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Stray Kids Shatter Previous Records with Release of IN生

It’s only been three months since we’ve heard from Stray Kids, but despite that the group is back with a 17-track repackage album that has already shattered previous records, with the first day sales doubling from 52,000 to over 120,000. After the massive success of “God’s Menu,” many were curious as to what the octet had up their sleeves for the repackage. 

The Title: “Back Door”

Stray Kids’s title formulas can be boiled down to one of two types: either we get dark and intense hip-hop releases or strong, high-paced EDM releases. “Back Door” fits more into the latter, though it may not be apparent immediately. The track opens up with a more jazzy sound that is quite popular these days, and it’s actually quite refreshing. But the track definitely moves into unexpected territory that is almost jarring going into the chorus, as the track builds up to a drop but stops abruptly, the silence then accompanied by a knocking sound and a creaking door before the drop is finally provided. The seconds between the buildup and drop is an interesting creative choice and definitely makes the song more memorable. The differing melodies used from beginning to end are the kind of things that most groups wouldn’t be able to pull off, but it’s somehow right in line with Stray Kids’s style and they pull it off flawlessly. Remember the initial shock of “Side Effects”? This track will be similar, but not to the same intense degree. This type of musical experimentation is what always makes the group stand out amongst others in the industry, and chances are even if you don’t like this song upon first listen, it’s going to be your new favorite in a matter of days. 

As far as the music video goes, “Back Door” has a lot to live up to compared to “God’s Menu,” which received critical acclaim for its cinematography. Now we will say right up front that nothing could beat Felix’s close-ups in “God’s Menu,” but there are definitely elements in the way “Back Door” is shot that are very similar to its predecessor. Many of those types of shots are used in the choreography, along with close-ups that closely resemble “God’s Menu.” As expected as well, the choreography is quite eye-catching, but none more than the makeshift clock shot that has Jeongin in front while the others are hidden behind him and mimic the movements of a clock.

The Album

It’s safe to say that 17 tracks on an album is a jaw-dropping number, even if a good chunk are from the previous album. Nine of the tracks are from GO生, minus previous releases, OSTs, and the opening track “GO生 (GO LIVE).” Even so, there’s a bit of a treat opening the album. Titled “토끼와 거북이 The Tortoise and the Hare,” this track is actually an extended version of “GO生 (GO LIVE),” providing a fresh vibe to an already great album intro. It is rather interesting to hear the way the previous intro meshes into this new track in that it’s not just tacked on to the front, but more like certain bars are broken up and put together with new melodies. It’s a very interesting artistic choice. 

The first B-side following “Back Door” is “B Me,” which is an interesting fusion of traditional pop and hip-hop elements that Stray Kids often puts into their tracks. It definitely has banger potential because of this genre fusion and has a very distinct Stray Kids type of vibe for that reason as well. “Any” comes next and hops back on the EDM train, complete with autotune. It definitely has a lighter air than the tracks before it, which makes it a bit of palate cleanser from the more intense tracks.

Regardless of the Korean title “미친 놈” (or “crazy bastard” in English), “미친 놈 (Ex)” has a much more subdued and dreamy vibe than the tracks that came before it. The claps keeping the melody on beat keep the rhythm infectious and the accidentals within the vocals add a layer of depth to make the song stand out a bit more than it would solely on the rhythm. There is a bit of a melancholy vibe that combines with an airy feel to elicit a rather complex set of feelings, which make an otherwise fairly simple melody rather memorable. 

The track that comes next is something that STAYs have been waiting for since last November. Three unit tracks, kicking off with 3RACHA’s “We Go,” are the final new additions to the repackage, and it’s certainly been a long time coming. Everyone knows when 3RACHA gets together, we’re going to get a strong hip-hop banger that challenges even the greatest in the game. While not their most intense track beat wise, “We Go” is still certainly infectious and strongly hip-hop driven. Next trio is Lee Know, Hyunjin, and Felix with their song titled “Wow.” The track is particularly catchy and balances out against “We Go” well, keeping up a nice hip-hop vibe that would be considered a bit more mainstream. And finally we have “My Universe,” Seungmin and I.N’s duo featuring Changbin. This song is much more upbeat and poppy and overall has a sweeter demeanor. Something about it feels uplifting and warm, which seems fitting for the two youngest members of the group. 

So, the verdict? It’s clear that Stray Kids is one of the strongest talents on the scene today and the repackage IN生 definitely showcases that fact. The album has a great balance of hip-hop, pop, and EDM and flows seamlessly together one after another in a way that a lot of albums fail to achieve. It’s hard to argue that this group isn’t worth a listen, and anyone who likes good music objectively will find something to enjoy. It seems the boys have nowhere to go but up from this point forward. 

“Back Door” Title Score: 8.5/10

Music Video Score: 9/10

IN生 Album Score: 8/10

Total Score: 8.5/10