Rookie Week focuses on JYP Entertainment today, with the reviews for the two rookies today connected to the label. First up is MODYSSEY, a South Korean-Chinese boy group formed through the survival show Planet C: Home Race, a survival show of the Planet C (or C tier) trainees from BOYS II PLANET (the same show that created ALPHA ONE DRIVE). The final lineup of MODYSSEY consists of Yichen, Hengyu, Rowan, Lynnlynn, Li Zihao, Suren and Fan Zheyi. This group made their debut back in April with the single HOOK from their 1. Got Hooked: An Addictive Symphony single album.

Each time I listen to HOOK, I am reminded of Stray Kids’ Japanese single CIRCUS. I felt HOOK had a very similar expressive, percussive feel and structure to the Stray Kids song, which makes sense, given both songs are produced by Stray Kids’ in-house production team, 3RACHA. That being said, HOOK is different in several ways, particularly with its more urban feel and synth choices amongst its groovy house foundation and hip-hop influence. I really enjoyed the groovy bass in the background and the cool instrumental break that acts as the song’s bridge. The latter features a very distinct and intriguingly unique downward synth that stood out. As for their delivery, MODYSSEY did a great job. I really liked the contrast between deep tones and staccato vocals, especially between the chorus and the raps. Elsewhere in HOOK, the vocals added a nice touch of sleekness. But while HOOK does sound good, the percussive elements made the song feel tight and rushed. Meanwhile, because the instrumental was felt loaded, it was hard to detect a clear hook. I wish HOOK developed a little more to build those missing hooks.

The songs convey messages about becoming hooked. The music video portrays this in a few ways, including visual imagery of fishing and the idea of being “hooked” on your phone. While the video does play around with the latter idea, the reality of phone addiction is quite harrowing. Anyhow, I like how the video leans into that urban vibe, showcasing the lesser-known aspects of Seoul (i.e., the back alleys, rooftop units, etc.). The ending was, by far, the coolest part of HOOK‘s music video, with how the members perform in front of the white screen/billboard. It was simple yet one of the most stylish moments of the video.

HOOK‘S performance proves that MODYSSEY is one of the rookies to look out for on stage. From their execution, synchronisation, expressions and energy, all of the performance was engaging to watch. I would have liked to see a key point in the performance (maybe another hook reference), but a lack of that isn’t a deal-breaker for me.

Song – 8.5/10
Music Video – 9/10
Performance – 8.5/10
Overall Rating – 8.7/10