Here are my credentials (one last time): If my stan card was a 2012 FaceBook status, it’d be labeled “it’s complicated”. I’ve been a k-pop fan since early 2019, and Stray Kids were one of the first groups I knew and started liking. But, despite still occasionally keeping up with their work and being a fan of the members, I haven’t been a very active fan. So, I’m hoping that this deep dive will help me rediscover why I started liking them in the first place, and along the way, I’ll discover songs of theirs I haven’t heard before.
Album #4: 5-Star
S-Class really starts off with a bang, with sing-talk heavy verses that also work in record-scratching hip-hop. As is pretty usual for me with their singles, my favorite part is the more melodic pre-chorus, courtesy of Seungmin and Bang Chan, and I wish that its strengths carried into the rest of the chorus, but I’m not surprised that they don’t. I also liked the bridge, for much of the same reason. Most of the song is just too harsh on my ears for me to fully enjoy.
DLC is the companion title to S-Class, and thankfully it’s more suited to my personal tastes. Still sing-talk heavy, it’s much smoother in its transitions, less bombastic in its percussion, and works in both a harmonica (I think) and some tropical influences. I also prefer its lyrics about the joy found in dancing to 5-Star’s “I’m-cooler-than-you” ones. It’s vibey and light footed, and by the time the final chorus came around, I was moving along.
From the album, 5-STAR, I enjoyed the build-up in Hall Of Fame, the more melodic moments in Item, the jazzy interpolations in Collision, and the heartfelt delivery of Youtiful. My hidden gems were the gently encouraging FNF with its building synths and summery, pop rock-led Mixtape: Time Out. Overall, though, I wasn’t a fan of the in-your-face, harsh-on-the-ears approach that most of this release took. That’s not to say it isn’t technically good, but it just wasn’t enjoyable for me.
Ep #10: Rockstar
Lalalalala has several competing throughlines of sound—the marching band percussion, the sea-shanty-esque hook, and a pulsing EDM beat—that sometimes fit together and sometimes feel out of step. When the song succeeds, it’s more due to Stray Kids’ skills as performers than its own strengths. It’s similar in structure to other SKZ songs that I have issues with, and I’m honestly not sure how I feel about this one. I do really like the final chorus and outro, which would feel right at home in a One Piece episode, and I wish that the rest of the song was so strong.
Megaverse too feels like a part of something bigger, and does a fantastic job of building tension during its first verse through the mile-a-minute raps. And then abandons the build-up with the mother-of-all-anti-drops. I’ll be honest, I really didn’t like the chorus at all, which is a shame with how strong the verses were. If only they were combined with the good parts of Lalalalala, we would have another classic like Miroh. But unfortunately, that’s not what we have here.
From the EP, Rock Star, I enjoyed the pulsing, distorted beat behind Blind Spot, the relaxed confidence of Comflex, and the smooth percussion of Leave. My hidden gem was absolutely Cover Me, which starts with a simple acoustic-guitar-meets-synths sound before blossoming into a vulnerable, emotional song. I also enjoyed the Korean Version of Social Path, and I honestly loved the rock version of Lalalalala.
Single: Lose My Breath
Although they’ve released English versions of songs before, Lose My Breath is Stray Kids’ official English debut. I’m always wary of songs like this, especially when they’re collaborations (this one is with Charlie Puth), because they often don’t have much to do with a group’s core identity. I wouldn’t go that far with Lose My Breath, since it still has clever lyrics by the members, but it feels more like a b-side than single-worthy. It’s very listenable, I’ll give it that, but nothing pulls me back to it.
Album #5: ATE
Chik Chik Boom, to its credit, feels like a Stray Kids song from the moment it starts. The EDM, the solid beat, the catchphrase chorus, all things that are hallmarks of their work. But it still manages to innovate on the formula, working in Latin Pop elements, tropical elements, and brass elements too for what’s quite a fun track all-in-all. I especially loved the outro really leaning into those influences, although I wish the song hadn’t ended so quickly and spent more time crafting that catharsis. It’s a pretty minor gripe, all this considered, and I’d say that Chik Chik Boom is probably my favorite lead single of the last few. As a side note, even though I was expecting them, the Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds cameos gave me a good chuckle.
From the EP, ATE, I enjoyed the vocalized hook of Mountains, the encouraging warmth of Runners, and, of course, the lyrics of Stray Kids that track their journey over the last eight years, made even sweeter by the knowledge that they’ve just renewed their contracts. Obviously, that was my hidden gem. I’m a sap.
Album #6: HOP
My first thought as Walkin’ On Water started was that it felt like Thunderous Part 2, not only with its clear traditional Korean inspiration in the instrumental and visuals but also with its similar message. The best compliment I can give the song is that it feels so momentous and well-thought-out, despite being so short, and I really liked the way every chorus built on the last. I have to say it’s not really the kind of track I’d seek out; besides the fact that I’m not the biggest sing-talk person, I have very little patience for “I’m-so-much-cooler-than-youuuuuu” songs, and Walkin On Water is that in spades. If you’re a fan of that kind of song, I don’t think you could do better than this one.
This album, Hop, is half solos, so it’s honestly a bit difficult to give each their due, so I’m just going to mention my favorites. I enjoyed the hopeful, fast-paced beat of Han’s Hold My Hand, the lovely vocals in Seungmin’s As We Are, and the easygoing synthy sound of Lee Know’s Youth (my hidden gem). As for the songs with the full group, I really liked the minimalist beat and gentler vocals of U.
EP #11: Mixtape; DominATE
This album is entitled a “mixtape”, and so the Korean version of Giant doesn’t actually have a music video. So I cheated and watched the Japanese one while listening to the Korean one; the things we do for love, I suppose. Anyway, the song itself is quite good, with the pre-chorus especially being one of their best buildups in recent years. I’m not as enthused with the chorus’ payoff, but I do still enjoy it. The raps are great as always, and the music video is honestly one of my favorites. I’m a sucker for these kind of steampunk / fantasy aesthetics, and I’m happily surprised by how well it works with their music. I’d say overall that it manages to be Stray Kids in a different font, without sacrificing what makes them great.
The rest of the EP is composed of duo tracks, with some interesting combinations. I enjoyed the heavy rock edge of Changbin & I.N.’s Burnin’ Tires, the Truman Show references in HAN & Felix’s Truman, and the operatic drama of Bang Chan& Hyunjin’s Escape, but my hidden gem, to probably no one’s surprise, was CINEMA. I always love a heartfelt, acoustic piece with excellent vocals, and I’m partial to both Lee Know and Seungmin’s. It’s such a lovely song.
EP #12: Do It
Do It is perhaps the most Stray Kids song Stray Kids has released this year. With a music video mainly in black and white and shot to look like a single take, complete with a truly incredible amount of leather jackets (someone ask Felix where he got his, please and thank you), there’s no mistaking who created it. Being so emblematic of their current sound, that means Do It comes with all the pitfalls and all the triumphs of it too. As is becoming a theme, I especially liked the pre chorus and the chantiest part of the chorus, though I could do without the anti-drop and the heavy autotune during the main hook. That being said, I liked it a lot as a complete piece.
From the EP, though I enjoyed the traditional influences and the hilarious intro of Divine (“All we need is love dreams and Stray Kids”, I laughed out loud), my hidden gem was easily Holiday. You might think it’s going to be pretty upbeat—-I know I did—but it’s actually pretty sad, being all about how overworked SKZ are and how much they want to take a break. (“I’m sick and tired, I need a holiday”) If this is their way of announcing a hiatus, a la DAY6, I’m completely in favor.
Verdict: TL;DR
I’m glad I did this! Like I mentioned at the beginning of this review, Stray Kids was one of the first k-pop groups I became interested in, and doing this deep dive was like taking a walk down memory lane. I watched more B-T-S content than I usually do for my reviews, including an interview with kittens, some episodes of their 2KidsRoom series, and a clusterfuck of a debate over hot vs cold drinks that had me laughing so hard my stomach hurt. It was a great way to spend my Sunday afternoon. I suppose what I’m saying is, I’m proud to call myself a Stay.
My Top 5 songs are My Pace, FAM, Lonely St, Phobia, and MIROH, with Haven, Voices, and Phobia as honorable mentions. I’ve really got to just start doing a Top 10. Speaking of which, Stray Kids gets a 9.25 out of 10 from me. Though their music isn’t always the style I enjoy, I have so much respect for their artistry and their messages, and most of the issues I have with their discography is personal preference. They have fantastic lyrics, and the amount of work and love that goes into their music is staggering. I can’t wait to see what they create next.
Let me know your thoughts!