The MXM Boys Drop a Few More Tracks with One More
Comebacks are usually given some air to breathe in order to reach and resonate with the target audience, which is why MXM’s return only two months after full-length album More Than Ever falls under the radar.
The single album One More is headlined by a TAK remix of “Knock Knock” off the aforementioned release, along with two new songs. If this had been a music video release for the original track, this might’ve been more impactful. But the remix doesn’t stray too far from the original composition, which begs to question why it was chosen as the titular track for this album. The borderline dubstep track isn’t bad per se—it just doesn’t feel like anything special, to put it frankly. All it does is get louder and add blaring electronic instrumentals that clash with the passionate vocals which call for a slower, sexier beat.
The music video also fails to bring anything new to the table. While the styling and choreography seem to be on point, there are too many cutaways to scenes of the boys not doing anything substantial. It finally zeroes in on the boys’ dancing during the bridge breakdown dressed in uniquely slashed blazers, which prompts us to believe this would have been much better as a performance video; the non-dancing sequences aren’t gripping enough for viewers to sit down and analyze their underlying meanings.
But the two B-sides more or less make up for the anticlimactic title. “You Look So Different” is an sweet R&B track that expresses the confusion the boys feel as they begin to see their friend as a real woman for the first time. Youngmin effortlessly weaves in his sing-rapping for this medium-tempo song. Donghyun gets another solo track with the acoustic “Serenade,” a sparkling love song that feels like the bright first days of spring. Fit for café hopping with your significant other, the latter feels like the OST that plays when a K-Drama’s lead couple finally fall for each other. Donghyun’s voice is undeniably perfect for delicate love songs like this one.
While the remix undermines the strong B-sides, it goes without saying that the BRANDNEWBOYS have released some really good music this year. It would’ve been a better idea to include these songs on their 14-track album, but I’ll never complain about the boys releasing music.