Oh Stray Kids. What happened to you guys.
A few years ago during 2019 and 2020, Stray Kids were one of my absolute favourite musical acts, delivering music that genuinely felt daring without sacrificing a keen ear for addictive soundscapes and killer melodies. Tracks like the transcendent Miroh, pummelling Side Effects and rhythmic Back Door all pointed towards a group that could effortlessly tackle a number of sounds yet still deliver a fantastic final product. Recently however, I’ve failed to really connect with anything the group have released. What used to be daring and exciting has now turned into messy and noisy with new single S-Class coming across as a true cacophony of sounds.
Now here’s the thing, unlike something like Case 143, I can actually appreciate S-Class for what it’s trying to do. This kind of experimental, genre mashing song can really work if anchored by a strong, instantly recognisable hook that manages to bring all of the songs disparate elements together. Songs like Girls Generations’ I Got a Boy, SHINee’s masterful One Minute Back and even the aforementioned Side Effects are prime examples of this. But while S-Class‘ individual parts are quite potent, the end result doesn’t quite come together as strongly as the sum of its parts.
Up until S-Class‘ first chorus, I honestly thought we were going to get one of the strongest songs of the year. The tracks dizzying twists and turns were catching me off guard in the best way and harnessing the kind of elements that drew me into the groups music in the first place. From the rallying battle cry that opens the track to the aggressive hip-hop led verse and finally the gorgeously melodic pre-chorus, everything falls nearly perfectly into place for an equally show stopping centrepiece ala Miroh to follow. Instead, S-Class continues to subvert expectations, however this time not in a good way, collapsing into a mindless and rather irritating chant that feels more cookie cutter placeholder than potent centrepiece. And though its further repetitions are improved through the addition of more textures in the production, its initial appearance essentially collapses the track. It’s like a jackhammer to the skull, combining some of the groups worst instincts into a chorus that gets more and more unsavoury the more listens you invest.
Which makes it even harder to appreciate the tracks stronger surroundings. The 90’s inspired second verse (though completely out of place) helps right the ship, making great use of the groups rappers with a production that feels just about as freewheeling as the tracks (lack of) structure. It’s an odd inclusion, one that jarringly transitions between the sections surrounding it but nonetheless provides a fun detour from the shouty mess of its centrepiece. And though the climax is suitably loud and exciting, by the time it rolls around, you’re more exhausted than you are intrigued, rendered mute by a supposed 5 star meal that delivers a less than savoury taste.
Verses: 7
Chorus: 4
Production: 7
Performance: 7
Final Rating: 6.25 / 10
KBopped 