[Album Review] ★★★★★ (5-STAR) (3rd Studio Album) – Stray Kids

After a series of posts reviewing the side tracks from ★★★★★ (5-STAR), I am finally getting around to posting the entire album review for ★★★★★ (5-STAR) today. Slight apologies in the delay, as this was supposed to be posted on Sunday, but I become preoccupied with some personal stuff yesterday night. So I have rescheduled it for today instead. ★★★★★ (5-STAR) dropped in early June 2023 with S-Class leading a total of 12 songs. Many of the side-tracks, as mentioned above, have their own song review post as they had their own music video. But there are a few tracks that hadn’t received a music video, so my thoughts on throe songs are contained below. Overall, ★★★★★ (5-STAR) is a very positive and dynamic listening experience. One might even say – there is not a bad song on this album release!

Oh, as a side note, guess what officially announced last week – Stray Kids comeback for November 2023 with 樂-STAR (ROCK-STAR). So I most likely will be doing multiple Stray Kids review in the near future all over again.

1. Hall of Fame (위인전) – Kicking off Stray Kids’ 3^rd studio album is Hall of Fame. And it does so with a very bold approach. Felix’s lyrics “Shaking the industry, Quaking reality” actually sums up Hall of Fame quite succinctly, with the group making sure to do just that in its opening track. It brings together R&B and trap metal, the latter is actually a unique sound in KPOP as far as I can remember. The rapping works extremely well in the track, channeling the energy very well. The vocals were iffy in some parts, but powerful at other moments. (8/10)

2. S-Class (특) (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for S-Class. (8.5/10)

3. ITEM – The fact that ITEM doesn’t have a music video is a massive mysterious for me. To me, ITEM is the most recognisable track following the title track. And it due to the aggressive nature of the chorus. It is BOLD, shocking to the core and just so damn memorable. The vocals help balances out the track, so it isn’t too much. I also like the piercing end of the vocal lines in the choruses, which helps its rise to the same level of the rapping. And the rapping had amazing flow and fire to it. The arcade-like sample in the background is also a memorable aspect of the song. (10/10)

4. Super Bowl – Super Bowl ended up having a music video, but as part of its Japanese release (but I will be passing that up to review Super Bowl in this album review post). On ★★★★★ (5-STAR), however, Super Bowl is an all-English track. From what I am reading, Super Bowl was the original God’s Menu. The whispery aspect of the song reminds me of ASMR, with cooking featured heavily as part of that trend. The rapping and all-member parts were very cool. The chorus is also quite iconic, given it features both whispery and all-member delivery that I liked in the track. (8.5/10)

5. TOPLINE (ft. Tiger JK) – Click here to read the full review for TOPLINE. (8.5/10)

6. DLC – Click here to read the full review for DLC. (8/10)

7. GET LIT (죽어보자) – Click here to read the full review for GET LIT. (9/10)

8. Collision (충돌) – The final track that did not get a music video is Collision. But no music video is fine here, as the R&B track still manages to capture my attention with its jazzy vibes, saxophone feature and the vocal-centric approach. The rapping in the track is equally as good, but I think the jazzier sound helps the vocalists flourish in this song more so than the rappers. (8/10)

9. FNF – Click here to read the full review for FNF. (8/10)

10. Youtiful – Click here to read the full review for Youtiful. (9/10)

11. THE SOUND (Korean Version) – I previously reviewed the Japanese version of THE SOUND and will be carrying my thoughts/rating from that review to this review. Click here to read the review for the Japanese version of THE SOUND. (9/10)