Though many think of D.O. as an R&B singer or coffeehouse troubadour, his most recent work has actually been more upbeat and even dancey at times. He splits the difference with new single Guitarist, which takes the titular instrument in a funky direction.
This is as light and buoyant as funk can be, sanitized of its edges so that it’ll appeal to just about anyone. D.O. gets away with this thanks to his engaging vocal. He knows just where to tug on a melody to add character and depth. This elevates an otherwise generic track. Though no single hook in Guitarist stands out, the song does a nice job offering plenty of melodic variety. Coupled with the track’s incessant bounce, this creates a friendly atmosphere guaranteed to get your head nodding.
With this said, I’m not sure Guitarist has enough teeth to grow into the kind of highlight one might remember months or years from now. Above all else, it’s a pleasant toe-tapper that’s quite enjoyable in the moment but doesn’t strain for anything beyond that. Still, the world can always do with more uplift and this is a welcome addition to D.O.’s catalog.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
Grade: B-
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
And this my friends is what a superior performance on a mid-tier song sounds like. DO sings the shit out of the song, adding riffs and twirls where none existed in the music or the scratch track. He probably did a few takes, took a break for some coffee or snack, went back in the booth and nailed the next three takes for the engineers to mix and match to craft this final product.
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“what a superior performance on a mid-tier song sounds like” SAY IT LOUDER FOR THOSE IN THE BACK. Good artists can and should know how to elevate anything they touch!
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Now, this was a genuinely fun, wholesome piece of easy-listening music! D.O.’s voice floated over the track gracefully, providing so much wonderful character right when it was needed. Thankfully, there were no jarring production breakdowns or awkward, prolonged pauses to disrupt the flow either. There was a brief moment where the melody slowed down slightly, but aside from that, the track remained consistently upbeat and cheerful.
That “da-ra-da” post-chorus hook is also so effortlessly catchy.
My only minor wish is that it could have been a bit longer—I feel like I’m repeating myself with that critique lately, but it is a vital point to keep making until we finally reach a place in the industry where tracks consistently feel fully complete and finished. By God’s grace, I have faith that this year isn’t the end of good music, but rather just the joyful beginning of a wonderful industry revival! This one might grow on me even more over time, so I will definitely have to keep listening.
8.25 (8, 8, 8, 9)
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Very unrelated, but I’m guessing that the “performance video” for UNIS new song is the actual music video (there are close up shots and b-roll mixed in with the choreo) and we’re not waiting on any official video. So it may be eligible for review here! (Sorry to be that reader that’s like, “Nick, review this!”)
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