Most of the recent news surrounding LOONA has been about its poor members falling ill or becoming injured on their world tour. At this point, the tour feels more like a survival game than a series of concerts! I hope the girls get the rest they deserve and have been able to enjoy their travels even with all the setbacks. Having seen them at this year’s KCON, I’m always surprised by the size and dedication of their fan base. They’ve clearly struck a chord with listeners.

Speaking of KCON, my favorite performance of theirs was the bouncy, endlessly melodic Voice. I’d love to hear the group tackle more songs in this style. When they’re in their sweet spot, LOONA really soar. I don’t buy the girl crush sound on them. It feels like something grafted onto their music for purely commercial pursuits. New Japanese single Luminous flirts with girl crush tropes, though it doesn’t go as far as… say… Paint The Town.

The song’s spoken word verses have a driving energy perfect for the catwalk. From here, the track pulls back to offer a vocal-driven pre-chorus. From arrangement to melody, this segment feels ultra-familiar to the point of becoming instantly forgettable. The commanding beat returns for the chorus, but the hook isn’t doing much for me. It’s not bad. It’s just not very interesting. Overall, Luminous feels like a safe dip into the Japanese market. While I didn’t find past J-pop tracks Hula Hoop and Starseed all that amazing either, both had quirkier touches that made them stand out.

Hooks8
Production8
Longevity8
Bias7
RATING7.75

Original Article