[Album Review] EXIST (7th Studio Album) – EXO

EXO made their long awaited comeback in July with their 7th studio album EXIST. And it is finally time to review EXIST. This latest album is EXO’s first album in two years (Don’t Fight The Feeling was their last album release) and follows a hiatus whilst the EXO members completed their military enlistments and focused on solo endeavours. That being said, EXO is still not yet complete as it is a 7-member comeback only, with KAI enlisting in the military just prior to EXIST‘s release (but he is featured on the album vocally and through the pre-releases). EXIST consist of nine songs in total, including the title track Cream Soda and two pre-release tracks Let Me In and Hear Me Out. My thoughts on the songs are below, as usual.

1. Cream Soda (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for Cream Soda. (9/10)

2. Regret It – Regret It falls into R&B pop territory, for the most part. I really like the groovy underlay in the beginning, ending and post-chorus sequence of the song. It is a rather profound aspect of the track and adds a further layer to the R&B pop number. I very much like the chorus for this track. The vocals and pop melodies make it so straight-forward, yet give it so much oomph. Both Sehun and Chanyeol give Regret It a lively bounce with their rap sequences throughout the song. Overall, a very nice listen. (8.5/10)

3. Hear Me Out (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Hear Me Out. (8/10)

4. Private Party – The beginning of Private Party gives the track a classy and sleek vibe. But that isn’t what Private Party is about. Within seconds, the track transform into a punchy upbeat number, with trap beats and a hip-hop vibe coming into play courtesy of the rappers. As the track progresses, Private Party involves some very interesting and bold detailing in the instrumentation which adds colour and character to the track. The chorus was catchy, the vocals are solid, the rapping keeps that upbeatness alive. Private Party is very much a party I would like to go to. (8/10)

5. Cinderella – Cinderella is my pick for best song on this album. The harmonisation, the instrumentation, the melodies and hooks. Cinderella had it all for me. Everything was addictive, and the song very much remains just as addictive even months after it was released. I highly recommend you check out this number. (10/10)

6. No Makeup – EXO delves even further in No Makeup. Again, the harmonisation with the backing vocals in No Makeup is amazing and serves as a highlight within the song. The rest of the track has a fairly straightforward and mid-tempo R&B instrumentation, and the vocals elsewhere in the song are just as charismatic and sleek. The second highlight of the song comes during the bridge when the instrumental was stripped away, leaving just the vocals. That was a very strong moment for the track. The rapping at the end was nice addition and gives No Makeup a satisfying end. A very sexy track, overall. (9/10)

7. Love Fool – This is my personal preference talking here, but I am not a fan of the breakdowns following the choruses. It just cuts the flow of the otherwise solid song. I don’t like the vocal groans in the background of these breakdowns, as well. Sehun’s rapping is fine. I just don’t think it is the time and place in this song for it. Elsewhere in Love Fool, we do get a more typical instrumentation, but the vocals do take Love Fool to a new level. Pity the song is laced with the breakdowns. (7/10)

8. Another Day – Another Day is such a bright and poppy track. I love the feel-good nature that the vocals exhibit. And boy, the vocals just really grab at you from the get-go. The instrumentation was interesting, with the distorted scratches in the background of the verses being the main driver of this intriguingness. But somehow it works and doesn’t come as grating as it seems. The snappy percussion makes Another Day into a bright and bubby track. I quite liked this track. (9/10)