[MV & Album Review] iKON � 'New Kids : Continue'

AKP STAFF

iKON � 'NEW KIDS : CONTINUE'

Track List:

1. KILLING ME
2. FREEDOM
3. ONLY YOU
4. COCKTAIL
5. JUST FOR YOU

iKON has dropped their first ever mini-album 'NEW KIDS: Continue'! The five-song mini-album follows on the heels of 'Return' released earlier this year. That one contained the mega-hit "Love Scenario," which netted them their first perfect all-kill. Their newest hit "Killing Me" is poised to do the same, having hit No. 1 on three real-time charts: Bugs, Mnet, and Soribada. Melon and Genie have them listed at No. 3. "Killing Me" was co-composed by B.I, who also penned the lyrics to this and many others on here. Naturally, Bobby also had a hand in a lot of this too.�

"KILLING ME" is a haunting track that doesn't really fit the club-banger motif until about halfway in when the synths take over and the rapping starts. It's low-key through most of it, and I like how the bass kicks in during the synth breaks. It's well put together and is a serious jam. "FREEDOM" has some serious industrial guitar influence, crunchy and catchy all at once. I love the urgency they put into the pre-chorus. The actual chorus is rocking and loud, and in some ways reminds me of "Dumb and Dumber." I love this one. "ONLY YOU" is their stab at a bit of soft rock. It's lighter and cleanly sung. The raps come in quickly and give it some bite. It's a cute ditty that should make some playlists. It's definitely a summer bop.

The playful "COCKTAIL" exhorts the girls to join him in partying and drinking. This tune does not take itself seriously, and that's just the formula after "ONLY YOU." Its spot is well-earned and continues the feel-good theme here. If you're not smiling after you hear this quintessential party rock tune then I can't help you. "JUST FOR YOU" is their power ballad, which starts out very soft and tender, and then amps up the beats, the falsetto, and everything else. The vocals become almost pleading. Not one of their best IMHO, although I'm more a fan of their fun songs. However, this is a previous release track and dedicated to the fans.

This EP is very much like their last one, which might explain why the title track is climbing the charts. The B-sides are a lot like the ones on 'Return,' you might even say it's sort of an extension of the last album. I mentioned it's kind of a different sound for iKON, and I'm on the fence about it. I miss the days of "What's Wrong?" and "I Miss You So Bad." There was a fierceness to some of it that was missing in 2018. 'New Kids : Continue' is actually a pretty good album overall, but I wouldn't mind more than just a nod to their old material.

MV REVIEW

At first glance, you might dismiss this as a boy-in-the-box MV. And you'd be right -- but that doesn't make it bad. New ideas are hard to come by, but it's the window dressing and the wallpaper, now. How well did they dress it up?

The lighting and the shots are superb, and you get the sense of longing from this particular MV. There are shots of the boys performing alone, or sitting in a chair in the dark, across the room from the camera, jumping through fire, etc. There are other things that set the mood for this darkly mysterious song, and they gave it an MV to match.

The dancing is pretty sweet. The choreo is interesting because the young men of iKON are not always in sync. Some of them are doing their own thing at times, which presents a more dynamic picture. The movements are bold and some are quite rapid. Those scenes mesh quite well with the rest of the MV.

So yeah, I think they did a good job here. Hardly the best I've seen, but light years away from being the worst.

Score

MV Relevance.............9
MV Production............8
MV Concept.................7
MV SCORE: 8.0

Album Production......8
Album Concept...........8
Tracklisting.................8
ALBUM SCORE: 8.0