Ahead of new title track Illusion (착각) today, Onew has been releasing digital tracks over the past few weeks. These have come in the form of duets with Yuju and Zico. Both songs did very little for me and without proper music videos to back them up I didn’t feel they warranted a full review. Illusion seems to have more promotional weight behind it and I guess it’s the best of a middling bunch.
The biggest issue here is that Illusion stakes its claims on musical trends that are clearly on their way out, making it feel behind the time and quite extraneous. Its soft, garage-influenced percussion is forgettable and makes for a wimpy backdrop for Onew’s powerful voice. For dance tracks, a voice like his really needs full intensity backing it up. Otherwise, the balance feels off.
This is true melodically, as well. A performer like Onew is not made for halfhearted, non-committal melodic phrasing. Illusion offers little to sink his teeth into, coming across as a shrug rather than a compelling highlight. Though the song is pleasant throughout, it’s the kind of music that fades immediately from memory once it’s stopped playing. He deserves better than disposable material.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7 |
Grade: C-
Illusion
this is disappointing. Its short, lacks consistent melodic production, and also lacks identity. I can imagine so many k-soloists singing this song and even groups like izna/illit too. The bridge was the only sort of memorable part of this song. The rest was pretty boring. But the crazy thing is that he did so well in atmos from june.
7.25 (8,7,7,7)
this is about as boring as illusion with zico, the korean chart king, adding nothing noteworthy. I can see already this sitting comfortably on the charts just due to its simplicity. Even the chorus doesn’t do anything either.
Rating: 7
this hurts even more giving the fact this is what yuju’s new song sounded like too. I was expecting a big, dramatic track with high notes on high notes because we have all seen them in their prime. But this is more coffehouse catered, made to make you snooze or crave some coffee. Sadly this makes me do the former.
Rating: 7
Final thoughts: I really dont have alot of thoughts on this ep because it feeels so empty and lifeless, which are words that should be nowhere near an artist like onew 😦
Album rating: low 7(7.0833)
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TikTok was forgettable but kinda catchy. This one just is? 🙃
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*Tic Tac Toe 😂😂😂 SO FORGETTABLE I FORGOT THE TITLE
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Onew and D.O. are two of my favorite singers, not just in Kpop, and both seem hellbent on making exactly the kind of music they want, regardless of what the rest of us might wish they’d lean more into. Perfectly fine, I guess, but while I still manage to find small gems on every new release, it’s been a while since I’ve loved an entire album/EP from either of them.
For Onew that last release was Circle. It genuinely pains me how underwhelmed I’ve been by much of his music since, especially knowing what he’s capable of. I’ve enjoyed different songs from his recent releases, and a lot of the more underwhelming songs come alive in a live setting simply because of how he carries them. But I want more than “charming, safe, short, forgettable”. I want to be excited. I respect, that he’s going to do, what he wants to do, but I’m at the point where I’m side-eyeing the credits and wondering if it’s time to switch things up.
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Yup agree to this 100 Percent
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