Song Review: QQQ – Uncool

It seems that OnlyOneOf are no more, but in their place we have new group QQQ, comprised of members KB and Nine and former member Love. Usually, a splintering like this would be cause for worry, but OnlyOneOf were well-known for their self-composed music and the masterminds behind it are in this group.

K-pop could really use some new ideas, and KB and Nine feel like idols who could push things forward. But first, we need to get the pesky re-debut/rebrand out of the way. Unsurprisingly, Uncool feels like it could’ve fit on any OnlyOneOf album, though I don’t think it would have been the title track. The ambition feels more muted here, as the guys opt for a relatively straightforward rock song. They deliver it with a punky flair, though there are too many vocal effects for my liking. And rather than build toward a standout chorus, most of Uncool is simply stylish chanting. This works well enough for a song within this genre, but doesn’t leave much of an impression beyond the overall aesthetic.

I don’t want to saddle QQQ with unfair expectations, but it’s impossible not to compare their music to OnlyOneOf’s discography given how fantastic their history was. The comparison doesn’t help them here, as Uncool feels like a blip on the radar compared to something more sprawling and game-changing like libidO and dOpamine. I hope they can get back to that level of excitement on future releases.

Grade: C