SHINee’s Back With New Comeback Titled “HARD”
SHINee’s back everyone! This comeback was highly-anticipated, and now that it’s here we can’t help but smile in excitement. SHINee is a boy group under SM Entertainment that has been in the game for 15 years and wows us every time they drop a hit. This album, titled HARD, is an amazing way to come back.
There are 10 songs in total on the album. The songs are;
“HARD”
“JUICE”
“10X”
“Satellite”
“Identity”
“The Feeling”
“Like It”
“Sweet Misery”
“Insomnia”
“Gravity”
With their last album as a group being in 2021, it feels great to hear from them again. Each song on the album is incredible and left us all grasping for more.
Title Track - “HARD”
This track has you moving along with the beat the moment you hear the piano trills in the beginning. The ‘90s-inspired hip-hop beat was a nice touch to this already hard-hitting title track. It catches your attention before the chorus even comes on. The video starts with member’s Key, and Taemin playing the piano in the tempo of the beat. They are then in what looks to be the inside of the piano. It can easily be missed if viewers didn’t look at the background. Once you catch it you realize it’s a beautiful sight to see. On top of that, it is always great to hear their amazing vocal skills. “HARD” will go down in history with their other iconic title tracks.
HARD - The 8th Album: B-Sides
The first B-side on the album is “JUICE.” When the song starts, we all hear the iconic “INCOMING” that we all know of. Just from that, we are already hyped about the song. Once the beat starts you find yourself nodding to the beat. The build-up of the chorus gets you excited to hear it and the moment the beat drops you feel like jumping up and dancing. It’s definitely a song that is going to be blasting through many speakers.
The next song titled “10X” was a complete turn from “JUICE.” This jazz-inspired song showcased the vocal skills that SHINee possesses. Listening to this song makes you want to vibe and move your hips to the beat. Even with the dynamic rap, you can’t help but sway to the jazz/R&B accompaniments that are used in the background. The instrumental is beautiful and is a great addition to the song.
“Oh, I feel like a satellite.” This song is my personal favorite. The retro vibes of the song with the R&B musical work merged beautifully. The song starts acoustic with all of the members harmonizing together. That alone shocked many listeners being able to hear their angelic vocals. This song is just really fun. There is a ‘70s vibe to the song, but they still stick to their SHINee roots, giving us an R&B/Pop song that we all know well.
The next song is “Identity” which is the fifth track on the album. The transition from “Satellite” to “Identity” was refreshing. This is the summer, feel-good pop song we love to hear. The vocals are perfect, it made listeners feel like they were levitating. This is another fun song that I’m pretty sure brought a smile to many faces.
“The Feeling” is the sixth song on the album. This song was released two weeks before the album for Shawols. This was a gift from the members and when I tell you this is an amazing song, I mean it. This song is so beautiful. The video is very touching, with them at the beach happy and together. On top of that, the merge of their voices created a magnificent piece that will always be remembered for the spectacular vocal skills in this song.
“Like It” is a different sound from the previous song. SHINee certainly knows how to make a dance track, because, between the catchy beat, and synth-pop sound, it’s hard not to dance. This is a tune that makes you want to jump around with your hands in the air. The retro concept implemented for some of the songs is in this one as well and was a great added touch.
The eighth song on this album titled “Sweet Misery” might have a catchy beat, but this one is so powerful. The smooth blend of their harmonizing vocals makes listeners feel like they are laying on a cloud. The scene I see, while “Sweet Misery” is playing, is the listener blasting this song in their car, with the windows down and the wind blowing throughout. It’s a soothing tune that deserves all the love.
“Insomnia” is so SHINee. The bass guitar in the background, the undertone of jazz, and the incorporation of R&B vocal skills had me and others replaying this song. Talent runs deep in this group, and if the previous songs didn’t prove it, this one definitely will.
The last song on the album is titled “Gravity.” This was an amazing way to end the album. The snaps in the background as the members sing make you want to snap along with them. Just from listening to this track, a tear may form in one's eyes just because of how good it is. It tugs at your heartstrings and makes you fall in love with the song and members all over again.
Shawols and many K-Pop listeners were excited to hear from SHINee once again, and now that it’s here, it will be on repeat for many of us. This album proved just how talented and dedicated SHINee is. It is a spectacular album and leaves us all excited for their future projects.
Edited by Cara Musashi