TITLE: SALUTE
ARTIST: AB6IX
LABEL: BRAND NEW MUSIC
RELEASED: November 2, 2020
I’m a proud ABNEW and to say I was shocked (again) that they were releasing something so soon after the line up change is an understatement. But I’m actually happy to see how they will move forward as a group sound wise.
SALUTE – Title Track
I am a straight sucker for some marching band sounds. I’m a drumline hoe and AB6IX fed into that with this. I am in LOVE with it. The sound is so strong and the concept falls right into that. So many things about this song is different from the AB6IX we knew. Having Daehwi stepping up and taking some rapping parts was a surprising choice but it fit. He doesn’t seem like the logical choice but I was feeling his KoreanLish mix. What had me in my feels immediately was Woojin’s off beat rapping. My brain tells me this doesn’t work but it actually does. As for the music video, I’m in love. The whole Drumline and fencing was a perfect choice for concept and I will forever talk about it. And where can I get some of these outfits cause… fierce.
MIRROR
The more I listen to this song, I don’t dislike it. Feels a bit like a basic boy group pop song but by the time you get to the first chorus, it kind of changes. It doesn’t hit as hard as SALUTE but I can appreciate her.
HEAVEN
I’m sure this is a great song, at the end of the album. Or at the end of a concert. It’s very phone flashlight in the air kind of vibe. But it felt weird to hear it smacked in the middle of the album. Kind of took me out the mood the first two songs gave me. I really feel like this is a song to highlight Woong and Daehwi as vocalists.
MAYBE
You know by now I will love a song with a retro R&B vibe and this one has a slight one. The instrumentals feel a bit jazzy but has a nice up beat to it. I like a lot.
BLOOM
I want to say this reminds me of The Boyz, but I think that’s cause of the title. But it does sound like this song could be the cousin to one of theirs. It’s a little typical from AB6IX but I like the whole dance club vibe it has. And whistle songs are in lately so… it’s okay.
BEHIND YOU
When I first heard the piano in the intro, I thought it was a Christmas song. It’s a nice ballad and I like that it’s wrapping up the mini. But yeah… I won’t get it out of my head that this is a Christmas song.
BONUS
I need Daehwi to always have this hair. Something about it elevates his visual status. Honestly, I am just floored.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Honestly, I ain’t mad at it. I really like the direction that they went with this. It felt different that their last EP. Not every song is a banger and memorable but on a whole, it didn’t disappoint. There isn’t much I can say because I didn’t really feel the loss of a member like I was anticipating. Woojin and Daehwi picked up the slack nicely and I honestly didn’t feel like it was empty. Good job, boys.
PRODUCTION : 2.5 / 5
VOCALS / RAPPING : 3 / 5
VISUALS / CONCEPT : 4 / 5
OVERALL: 3 / 5
Least Favorite Track(s): BEHIND YOU
Favorite Track(s): SALUTE, BLOOM
Unbothered Unnies 