I know I have not yet finished reviewing all of BOYNEXTDOOR debut/pre-debut singles. I have already reviewed One & Only and But I Like You, but not yet Serenade (I will get to that). However, should that stop me from reviewing their first comeback single, which dropped yesterday? I think not. BOYNEXTDOOR has returned with their first mini-album, Why.., which features all of their debut/pre-debut singles mentioned above and three new tracks – one of which is the title track But Sometimes.

But Sometimes departs from the more innocent sound that they started off with a few months back and goes for a punkish rock sound. It is definitely an on-trend change in direction for the rookie group and I do like how they sound in But Sometimes (more on this in a moment). To be fair, I had expected the group to have debuted with an edgier sound, particular since the group boasts Zico as their producer. And the edgier tone in But Sometimes seems to satisfy that expectation. It also sounds on brand for Zico. I am glad that they do explore an edgier sound, as BOYNEXTDOOR sounds much more engaging in this form. I really like how straightforward the punk rock instrumentation was. The guitar riffs and drumming were very expressive in delivering the punk rock sound, but also they keeps the energy upbeat enough to form But Sometimes into a dance track. The melodies in But Sometimes were memorable, particularly in the chorus. There is something about those melodies and the group’s shouty delivery that just clicks and works tremendously well. Elsewhere, there was some other strong delivery from the members. For example, the second verse rapping sequence was top notch and well-executed. I also liked how clean the final moments of the bridge were, in both instrumental and vocal departments. It made for a really nice incline towards the final chorus. Overall, But Sometimes gets my tick of approval.

Compared to the music videos and songs released for their debut (which were all about falling in love), the music video and But Sometimes deals with the heartbreak associated with one’s first love. I really like how the video has tie-ins to their previous videos, such as the replicas of the burger joint sign and the house of their first love/crush. But instead of the sunny blue skies and lovely neighbourhood, the video depicts these settings on fire and the sky around them is a hell-ish red tone. I also like how the members are dressed in black whilst everything around them was burning, as if they are mourning and grieving. Elsewhere in the video, we see a teddy bear become decapitated and the members struggle through the heartbreak. It was a well-shot video that really sums up the meaning of the track quite well. I also like the recurring presence of doors, which I had pointed out to likely be a recurring element in their One & Only review.

The edgier sound mentioned above allows the performance to show a different range and energy in the choreography. And BOYNEXTDOOR pulls off the performance quite well. Nothing really stood out for me, but given it is their first edgy routine and that they pull it off well, I think the performance is a success. Their stage presence is also a positive, with the members having great chemistry with the camera.

Song – 8/10
Music Video – 8.5/10
Performance – 8/10
Overall Rating – 8.2/10