There’s probably no subject more widely used and explored in all of pop — in any language — than that of good, old-fashioned romance, and all the many nuances that come with it. K-Pop band SEVENTEEN are the latest to add their interpretations into the scene, with their latest mini-album “Your Choice”, more than anything a celebration of the euphoric highs that can come with human connection.
Title track ‘Ready to Love’ is as romantic as pop can be, punctuated by a steady rhythmic beat driving the track forward, that’s more than anything reminiscent of the steady, earnest, heartbeat of what else — young love.
‘Heaven’s Cloud’, an album standout so far, is nothing short of euphoric, and is probably the track with most of the group’s best artistic instincts so far. A well-crafted melody and addictive hook has always been an underestimated strength of SEVENTEEN’s all throughout their discography, as well as their uncanny mastery of that specific genre of melancholy EDM — which is largely what’s made tracks like ‘Don’t Wanna Cry and ‘Fallin’ Flower’ instant classics in today’s K-Pop scene.
‘GAM3 BO1’ is by far the most experimental of the album — a hip hop track that’s eclectic and inventive in its bubble pop-tinged production, while still anchored by a simple enough melody. The four-member hip-hop unit fire off each others’ verses in seamless flow that’s since become one of SEVENTEEN’s underrated strengths as a group.
As far as albums go, “Your Choice” undeniably counts as one of the band’s most cohesive to date, but it’s also one of their least expansive in canvas, especially compared to last October’s excellent “Semi;colon”. Nevertheless, SEVENTEEN are as deft as ever in their craft, and they lean into this project head-on like the self-producing talents that they’re widely known for, and every track in the album still glimmer with their signature polish.
Closing track ‘Same Dream, same mind, same night’ is probably the best representative of the album as a whole, with all its mid-tempo 90s boy-band romance, delivered with an extra layer of decadence by the vocal team’s truly impressive pipes.
Seventeen are deft at their craft — there’s never been any doubt of that. And with “Ready To Love”, the band seemingly hearken back to the earliest years, with the tracks that first brought them widespread attention. Their hit ‘Pretty U’ comes to mind, among others, and all that earnest charisma of their younger years — but with a new layer of maturity this time around. For long-time fans, it’s a welcome invitation to reflect on the band’s growth from their 2015 debut until today, and SEVENTEEN are more than willing to bask along with fans in this journey. If anything, “Your Choice” is a love letter of an album, unwavering in its wistfulness and yearning for the simple joy of human connection.
For their second album released in the midst of the pandemic, SEVENTEEN have built a remarkable enough repertoire. And with the majority of pandemic-era albums coming out as products of their time, “Your Choice” is a welcome reminder towards emotions this unabashedly pure and simple again. To fall in love is an extraordinary thing, and above all, “Your Choice” is an ode and celebration to that purest, most basic form of the human experience.
