BABYMONSTER just released their debut mini-album ‘BABYMONS7ER’ which features the track ‘Monsters’ as the opening song that leaves a statement on their direction. With five original tracks on their mini-album, they established themselves with their unique and creative ideas. However, there were some concerns with YG Entertainment’s lack of creativity as their newly formed group seemed to fall under the same formula as their existing artists.
Title track ‘Sheesh’ presented a great instrumental introduction that is minimalist with the soft sound of the piano that initiated an upbeat cadence. However, the chorus soon became almost eerily familiar with various similarities to BLACKPINK, leading to an ineffective attempt to move away from the duplicity utilized several times before. It seems like YG might have missed an opportunity to explore the band’s singing prowess, which could have been enjoyed by creating authentic songs.
‘BABYMONS7ER’ also contains two records that were re-recordings, ‘Batter Up’ and ‘Stuck In The Middle,’ featuring Ahyeon’s vocals. The concluding track named ‘Dream’ was released earlier on YouTube about a year ago that also highlights their vocals and their ability to blend them together. ‘Like That’ is another original soundtrack in which Charlie Puth is credited. In contrast, BABYMONSTER succeeded in making it their own by incorporating the early 2000s R&B beats and tunes with their signature upbeat vibe.
The debut mini-album is an excellent attempt for a new group but with a few misses. It seems as though YG Entertainment is still stuck playing a similar track, utilizing the same formula and missing the opportunity to mold the group into something new for the K-pop industry. Either way, BABYMONSTER has a lot of potential to be great. YG needs to be open to new paths and step out of their comfort zones to help BABYMONSTER live up to their full potential as a unique girl group in the market. Their debut might not have been the best, but there’s always room for growth and improvement.
The album was released on April 1, and it includes five original tracks under the YG Entertainment label. Its re-released tracks ‘Batter Up’ and ‘Stuck In The Middle’ showcase Ahyeon’s vocals, while ‘Dream’ reveals the vocal abilities of the group. BABYMONSTER has proven themselves in the new track ‘Like That’ as they show their potential as the next big K-pop girl group
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