it was when I first heard it.
2. Blingy
Analysis: Lines like “make the whole club blingy” set the tone, but unfortunately, the chorus is a tough listen, featuring screaming vocals and somewhat grating production. While the overall production isn’t entirely bad, it feels like an average NCT 127 style mixed with a few other modern trends. It lacks that standout vocal bridge we usually hope for, making this easily one of their weaker singles. I honestly don’t see myself returning to this track much in the future.
3. Legacy
Final Rating: 6.75 (6, 7, 7, 7)
Analysis: The repeated, grunting delivery of “legacy” in the chorus feels a bit aggravating. Additionally, the soulful choir vocals felt like they could have been utilized much more effectively. Thankfully, the track features a good vocal bridge, which remains a welcome SM Entertainment staple!
4. Step Up
Final Rating: 7 (7, 7, 7, 7)
Analysis: This brings a Seo Taiji and Boys-style beat paired with sirens, which is interesting to some extent. The actual vocal sections felt a bit brief compared to the heavy reliance on sing-talk verses and choruses. Another solid vocal bridge is present, which is great! The sing-talk chorus wasn’t terrible, though it could have been delivered in a slightly more playful or gimmicky way to give it more charm.
5. IKR
Final Rating: 6.25 (6, 7, 6, 6)
Analysis: The production leans a bit grating, particularly featuring an up-and-down, broken xylophone sound that feels quite unusual. This is another track that attempts to sound effortlessly “cool” but unfortunately comes across a bit cringy.
6. Getaway
Final Rating: 8.5 (8, 8, 9, 9)
Analysis: Now, this is NCT 127 delivering some smooth, beautiful vocal R&B! While it has a bit of an easy-listening “mall music” feel to it, after weathering the earlier tracks on this album, I will gladly take this any day. I really like the sleek, layered chorus. It suits the end of the summer season wonderfully.
7. Day After Day
Final Rating: 8.5 (8, 8, 9, 9)
Analysis: This offers a drum-and-bass style with a lovely atmospheric feel. The fluttering vocal effects are so pleasing to the ear—it serves as fantastic sonic relief! If they had just turned up the BPM a couple of notches, this easily could have been an incredible single.
8. 127 Million Miles
Final Rating: 8.75 ( 8, 9, 9, 9)
Analysis: This features easily the best chorus on the album, backed by such gorgeous vocal layering. Is that Doyoung?! They really need those vocals! This sounds like a classic track rearranged to fit a cozy sunset coffee shop playlist. It is my personal favorite song on the project, and the best part is that it completely skips the heavy posturing and talk-singing.
9. I Mean, It’s About Time
Analysis: This feels much more like an outro than a fully fleshed-out song, though I do enjoy the beat.
Final Thoughts and Album Rating
Conclusion: To be completely honest, I walked away feeling quite disappointed. The same group that originally introduced me to K-pop alongside TWICE now feels entirely different when listening to them in 2026. Their older tracks used to occupy a huge portion of my playlist, and “2 Baddies” was a favorite of mine. Nowadays, the heavy reliance on talk-singing and posturing makes their music a bit tough for me to sit through. I’m honestly mostly just here for Doyoung’s incredible voice at this point!
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Shoulda just released 127 Million Miles as a single (awesome song… the modulations and final chorus key change gave me chills) The rest of the album is unfortunately easily skippable, and that’s coming from a big nct defender. Blingy is alright because at least the production is solid, but the rest of the album is just boring and flat
I’d much rather 127 do something shocking and noisy that is at least attempting to make a point, but most of these songs are just there for being there
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My worst kind of prejudice againts boygroups started with knowing NCT 127 as one of the biggest poster boys of KPOP boy groups in the past so suffice to say I had no good feelings for most of their discography and this new release is no different. The song just sounds like a bunch of shout-chanting verse and rap parts combined with almost no singing parts involved except for the blingy blingy nonsense. The hook was so obnoxiously lame and the instrumentals can be so annoyingly grating to the ears sometimes. I honestly struggled to enjoy even one song from the album except 127 Million Miles
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Okay, NCT fan since 2017 here and I’m really happy that they’re back. Jaehyun’s explanation about the album is simply hilarious. It kinda makes me wonder why they were not prepared for a question like that. I mean, we know they get little to no creative input in these projects, but damn, at least put some effort hahaha.
Like one of the comments says above, I would cut them some slack because they pioneered the grating overstimulating sound that K-pop boy groups have become known for. This one falls under the same category, and to be honest, I’ve never been a huge fan of NCT 127’s title tracks (my favorite sub-unit is NCT DREAM). For that reason, I just go to the album and usually find songs that I really love.
As per Blingy, it is carried by the interesting elements and some of the textures in the production. It is not as cool/weird as Sticker, Fire Truck, Kick It or Punch, but it works and it uses their signature sound. I ate this type of style up years ago, and even though I can say I’m still doing so now, they kinda get a pass for me due to my own bias.
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it’s a 127 song. It might be the most 127 thing these guys have released lol
it’s alright I guess.
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