Ah, XG. They’re one of those J-pop/global groups with enough K-pop crossover that Bias List readers have come to expect a write-up each time they release new music. With the way markets are zig-zagging into one another these days, it can be hard to know what to cover on this blog. For their part, XG don’t really follow a strict J-pop or K-pop idol approach, truly existing as a group aimed at the world.

New single Depends is emblematic of this malleability. It’s performed entirely in English and sounds as if it could be delivered by any number of currently popular artists. This “something for everyone” approach can both maximize and actually restrict a passionate audience. If I’m digging around in Depends‘s various ideas, I’m coming away with the rumbling instrumental, which drives the song forward on a confident strut. This is especially evident during the exciting dance break during the song’s second half.

But as I emerge with something fun, I find myself leaving most everything else behind. I don’t like the spelled-out chorus at all. It’s flat and gimmicky in a way that does little to elevate the song’s energy. Similarly, I find the vocals pretty generic and uneventful. As stated earlier, this could be a track from any upcoming global group and wouldn’t require changes. Listening to Depends on its own, I should be able to tell what makes XG specifically such an exciting prospect. They already have much more compelling material in their discography that better showcases this.

Grade: C