Military enlistment is looming for some members of N.Flying, making this comeback their final group promotions before hiatus. It’s been awhile since we’ve heard from the guys, and even longer since I’ve connected with one of their singles. Waaaay back in 2017 and 2018 I was firmly aboard the N.Flying train. Hweseung had just been added to the group and their music felt rambunctious and unpredictable. At the time, I saw them as the rowdy younger brothers to DAY6’s more serious idol rock.
Over the years (and especially since the success of 2019’s Rooftop), those quirks have diminished. Their music is still super solid, but it feels more middle-of-the-road. I appreciate how I Like You (폭망) isn’t some sad-sack ballad preceding their hiatus. Instead, it grooves along N.Flying’s amiable energy, mixing rock music with flourishes of hip-hop. I don’t find the track particularly catchy or memorable, but the performance is solid as a rock. N.Flying are now veterans of the industry and their skill elevates even meager material.
Small touches make I Like You deserving of a closer listen. I love the exclamations of guitar that pepper the verses. They give the arrangement more spontaneity than the song itself. I wish this extended to the dynamics of the production. I Like You would benefit greatly from more dynamic peaks and valleys. As it stands, the song is one enjoyable flatline. It doesn’t really go anywhere, despite an almost-there climax that teases Hweseung’s massive voice without fully committing to the bombast.
Hooks 7 Production 8 Longevity 8 Bias 7 RATING 7.5
