Embark on a Healing Journey with WOODZ
Two months after dropping the pre-release single “ABYSS” with an accompanied solemn music video, soloist WOODZ finally unveiled his newest musical project on April 26—a 5th mini-album titled OO_LI that showcases his ever-growing capability and versatility as a singer-songwriter. The seven-track album carries the punk rock spirit from his previous EP COLORFUL TRAUMA with a mix of R&B and soft-pop influence, birthing yet another healing body of work by the multi-talented idol.
The opening track “Deep Deep Sleep” sets the mood for the album and expands on WOODZ’s R&B sound. It leads to a satisfying build-up that is further complemented by the singer’s honey-sweet vocals. The lead single “Journey” is an anthemic and soothing track with cathartic lyrics about the process of healing and fearlessly embarking on a new adventure. “I might lose myself when I leave but/Deep inside my heart on my little island/Is where I have kept myself intact/So I’m ready to journey again.”* Both the song and music video serves as a continuation of the pre-release with similar visuals and lyrical sentiments. Angsty “Drowning” is one of the standouts in the album with its nostalgic soft rock sound and an impactful chorus. WOODZ poured his heart and soul into the delivery of this track, belting hard-hitting lyrics over the blaring electric guitar melody.
Fan-favorite “Busted” is a rollercoaster of emotions thanks to the genius composition from the idol. The song starts with whisper-soft vocals and gradually builds up to a thumping, melodic chorus, then it descends again. When things seem like they would be on a repetitive pattern, WOODZ surprises everyone with a climactic rap on the bridge and the track fades out with an acoustic outro. “Who Knows” and “Ready to Fight” are two tracks that are reminiscent of WOODZ’s musical direction in his previous album COLORFUL TRAUMA. Grungy and punk-fueled, these tracks express a rebellious side to the seemingly somber musical project. Soft and sentimental “ABYSS” rounds out the EP.
One of WOODZ’s biggest charms and something he has frequently done in past albums is mastering the art of storytelling through a carefully-crafted tracklist that is meant to be listened to in chronological order. In OO_LI, tracks at the beginning and end are on the calm and slow tempo side while the middle of the album explodes with belting vocals and powerful instrumentals like rapid guitar riffs, almost like describing the ups and downs of one’s life. This among other factors makes WOODZ a force to be reckoned with in the K-Pop industry.
*Lyric translations from YouTube video.
Edited by Vivian N.