The Summer of SECTOR 17

Only two months since their last release, Face the Sun, SEVENTEEN is back for the summer with their repackaged album SECTOR 17.

While Face the Sun and “HOT” saw SEVENTEEN at their spiciest yet, SECTOR 17 and its title track “_WORLD” lets the boys take a more relaxed approach to the summer. “_WORLD” is a groovy, feel-good pop song with a catchy hook and chorus that’s bound to be in fans’ heads for the rest of the season. Aside from some vocal highlights in the chorus from performance unit members Hoshi, Jun, The8, and Dino, “_WORLD” also gives Joshua a shining moment in the bridge—something we could always use more of. As with most of SEVENTEEN’s more playful tracks, “_WORLD” also features a new classic Vernon verse; the K-Pop industry would be hard-pressed to find someone who could deliver the, “Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door,” line with more spunk.

The music video for “_WORLD” picks up where “HOT” left off, with the boys going from a desolate desert to an airport terminal. Vernon ushers in the second half, dressed in shimmering sequins as he welcomes us to a vibrant, neon-hued city at night. From here on out, the video is mostly performance-based, letting the boys of SEVENTEEN shake what their mamas gave them as they dance along to the funky beats of “_WORLD.” For other groups, the simple plot and focus on choreography could be a drawback, but for SEVENTEEN, it’s their charm. As any Carat knows, SEVENTEEN are at their best when they are simply being SEVENTEEN.

SECTOR 17 features two new songs in addition to “_WORLD” and also the Korean version of their 2020 Japanese release “Fallin’ Flower” alongside the Face the Sun tracklist. The first is the stunning pop ballad “Circles” that’s sure to become an emotional support song for many. For a full group release, it’s a bit dialed back for SEVENTEEN, joining the ranks of tracks like “Smile Flower” or “Kidult.” The song sees lyrical genius Woozi in his element, comparing the healing capabilities of the passage of time to hands on a clock. Each member—especially rappers S.Coups and Wonwoo and main vocalist Seungkwan in the second verse—delivers flawless vocals in a way that only SEVENTEEN can, and the song only grows in tenderness with the addition of a children’s choir. As Woozi’s final acapella lines draw the song to a quiet close, it’s hard to not feel a little choked up.

“Fallin’ Flower,” despite its age, feels like a natural addition to the softer tones found in “Circles” and “_WORLD,” but the album does a 180 with “CHEERS,” a song that fans have waited for for five years. SEVENTEEN’s leader line, made up of S.Coups, Hoshi, and Woozi, last released “CHANGE UP” on the 2017 album TEEN,AGE. To this day, the song is still a fan-favorite, and its release left many wondering if the trio would ever have an official track again. Thankfully, “CHEERS” is like the big brother to “CHANGE UP” in every way; it’s a hip-hop track that relies on the leaders’ charisma that they’ve gained as they’ve matured in the industry. 2017 saw them finding their way among the third generation of K-Pop, but 2022 sees them as one of the top idol groups in the world. Pre-released ahead of the album with its own music video, “CHEERS” already went viral thanks to Hoshi’s, “내 엉덩이 팡팡,” line. Leave it to SEVENTEEN to break the internet with their booties.

SEVENTEEN has long since dominated summer with their “freshteen” releases, and SECTOR 17 is no exception, even if it is a more mature take on the concept. Be sure to support the group ahead of their upcoming world tour by streaming “_WORLD” and the rest of the album on all streaming platforms.