It’s been two long years since we’ve heard from the boys of WINNER, with members JINU and HOONY completing their mandatory enlistments over the bulk of the pandemic, but they are finally back with their fourth mini-album HOLIDAY and title track “I LOVE U.” All tracks feature writing and composing credits for leader YOON, but MINO and HOONY’s names can also be spotted throughout the track credits.

“I LOVE U” has a hint of retro influence in the beats, with the occasional guitar strums mixed with the snapping in the background only furthering the retro feel. A personal favorite part of the track is when HOONY and MINO rap back and forth after the first chorus, but YOON’s incredible vocals at the beginning of the chorus are equally as noteworthy. The music video is just as captivating. From the bright colors used throughout, the fun premise of the video, and the way that the WINNER we see in the music video is very much the WINNER we see on HOONY’s TikTok, there’s nothing to hate.

The five remaining tracks on HOLIDAY are “10 MIN,” “HOLIDAY,” “SWEET HOME,” “FAMILY,” and “LITTLE FINGER.” They all keep the mini-album in the same boppy-fun wheelhouse as “I LOVE U,” but each song offers up something a little bit different from the next. “10 MIN” sees WINNER tackling an ‘80s-inspired synth and EDM blend that works all too well for them, while “HOLIDAY” takes you on a tropical getaway. And, based on how HOLIDAY was announced on social media, it’s not too far-fetched to think that we’ll be getting a music video for “HOLIDAY” at some point too.

After track three is where the shift happens. From here on out, while the tracks are still poppy, they’re also much more subdued than the first half of HOLIDAY. When “SWEET HOME” first starts, you may be expecting it to sound more like a ballad, but WINNER keeps us all on our toes by introducing an upbeat harmonica during the bridge and chorus. “FAMILY” also does a good job of calming down the tracklist, but it’ll still keep you boppin’ around (especially during MINO’s verse). Final track “LITTLE FINGER” is the perfect ending for our holiday with WINNER, winding down the tracklist with the perfect balance of pop vibes and soothing vocals. While there are build-ups that lead to the chorus, they’re not as pronounced as in the previous tracks.

All in all, each track on HOLIDAY plays out like a road trip. It’s all fun and loud out first, keeping you energized and entertained, but then as you get closer to your destination, it calms down. HOLIDAY is a strong return for WINNER, and Inner Circles should be very proud of our boys.

Edited by Aleena Faisal