Sweet Tooth? Try CRAVITY’s Latest Japanese Comeback Jelly Bean
Hot off the presses of their 2024 victory on Mnet survival show Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace, Starship Entertainment’s nine-member boy group CRAVITY returns to a bright, bubblegum sound in their latest Japanese comeback Jelly Bean.
TRACKLIST
“Jelly Bean”
“Love or Die - Japanese Version”
“SCORCH”
“ENIGMA”
“Cheese - Japanese Version”
Following Japanese promotional norms, the title track “Jelly Bean” released in February to kick off the group’s Japanese promotions and fan meeting tour until the formal full EP release on March 26. “Jelly Bean” is a return to that syrupy-sweet bubblegum pop that CRAVITY makes their own, following the likes of “Dilly Dally” and “PARTY ROCK.” Paired with new B-sides “ENIGMA” and “SCORCH,” Jelly Bean is a strong, springy addition to an already bold discography.
Playing a team of eccentric archaeologists, CRAVITY excavates their way to a treasure box full of jelly beans in a paired-down but silly-fun music video. The song features a whistle hook and sunshine-y pop-rock instrumentals, with a healthy dash of contagious fun in the vocals that brings a smile to your face. It’s a palate cleanser of a Japanese title track, and CRAVITY excels at this easy, classic K-Pop fun.
It’s worth a shout-out to the respective Japanese versions of prior Korean tracks “Love or Die” and “Cheese.” While these are simple remasters of CRAVITY discography staples, member Allen’s iconic rap at the climax of “Love or Die” punches just as hard in Japanese as in Korean. And “Cheese?” “Cheese” is always a feel-good listen, no matter the language.
“SCORCH” delivers the obligatory noisy track: chanting, sucker punch vocals paired with a rolling bass line. A hint of something like a pan flute in the background brings harmonic intrigue. It’s the first time in a while that CRAVITY featured such a noisy track, looping them back to their rookie-era race car roots. Side-by-side with “Jelly Bean” and “ENIGMA,” “SCORCH” is almost nostalgic for long-time listeners of the group, closing the loop of the EP with three unique explorations of CRAVITY’s versatility. Jelly Bean, in this way, is a clear-cut depiction of the identity the group pushed to define over the last year of hard-hitting pop-rock standouts and taking home first place on the survival show Road to Kingdom: Ace of Ace.
Fellow B-side track “ENIGMA” is the standout track on the release, featuring soaring R&B/dream-pop melodies and a haunting, wispy vocal performance that layers ad-libs on top of sheer atmospheric yearning. “Enigma, it’s an enigma.” CRAVITY pines, and the song’s tight arrangement and phenomenal final chorus respond in kind: “Tell me that you love me, I want to float with you.” And float you do, with production like this. It’s almost shocking that “ENIGMA” is relegated to the somewhat niche role of Japanese comeback B-side with such standout potential. Forget candy, forget treasure chests, perhaps CRAVITY spent their music video digging through those ruins for the hidden gem that is “ENIGMA.”
Jelly Bean is a fun springtime EP, offering whatever versatile flavor candy you’re looking for, be it very cherry, cheese, sizzling cinnamon, or “ENIGMA.” (“ENIGMA” gets its own flavor; it’s that good.) Check it out for a 15-minute sugar-rush listening experience. You’ll have fun, that’s a promise.
Edited by Bryn Claybourne