No matter how ZEROBASEONE’s debut album would have sounded like, I was going to make an in-depth review of it. It is the least I could do after falling in love with the group ever since watching Boys Planet. However, even if I did not follow Boys Planet, in respect of the sheer strength of the album, I would have written a review for it anyway.
There is not a single song within the album that I would consider ‘weak’, and there are some that would likely end up staying standouts even when 2023 comes to a close. Wakeone really did a good job in making sure that the album would not disappoint.
Back to the ZEROBASE
From the first listen, I knew that this was not only going to be my favourite song from the album, but one of my favourite K-pop songs of all time.
I’m not sure if words are quite enough to describe its beauty. Everything about the song evokes emotions in the best way possible. I had mentioned in my review for ‘In Bloom’ how I appreciated the swelling and dynamics of the production, and ‘Back to the Zerobase’ does what ‘In Bloom’ does- but two fold.
I would be lying if I did not admit that the song gave me goosebumps. From its melodies, to the production choices, and last but certainly not least, the stunningly gorgeous vocal harmonies that you simply don’t see in K-pop anymore these days, it almost brought me to tears. It was as if the members are singing about their disbelief of being able to debut, but through it all shines a strong and unwavering hope for a bright future that echoes the very moment Zhang Hao belts the pre-chorus at around 0:33. The way he vocalised it is absolute perfection. In fact, it is one of my favourite moments from any K-pop song I’ve listened to, the way he cuts through and just belts unwaveringly affected me in a way that completely caught me off-guard. I will admit that Zhang Hao is my bias within the group, but nevertheless, it still surprised me. The chosen melody at that moment is absolute genius. Actually, I’ll just say, the whole melodic line in the song, while not complex, is extremely well-written. It repeats a set of phrases several times, but in conjunction with the swells and drops of the song, the emotions delivered through the vocalisation, and the lyrics that they sing (“tell me is it real”, “is it real”), it just works very well.
This song is also ZEROBASEONE’s best display of their vocal ability within the album. There are few K-pop groups who would be able to sing this song and pull it off the way they did. From the get-go, it told the world why they are a cut above the rest. It is hard not to get convinced.
I can see this song as so many different songs, but not as a K-pop song. I can see it in a tourism advertisement (and trust me, this is a compliment). I can also picture it being the background music to a modern dance routine. It really sounds quite unlike any other K-pop song. And this got me thinking, does that not make it unique within the whole industry? From its stellar production to the outstanding vocal delivery, to the feelings it evokes, no other K-pop song I’ve listened to affected me in the way ‘Back To Zerobase did’. For that, it deserves the highest of merits.
Hooks – 10
Production – 10
Vocal Delivery – 10
Overall – 10+
New Kidz on the Block
Running at 3 minutes and 32 seconds, this is by far the longest song in the album. But for good reason too- it feels the most nostalgic among all the songs of the debut album.
Songs used to be this long on average. Now, it is almost an anomaly. The evolution of music really is quite strange, and I am not sure if it is for the better. For now, I’ll just take what I can get.
The opening chord progression already evokes a deep sense of nostalgia. Until now, I can’t quite grasp what song I’ve heard it from, but my senses are telling me that it was a 2010s hit. A really popular one. One that I really loved.
As the vocals come in, it reveals the top line melody that also instantly feels familiar. Everything about the song screams ‘tried-and-true’- and I love it for that. The production is insistent from beginning to end, with no deviation from what it was offering from its introduction. ‘New Kidz On The Block’, in spite of its name, was simply here to deliver good, traditional songwriting and production that will hit the spot every time. Well, if you are fond of this sound at least.
Here is the thing- because it is so consistent with its sound, it might come off as stagnant. While there is variation between the melodies of the verses and the chorus, at some point, the melodies are simply repeating themselves. There is bound to be some repetition, but even the bridge is just the same melodies found in the pre-chorus and chorus but presented in a different way. As someone who grew to love the unexpected and interesting production and distinct melodic lines of NCT’s music, it feels borderline uninteresting at times.
In spite of this, it doesn’t change the fact that it is a good song. In particular, it is hard to deny that it is undoubtedly well-produced. I’m really fond of the mixing and compression here, as both the vocals and the instruments sound very clear, but still complimentary to each other. The vocals, as expected, are strong. The most ‘K-pop’ thing about it is the sprinkling of the ‘chant-raps’ throughout the song. I’m pleasantly surprised by the delivery of those sections, as they feel unironically convincing. The English fluency of the members Gyuvin and Matthew in particular, really help, particularly in Matthew’s ‘anti-hero’ line in the pre-chorus. They help make the song feel fresh in spite of its nostalgia it brings- which gently reminds us that indeed, they are ‘New Kidz On The Block’.
Hooks – 9 -> 10 (After listening to it more, the phrase ‘don’t fix what isn’t broken’ really applies here. The melody is extremely potent.)
Production – 9
Vocal Delivery – 10
Rap/Chant Delivery – 10
Overall – 9.5 -> 9.75
And I
This was an early favourite for many ZE_ROSE, and I can see why. Its main hook in the chorus is quite the earworm, containing a groovy rhythm and a catchy ascending top line. The production is also solid, I am particularly a fan of the atmospheric flourishes it uses to add texture throughout the song. The vocal delivery of the members here is also some of my favourite in the whole album, and it really helps that the mixing is really clean, especially in comparison to the likes of ‘In Bloom’.
However, I have a problem with the song’s general melody. It feels really unfocused at times. There does not seem to be much compatability between certain sections. It is not necessarily jarring, but it makes it slightly difficult to keep focus throughout. The transition between the pre-chorus and the chorus is the smoothest among them all, but the rest are more ambiguous, most noticeably, the bridge which seems to drift off somewhere else entirely before returning to the solid chorus melody. It makes it difficult to remember what parts of the song sound like, especially the beginning. I can see this growing stronger with time, but in comparison to the melodies used in ‘In Bloom’, ‘Back to the Zerobase’, and ‘New Kidz on the Block’, it is noticeably less streamlined.
Additionally, while I was impressed by the production, I was not blown away either. Most of the heavy lifting was done through the vocal delivery of the members, who did a splendid job.
Overall, it isn’t my favourite song from the album, but it is still solid nevertheless. Because I think the song feels like the song largely benefits from the production, I will double the points there to make up for the lack of rapping/chanting in the song.
Hooks – 7 -> 8 (The chorus melody is too sticky)
Production – 8 -> 9 (a misevaluation)
Vocal Delivery – 10
Overall – 8.25 -> 9
Our Season
Admittedly, I wasn’t the biggest fan of this song at first listen, but repeated listens drew out its charms.
What I appreciate the most about ‘Our Season’ is its main hook in the chorus, which is an ascending chromatic top line that feels utterly satisfying, especially because it is backed up by a strong vocal performance. The hook rings true- it is easily one of the most pleasant choruses I’ve listened to the whole year.
Additionally, while the production does not do something unique or never-seen-before (in fact, I can see the instrumental being part of an NCT 127 b-side), I liked that it was not too consistent the whole way through- which was my issue with ‘New Kidz On the Block’. Before you can get somewhat tired of hearing the same sounds again, the production switches up slightly at the bridge and adds a rock-like feel through the rock guitar and the change in rhythm, which is a nice touch. It also goes for a group-chant/sung section, which is also something uncommon added something different. The chosen chords and melodies feel streamlined to support each other through every section, and the verses feel strong right off the bat.
In spite of my rocky start with the song at first listen, it is now one of my favourite songs of the album.
Hooks – 10 -> 9 (Not as potent as I thought, particularly, the verses)
Production – 9
Vocal Delivery – 10
Chant Delivery – 10
Overall – 9.75 -> 9.5
Always
Just to get out of the way, I’m quite mad that the song is only 2 minutes and 10 seconds. That is nowhere near enough time for a song build-up and develop properly. Nowhere near. ‘Stay’ by Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber is an anomaly in that sense, especially because the latter is a much faster song and propels forward in a way that ‘Always’ does. Given how Zhang Hao is my bias, it just makes me more and more frustrated.
Honestly, if this song was given more time to develop and build, this could have easily been one of my favourite song’s in the album. I’m very fond of the chorus melody that has been ringing in my head ever since the album sampler was released, and along with Zhang Hao’s delivery and masculine timbre, it makes for a great listen. The upbeat percussion that enters after the opening verses keeps the song’s energy up despite being a mid-tempo track. I also nod my head to the verse melody, which is quite interesting, and it manages to pull you in within the short time frame it had the chance to. Zhang Hao’s vocal performance was strong, though the falsetto line towards the end sounds a tad bit too thin for my liking even after the processing. He did a great job nevertheless.
Sadly, ‘Always’ simply does not have opportunity to build upon the strong foundations it set. It is quite tragic really.
Hooks – 9
Production – 8
Vocal Delivery – 9
Overall – 8.5
YOUTH IN THE SHADE
Final Thoughts
‘Youth In the Shade’ is a strong and cohesive body of work, promising excellence and a bright future. Already, it feels fresh among the current K-pop soundscape, with only select few groups currently doing a similar sound. In particular, ‘Back to the ZEROBASE’ is easily one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard in my life, and I don’t think I will be able to have a similar experience with any other song any time soon. I can easily see ‘New Kidz On The Block’, ‘Our Summer’ and ‘In Bloom’ becoming end-of-year highlights. There were some missed opportunities, particular in ‘And I’ and ‘Always’ (especially the latter), but the album nevertheless stands strong. Keep your eyes out for ZEROBASEONE, for I can easily envision them being able to release another legendary song like ‘Back to the Zerobase’ in their next album, given how they got so many things right in this album. I cannot wait!
Overall Score – 9.3
K-pop Evaluated 
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