TITLE: Super One – The 1st Album
ARTIST: SuperM
LABEL: SM ENTERTAINMENT
RELEASED: September 25, 2020
The Avengers of K-POP (their saying, not mine) has finally given us a full album. With them Jopping for the last 11 months, bet they are tired and needed to give us something new to obsess and argue about.
One (Monster & Infinity) – Title Track
There is something that just doesn’t sit right with me with this one. And by that I mean I don’t like it. I think it was the fact that they had hyped this track to be similar to SHINee’s Sherlock (Clue + Note), so my expectations were high. And yes, the similarities between the two tracks ends with it being a remix of two songs, Monster and Infinity. The song falls flat, it feels like it doesn’t really go anywhere musically. And the fact that it’s a combination of two songs, it feels that it should at least go somewhere. The song feels disjointed and gimmicky, especially with the Marvel Avengers instrumental in the background. SM really pushing this agenda. Funny thing, didn’t even realize the song was in English until a friend pointed it out. 💁🏽♀️ Anyway, the MV is another story. SuperM kill in the visual department and watching this is just reiterating that. No idea what the actual concept of it is, but I like the swamp thing aesthetic.
Infinity
I guess I’m a liar because THIS song I love. Even though this is the track with the Marvel instrumental, something about the way these verses hit fit the chorus way better than the Monster ones. Another song that is very robot-trap, if that is a genre. But it’s the rap verses and Ten’s vocals that stand out the most.
Monster
When I hear the title Monster, I’m expecting fire. EXO and Red Velvet have spoiled me. I guess this is the reason why I don’t like One. The verses feel lack luster. However, there are parts I really like. The pre-chorus with Ten and Baekhyun are really nice. Their tones compliment each other. The bridge is also a nice relief from the bass of the rest of the song.
Wish You Were Here
Who would have thought that SuperM’s voices would fit a reggae style song so well? Not I. Anyway, that is what we have with the 4th track. It’s a mellow vibe and a total switch up from the first 3 songs. ALSO, GIVE KAI AND TEN MORE LINES! THEY SOUND AMAZING.
Big Chance
As we keep going, I keep falling in love. This tropical/house dance track really has me dancing in my seat. It’s a very radio ready song and I love that for them. I guess I can be happy with having this since they didn’t put Lucas’ Boom Boom track from the tour on the album.
100
The first 10 seconds of the song are the only good parts of it. Wait, I lie… any time Taemin sings are the good parts of the song. This just wasn’t it. It felt like a Target/Gap commercial and the MV matched that unwanted aesthetic.
Tiger Inside
They redeemed themselves with this. I know the title is about a tiger but the vibe I get is listening to this while I’m on a jungle adventure. From Taeyong’s weird growls to the almost African drum beats make the song stand out amongst the rest. The song is such a bop, I’ll almost forgive Mark for having that pink mullet.
Better Days
Again, SuperM playing with all the genres. Now we have a contemporary country touch track. And I’m in love with it. The vocals feel like they’re wrapping me in a hug and the raps are speaking to my soul. When I listened for the first time, I loved the easy going vibe. The second, I wanted to cry at the lyrics. SuperM took us to church by the end.
Together At Home
Guess we had to have a covid song. And this is a bop. The funky bass and the R&B disco sound give the song a fun feeling. All the vocalists in SuperM fit this hybrid genre perfectly. Mark’s rap at the top of the second verse is one of my favorite.
Drip
We went from home to the stripclub. I FUCKING LOVE THIS SONG. You can’t tell me this song isn’t about foreplay. The trap hip-hop beat got me wanting to hit the club and the sexy vocals got me in my feels. By the bridge, I’m shaking my tailfeather (a Nelly reference for you youths)
Line ‘Em Up
After the stripclub, SuperM took a trip to party with Daddy Yankee. Yes, this is a pop flavored reggaetón track that makes you want to dance. The chorus is addicting and by the slowed down bridge, you’re shaking your ass to everything. The song, like a lot of others on the album, have a nice distribution of parts and every member stands out.
Dangerous Woman
SOTY!! Not gonna lie, I bought this album for this song. When I heard and saw this song performed at their concert last year, I was SO mad it wasn’t on the first mini. This song is a sexy and even haunting hip-hop track that makes you feel like each member is singing directly to you. They sing I’ll make you feel like a dangerous woman… make you feel like her… YES PLEASE
Step Up
The trip continues from the stripclub to a party and now we’re in the bedroom. When you have a group with both Baekhyun and Taemin in it, there had to be ONE baby making song. Or we thought… the beginning is a slow jam but by the chorus it switches into as they describe, a UK garage beat. Got me two-stepping and housing one moment and slow grinding the next. Musically, one of the best on the album.
So Long
Okay, we’re finally given a proper slow jam and they don’t disappoint. Like I said before, when you have Taemin and Baekhyun in a group, they’re going to deliver. Who stands out is the addition of Ten’s vocals and Mark’s deep rapping.
With You
When this came out in August, I was so excited. It was another concert track that I loved and to finally have it on an album made me happy. And seeing them perform it when we were in the height of the pandemic, it was sweet. The instrumental is one of my favorite with the guitar riffs standing out the most. It’s just a song that makes you happy and you know when they perform it, they’re happy. It’s infectious and definitely an ear worm.
FINAL THOUGHTS
For people who don’t listen to full albums, I feel sorry for them. With this one, SuperM’s best tracks are all B-Sides. I expected Kenzie to deliver with the title tracks but it just came across as a bad version of NCT 127’s Limitless. Sis, you tried. LDN Noise came through though with Drip and Dangerous Woman. Thanks guys! Anyway, overall, it’s nice to see the different personalities come together for this project and for each artist to bring that special something is nice to see. Only thing that SuperM doesn’t have is a unique sound that is their own. I guess if I had to choose, it would be that “Super Hero” infused tracks. But is that good enough? I don’t think so. Another thing, most of the songs are heavily in English and maybe it was my ignorance for not realizing it, but I guess it’s their attempt at being more worldwide appealing. A lot of their songs sound like they could belong to any one of their home groups. However, when they do songs that don’t sound like the typical boy group track, like Better Days, Wish You Were Here or Big Chance, it feels like one of a kind. How long will we get to have SuperM for? No one knows, but I will continue to support and listen even though they
PRODUCTION : 3 / 5
VOCALS / RAPPING : 4 / 5
VISUALS / CONCEPT : 3.5 / 5
OVERALL: 4 / 5
Least Favorite Track(s): One , Monster
Favorite Track(s): Drip, Dangerous Woman, Step Up
Unbothered Unnies 