LAY Is Fully LIT with 4th Album
After weeks of excitement, soloist and EXO member Lay Zhang has finally unleashed the second half of 4th studio album, LIT. As we have previously covered the first half of the album, this review focuses on the second half of the album as well as overall thoughts of Lay’s latest release.
Tracklist:
蓮 (LIT)
玉 (Jade)
鷹 (Eagle)
水 (H2O)
飛 (Fly)
靈 (Soul)
沸 (Changsha)
媽 (Mama)
蹦 (Boom)
喚 (Call My Name)
夜 (Late Night)
愿 (Wish)
The Album
All summer long Lay has brought the heat this summer since the announcement of his 4th studio album, LIT. Lay kicked off his promotions bringing a dark and sinister feel, which was not something fans often get to see from the Mandopop artist. As part one of LIT was much more gritty and rough around the edges, the second half transitions into something much more smooth and light. As LIT is finally complete, Lay offers a well-balanced album that fans will have no problem getting into. In between releases, Lay pre-released the tropical sounding song “Boom” which serves as a palette cleanser to further build the hype that is the second half of the album.
Although there is not accompanied music video for any of the other songs released in the second half of the album, Lay continues with Hip-Hop heavy track “沸 (Changsha)” which is a nod to Lay’s hometown in China and how Changsha is his stomping ground and that he will forever be proud of where he comes from. Like the previous tracks, “沸 (Changsha)” focuses more on the flute instrumentals that are enhanced by a sick beat, giving it that gritty hip-hop feeling that for those who lean more heavily in favor of this type of sound will surely appreciate. “沸 (Changsha)” is that song that has to be turned up on blast and let the bass be felt. As the album begins it’s downward climb, the sound and vibe shifts into a more relaxed and chill. For those who are more in favor of Lay’s R&B sound, songs like “喚 (Call My Name)” and “愿 (Wish)” are the songs that hit home.
Whether it is the balance like yin and yang or dark and light, Lay’s album is a wonderful journey of a listen. From the heavily implemented Chinese sounds and instrumentals to the hip-hop and R&B influences, Lay delivers a well-rounded album that is a joy from beginning to end. As this marks Lay’s 4th album, LIT does not disappoint. This is an album that is going to be a staple amongst the soloist’s discography for a long time to come.
Listen to Lay’s album here!