NCT, if you don’t know, is an enormous k-pop group divided into several sub-units, including NCT 127, NCT Dream, NCT U, NCT Wish, and WayV, 127 probably being the most popular. Some of the members are in more than one group but 127’s members are Johnny, Yuta, Haechan, Doyoung, Taeyong, Jungwoo, Mark, Jaehyun, and WinWin (who is currently inactive). Taeil was kicked out of the group for a “sexual crime” in August of 2024. (Read about this here)

Here are my credentials: I’m a fan of NCT Dream, who was actually one of the first groups I reviewed on this blog, and I’m a fan of Mark’s solos (Child especially) and Haechan’s voice (and him in general, if we’re being honest). However, if you’ve read one of my reviews before, you’ll know that I have…a negative opinion of 127 from what I’ve heard. They set the template for some of my least favorite trends in the industry, noise music especially. So, fair warning, I don’t know how I’ll feel about them at the end, but I hope that they can change my mind!

EP #1: NCT #127

They debuted with Fire Truck in 2016 (which was already 8 years ago, oh my god), and I can understand why it made them popular. It has a lot of what are now hallmarks of their music: heavy on the rapping and hip-hop influences, an anti-drop chorus, an electronic beat, and an “I’m-cooler-than-you” vibe. Even though this song isn’t for me, I don’t dislike it; I can respect that it’s alright. Shout-out to the (way-too-short) bouts of great vocals in it, and though I have absolutely no idea what the hell whoever designed this MV was on, I hope they’re willing to share.

From the first album, just called NCT #127, I enjoyed the hand-clapping percussion and the jazzy electronic beat of Once Again, the easy-listening tropical-pop influences in Wake Up, and the smooth beats and good harmonizing in Switch. I very much was not a fan of the anger in Mad City, though.

EP #2: Limitless

I had similar thoughts with the music video for Limitless as I did Fire Truck’s: the styling and shooting decisions are…not it. Must we do the bad SHINHWA impressions and the cultural appropriation hairstyles and the hip-thrusting at the screen, boys? But, ignoring that, I did like the song, especially the fact that the build-up actually has a pay-off in the “oh baby, it’s you” at the beginning of the chorus. 

I mentioned SHINHWA at the beginning, but this song feels a lot like a more polished version of their earlier music. I probably wouldn’t know that if I hadn’t just done a review on them, though. Also like them, NCT 127 has great skills at harmonizing with each other, and on the rare occasions in their singles when they have the chance to really sing, I realize that they have really good voices. I just wish I could hear them more.

From the 2nd EP, Limitless, I enjoyed the brassy hook and chanting post-chorus of Good Thing, the simple but catchy R & B chorus of Back 2 U, and the harmonizing in Angel and Baby Don’t Like It (though I’m not a fan of the rest of the latter song; what the hell were the bed squeaking noises for??).

EP #3: Cherry Bomb

Of course I’ve heard Cherry Bomb’s hook before with its immense level of popularity, but I hadn’t actually heard the whole thing and…well, I don’t think I was missing much. The “I’m the biggest hit, I’m the biggest hit on the stage” may be catchy, but the rest of the song is very much relying on chanting and the incredibly awkward “if you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands” that grates on my ears. Whenever I see the choreo for this song, it feels like my bad back just hurts in sympathy. I’m a singer, not a dancer, so this isn’t a choreo blog, but kudos, because genuinely, it’s impressive.

From the EP, Cherry Bomb, I enjoyed the unique Bollywood (?) influences and interesting clipped distortion in Running 2 U, and the tropical-inspired, more lighthearted beat of Summer 127 (not a fan of the random rap though). No clue whose idea Whiplash was, but I have many questions that cannot fit in this review.

Single #1: Touch

Touch is a special single for NCT’s huge 2018 “Empathy” album, and feels like it could be a completely different band. It’s sappy and sweet, and based on classic mid-century love ballads mixed with 90’s R & B, with clothes to match. More than that, it actually gives their voices time to shine, which of course I’m in favor of. I admit, I experienced a bit of whiplash (lol) going right from Cherry Bomb to this, but it was a welcome surprise. I really liked this one! I’m glad they finally get to smile in an MV.

Album #1: Regulate

Regular starts with an interesting, almost tropical beat and what’s quite a good rap from Mark, then goes into a pretty good build-up that had me excited for the chorus, though I expected an anti-drop. I was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to not have one, though, and I ended up liking this one. Though, I would consider it a little similar to Boy With Luv by BTS since I don’t think the chorus quite lives up to how great the pre-chorus is. I also wanted to state something off the bat: I’m not a fan of Taeyong’s rapping voice (though, for some reason, I don’t mind his talking voice), which I want to be clear is not his fault. But it does make me biased. Sorry, man.

Simon Says is also a song I’d heard before, and I’m going to be honest: I do not like it at all. The parts of the verses that are actually sung and the pre-chorus / opening of the chorus are alright, but the distorted high voices and the odd 60’s-cartoon sound effects under the beat just drive me crazy, and I had to turn off the song after the second chorus.

From the album, Regulate, I liked the whistling hook and piano background of City 127, the fun-loving chorus of Welcome to My Playground, Doyoung and Haechan’s voices especially in No Longer (though everyone got a chance to shine), the honestly quite lovely strings and several languages featured in Interlude, and the crying-on-the-dancefloor feels in Come Back and Run Back 2 U’s chorus.

EP #4: We Are Superhuman

Highway To Heaven, before this deep dive, was absolutely my favorite NCT 127 song; I actually played it while going on a road trip up the real Highway To Heaven on the coast California, and let me tell you, the vibes were immaculate. 127 (and Haechan’s voice especially in that climatic high note) have never sounded more polished. I’m a sucker for disco influences, a driving beat, and a chorus that reaches for the stars, and you can’t do much better than this. 

As a side note, I did watch the English version too and had a good laugh at how sexual the lyrics are contrasted with how playful and light the music video is, and how their shirts got progressively more and more untucked as the song went on. It definitely captures the feeling that is driving there, though, I’ll give it that.

Superhuman is the actual single from this album, and that’s probably not fair that it has to follow Highway To Heaven. But, it does hold its own, going for a very 80’s synth pop style with a driving beat that’s not too divorced from their more usual hip-hop based sound. I wish that the chorus’ great jumping-off point came sooner, without the odd anti-drop that I think kills a bit of the momentum, but other than that, I did like this one. The last chorus and outro really elevates it.

From the EP, We Are Superhuman, I enjoyed the “time is running out” hook from Fool, and the traditional R & B ballad combined with the lightly percussive finger-snapping in Jet Lag, but my hidden gem was, a bit inevitably, Paper Plane. Paper Plane is an acoustic-guitar and springy piano driven, lightly anthemic feel-good track. How could I not love it? I think this is my favorite of their EPs / albums so far.

And, that’s where we’ll leave off for this week! I didn’t intend this to be a two parter, but I had more to say than I thought I would. See you next time for Part Two! Tschüss!