Song Review: ARrC – Awesome

Given Mystic Story’s track record, their first boy group ARrC’s material hasn’t been as quirky as I would have thought. So far, their sound hinges largely on old-school hip-hop, which isn’t a unique touchstone when it comes to K-pop’s boy bands. New single Awesome continues this trend with a few early 00s influences thrown in for good measure.

In a post-trap world, the quality most of these songs are missing is a sense of fullness. When I think back to the 90s and early 00s hip-hop I loved, I imagine car-thumping beats with a robust lower end. These songs moved your body from the inside out and the rappers rarely needed to shout to make their mark. Like so many idol hip-hop tracks, Awesome feels overly tinny and targeted to the mid-range. And rather than focus on engaging flow and clever interaction, the song’s hook takes the easy route and opts for repetition.

To be honest, I find most of Awesome quite cloying. Rather than feel fresh and exciting, much of the song comes across as whiny. The chorus is especially insufferable, relying on vocal affectations to buoy an otherwise threadbare hook. This is a shame, because there are moments where the production wants to embrace a funkier, old-school vibe that could work wonders with a better topline.

Grade: C