TITLE: ‘OK’ Prologue: Be OK
ARTIST: CIX
LABEL: C9 Entertainment
RELEASED: August 17, 2021
CIX IS BACK!!!! EXO’S SONS ARE READY TO SHOW Y’ALL WHAT THEY CAN DO!!!!!!!!
WAVE – Title Track
It’s not Cinema, which we know I feel is a SOTY contender, but it’s a nice mellow-ish follow up. I feel like the song is named appropriately because the song has a flowy groove to it. And don’t get me started on the vocals. Might be one of my favorite when it comes to CIX’s discography. Like who is harmonizing like CIX is these days? The bridge alone proves that they are indeed EXO’s sons. The MV and concept is also so fitting. The more I listen, the more I fall in love.
Bad Dream
Really like the mix of this Latin house vibe the song is doing. It’s a sound I wasn’t expecting from CIX but that’s great because it shows how they aren’t afraid to grow.
Off My Mind
In the year of retro inspired tracks, this is one that holds it own. The anti-drop that happens at the top of the chorus is delicious and keeps me grooving.
LOST
This song makes me feel like I’ve legit been transported back to the 80s but at the same time it feels like something I’ve heard already. Not crazy about it.
Genie in a Bottle
This ain’t Ms. Aguilera’s bottle for sure. A more funk rock approach and I ain’t mad at it. Not their strongest but I really like their hook.
20
An energetic pop R&B track is really where CIX excel. Honestly, BX’s tone is always so welcomed on a song because that baritone really helps break up higher tones of the group. I would to have a MV for this.
ICE
A jazzier song. It actually fits within the rest of the album but for some reason I can’t really find anything special about the song. It’s very average.
In & Out
If 20 is the energetic R&B, In & Out slows the vibe down and romanticizes the mood. There is something about CIX that just do it for me in this song. Maybe it’s Seunghun hitting those high notes or Jinyoung bringing up the rear with his adlibs. I love.
Confession
It is so rare for groups in this gen to do ballads and I want more. This hits different from their last ballad. Confession feels stripped and with the piano and just the vocals supporting gives that extra umph.
Here For You
A refreshing pop folky track that I wasn’t expecting at all! It’s adorable and I would like to see more of this because it really allows the group to harmonize and just show their talents.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I love when groups step out and do something new and try different sounds. Sometimes they are a hit and others not so much but at least they tried. And that is exactly what CIX did. This is their first album and they really put what they do best out there for the world to see and also showed that they aren’t scared to evolve. I feel like they are still underrated but with the amount of talent this group has… a shame. At least this album isn’t a shame.
PRODUCTION : 4 / 5
VOCALS / RAPPING : 4 / 5
VISUALS / CONCEPT : 4.5 / 5
OVERALL : 4 / 5
Favorite Track(s): WAVE, In & Out
Unbothered Unnies 