Rad Museum Releases First Full Album with Star-Studded Feature Lineup
With his last non-single release taking place in 2017, there was a lot of hype surrounding Rad Museum’s return with his first full-length album RAD. While we’ve been kept satiated with singles, it’s just not the same as an album or even a mini-album. But with a feature lineup as bulky as it gets, it’s safe to say that RAD will not disappoint, even if some of the tracks look familiar.
The Title: “Off-Line (feat. DEAN, LEE HI)”
“Off-Line (feat. DEAN, LEE HI)” kicks off with a classic groovy motown-inspired beat, which immediately gets your body moving. The upbeat nature of the melody is contrasted by the lyrics, which sing of the toxicity of the online world and parallels it with depressive struggles within your own mind. The foundations of this song are classically R&B, which is what makes it so addicting. In addition to Rad Museum, we have the delightful voices of DEAN and LEE HI, which blend very well into this style of music. Honestly speaking, the song gives refreshing summer vibes, and is a reminder to get off the Internet every now and then to reconnect with yourself.
The video definitely has a quirky tone to it, which is pretty fitting for the song. We see Rad Museum open the video by turning off his devices and electronics, his expression flat and lifeless as if to further the point of the lyrics. The eccentric feeling of the video is both complementary and contradictory, because on one hand it definitely showcases an outward expression of mental struggles, but on the other it seems too light for such a serious topic. In that way, the video strikes a perfect representation of the mental struggles we all face, which is only exacerbated by social media.
The Album
RAD kicks off with the song “God’s Work,” a track that is sung predominantly with autotune and features Lossapardo. It seems pretty simple at first, but about a minute in we get some pretty intense harmonization both in the main melody and the background harmonization. The song has a futuristic tinge to it with how prominent the autotune is, which could be off-putting for some listeners.
Next comes “AirDrop,” which was previously released a number of months ago as a single. The track features Wonstein and has an upbeat, playful R&B feel, pronounced by the use of staccato notes in the main piano melody and the vocal line. The next track “U” has a very unique melodic structure, as it is composed as a slow tempo waltz, but the basic beat is often interrupted by the vocals and is inconsistent, which adds a very unique spin to the song. The use of accidentals is also plentiful. It’s a very experimental sound.
Following up next comes “This Night,” a previously released single that already has over one million streams on Spotify. The song has a dreamy, almost lofi quality to it. Rad Museum’s distinct quirky style reigns supreme over the melody. “Wet Umbrella” is also a previous single release and has a more soft acoustic influence to the melody. “한량” follows with a bit of a different sound, with less focus placed on the synth board and a more simple beat taking center stage. While there is still the distinctive use of accidentals, they are used far less frequently and flow more into the melody.
Following track seven, the title, comes “EXIT,” another previous single. This track features JUSTHIS and has a different composition from the previous songs. The addition of a rap verse gives this track more depth and helps to separate it from the others, it’s a refreshing change. JUSTHIS’s flow works very well with Rad Museum’s melodic creations, and that really shines in this track. Next comes “Two Bourbon Rock,” another dreamy R&B track featuring Moon Sujin. The beat on this track is particularly addicting and has a bit more hip-hop influence compared to the other tracks. Moon Sujin’s voice also blends well with this style and provides a contrast to Rad Museum.
“4D” featuring MISO and LOCO has an upbeat and funky feel, instantly making it groovy. The funk-inspired elements add a new sound to the album that helps to keep it fresh. “Flashback” follows as a very quick instrumental interlude before we jump into the softer “Say Hello Inner Child,” a simple acoustic track placing more focus on the vocals. The album finishes out with “Forever,” another dreamy ballad-influenced track featuring So!YoON!. The track has the classic Rad Museum style that we saw often in the beginning of the album, a slow tempo and heavy use of accidentals among a dream-like melody.
While the album does contain a lot of previously released music, it also has some refreshing new songs and showcases a few different genres that show more than just his signature sound. All of the features on his songs add a new dimension to them as well, and fit into their respective songs very well. Rad Museum’s talent definitely shines through in this album, and is a great starting point for those interested in getting into his music.
Edited by Omani