For the past two years, SHINee’s music has been all over my year-end top ten lists. Their full-group songs have been excellent, but members Taemin and Key also released top tier material. Leader Onew pitched himself as more of a balladeer with 2018’s Voice, which matches his skill as a vocalist. But, I’m not usually one for ballads. So when comeback Dice revealed itself to be more upbeat and synth-heavy, my anticipation grew. ‘SHINee + synth’ rarely goes wrong.

True to form, Dice is very nice. It fits right within K-pop’s retro, city pop obsession, and Onew’s smooth vocals are a perfect match for this style. The track bops along an amiable synth beat, never once switching gears. It’s upbeat, but quite restrained. Rather than pull the rug from under its listeners, the chorus simply beefs up the existing instrumental to give it more punch. This feels like an old-fashioned technique and gives the song a stately presence. Similarly, the melodies wash over the track with a breezy energy. Dice coasts along this good vibe, light and groovy and assured.

While Dice is a strong example of this style, it also succumbs to critiques I’ve had with K-pop’s retro revival. Most of these songs have lacked oomph, heading down an “easy listening” route rather than embrace the more bombastic, gutsy side of the 80’s. City pop can definitely favor a leisurely vibe, and that seems to be the aspect K-pop has latched onto. It’s pleasant – and Dice is more than “pleasant” – but it tends to blunt ambition when it comes to songwriting and production. Even so, this is a total standout of the genre and will likely have great staying power throughout the spring.