SHINee DON’T CALL ME: In-Depth Album Review – Kiss Kiss

Enough of you asked for it, and who am I to deny? It’s time to dive deep into SHINee’s long-awaited comeback album Don’t Call Me, track-by-track.

1. Don’t Call Me // 2. Heart Attack // 3. Marry You // 4. CØDE // 5. I Really Want You // 6. Kiss Kiss // 7. Body Rhythm // 8. Attention // 9. Kind

Kiss Kiss

Kiss Kiss is the kind of song that’s deceptively simple, yet improved upon immensely by the artists performing it. As a piece of music, it’s quite repetitive and single-minded in its groove, but succeeds in painting a striking mood – sort of a laid-back, post-party disco moment.

Over insistent kick and flutters of rhythm guitar, Kiss lays down an airy funk, harnessing muted synth accents for extra atmosphere. You could certainly get lost in this beat, and the equally rhythmic melody compliments the vibe perfectly.

But like I said, this is the SHINee show, and their performance really elevates the track. Not only do they offer commanding turns during the verses and an ultra-emotive bridge complete with passionate adlibs, but their distinct blend is capitalized upon to make the post-chorus a standout moment. The vocal layering and harmonies here are simply hypnotic, turning a mellow groove into something insanely captivating. I feel like I’ve been writing about texture a lot lately, and this ethereal glide is as smooth as butter. Yet, you don’t lose SHINee’s own character amidst all the production polish.

Taken as part of the album, this is the perfect comedown after the ebullient I Really Want You. The songs are almost like two sides of the same coin.

Hooks 8 Production 9 Longevity 9 Bias 8 RATING 8.5

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