Stray Kids’ ‘ATE’ Album Review: Every Song Ranked

A high-energy hip-hop monitor that embodies the group’s signature sound, “JJAM” is next-level dynamic with intelligent lyrics that add a private contact for followers to understand—just like the shout-out to member Lee Know within the closing line of the bridge, “I do know, you realize, Lee Know!” Ensure to not miss the second Seungmin and I.N (a.okay.a. Vocalracha) harmonize to shut out the second verse.

“JJAM” isn’t ranked lowest as a result of it’s a foul track by any means, however doesn’t fairly compete on the identical stage of experimentation of different ATE songs. Nonetheless, this doesn’t detract from the enjoyment, however relatively highlights the group’s skill to mix consistency with innovation​ by means of albums.

An inspiring, all-English monitor composed by members Bang Chan and Felix, “Runners” delivers relatable themes of perseverance and confidence. The track strikes from Changbin rapping, “Cybernetic system, yeah, I felt like a machine” to Seungmin and Lee Know’s daring assertions: “I do know that I’m turning into/ G.O.A.T., I’m beautiful, let me present the world/ I’m feeling edgy” demonstrating the group’s vary of drive. The euphoric pre-chorus practically eclipses your complete monitor with Hyunjin’s emotive texture in delivering traces like “Deeper and deeper, I’m considering, I’m crying/ Too many ideas in my head, gotta let it go,” spotlighting a stunning rawness that makes the road significantly good for Hyunjin however can resonate with anybody who listens.

Harking back to the group’s finest hype tracks like “Victory Tune” or “Corridor of Fame,” opening monitor “MOUNTAINS” opens ATE on an epic tone with roaring vocals from I.N and Seungmin in opposition to a backdrop of stomping percussion. Penned and composed by 3RACHA’s Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han, the showcases Stray Youngsters’ signature high-energy type whereas delivering introspective lyrics about overcoming obstacles: “Mountains, mountains, I wakened on the mountains/ Ain’t no person stopping me, I’m strolling like a titan,” Changbin spits. Whereas “Mountains” actually stays inside the group’s consolation zone, its anthemic high quality makes it a standout monitor and the right track to open their upcoming world tour.

With flirty lyrics about having fun with a fling with out the pressures of affection, “I Like It” isn’t simply one other new thematic avenue that Stray Youngsters discover however relatively distinctive for Okay-pop on the whole. In an business the place songs about love and romance dominate, SKZ’s strategy in direction of extra conventional Prime 40 pop on a Okay-pop monitor is uncommon however refreshing—and makes one marvel if this can be a monitor I.N referred to when he stated, “I hope you don’t get too shocked concerning the issues which are going to return.”

Strains like “Let’s not go official, we will maintain the ‘you and me,’” and “I like that I such as you, however I don’t wanna love” spotlight the track’s playful perspective, whereas Seungmin’s heat vocals and Han’s dynamic raps add essential depth to the efficiency. Whereas letting Stray Youngsters push some boundaries and discover unconventional themes, “I Like It” must also assist the group attain new audiences.

Maybe essentially the most surprising monitor on Stray Youngsters’ newest album, “twilight,” blends jazz and bossa nova sounds for a refreshing changeup for the high-energy ATE EP. Written totally by Han, recognized for his R&B affect, the track provides a soulful contact, highlighting his versatility as a songwriter and producer. With its lyrics penned totally in Korean (a stark distinction for SKZ music on the whole, however significantly after following the all-English monitor “Runners” in ATE‘s tracklist), “twilight” is a soothing distinction to what’s usually anticipated from Stray Youngsters and will develop into a key monitor in touching followers and new listeners alike.

A track that acts as each a self-referential anthem to uplift the group whereas resonating universally, “Stray Youngsters” is a daring, particular declaration. The monitor lets them showcase their shallowness (on lyrics like Felix’s “So pleased with myself / By no means doubt who we’re”) and displays the pleasure and ambition of their musical journey (“We do what we wanna do/ The message by means of our music,” sings I.N).

“Stray Youngsters” additionally consists of quite a few references to their earlier songs (together with the first-ever Stray Youngsters “Hellevator” in addition to fan-favorite tracks like “Miroh” and “Lonely St.)” and different vocabulary longtime STAYs will catch to create a track with a vibrant tapestry of Okay-pop historical past. Stray Youngsters’ subtle type of mixing private and collective narratives into such an anthem makes it an much more highly effective track — which isn’t one thing many artists can pull off.

The standout monitor from ATE, “Chk Chk Increase” sees Stray Youngsters deliver surprising Latin influences to their signature high-energy hit-making type in a real showcase of the group’s skill to be extraordinarily versatile musically whereas remaining on message because the musicians they have been from the beginning.

Written totally by Bang Chan, Changbin and Han for 3RACHA, “Chk Chk Increase” and its Latin hip-hop and reggaeton components are refreshing in SKZ’s sonic world however nonetheless ship Stray Youngsters’ signature, insightful and introspective lyrics. Changbin’s raps have a number of standout traces about how he’s “Sick of this life/ It’s common” and declares, “I’m the proprietor of my aim.” Seungmin gives inspiration by means of the lyrics, “Shoot down my targets one after the other/ I snipe them,” whereas Han tells listeners, “I’m not a modified man.”

There are even some unexpectedly cheeky traces like, “Filling up my truck, yeah you need that experience/ Hit you want a truck, I’mma make you fly,” first sung by Bang Chan and later by Seungmin on the second pre-chorus. One other enjoyable shock is integrating Spanish into the Okay-pop mixture of Korean and English however remaining totally Stray Youngsters with traces like, “Lobos, we can not cease looking,” with lobos being wolves in Spanish and remembers how the group beforehand in contrast their unity and willpower to a wolf pack in 2021’s “WOLFGANG.”

Past the musical, lyrical and thematic triumphs, “Chk Chk Increase” will get further factors, pushing it to No. 1 on this rating since ATE additionally included a “Competition Model” to shut the EP. We’ll take that as indication that Stray Youngsters will little question proceed their run as competition headliners as they push by means of an epic 12 months enjoying Lollapalooza in Chicago, BST Hyde Park in London, and I Days in Milan, in addition to affirmation that Stray Youngsters’ chart-topping reign isn’t letting up anytime quickly after breaking chart information and turning into the primary group to debut their first 5 chart entries at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.