As much as I like to support the majority of K-Pop acts out there, there are definitely occasions when the groups can run together and borrow a little too much from each other's sounds. After all, when there's a trend out there, we do often wind up getting beat over the head with it until we pray for the end up of half naked girl groups and everyone trying to pick up hip hop concepts. With Infinite, I feel that K-Pop serves up one of its most balanced groups, one that does their own thing and does it well without swaying too much in the direction of whatever sound is popular at the moment. In the main vocal line you have Woohyun and Sunggyu who slay it on ballads but still manage to keep their ranges in play for the dance singles; a complimentary sub-vocal/visual line in Sungjong, Sungyeol, and L, each of whom are fantastic at aiding the leads despite having few solo lines themselves; and lastly the rap line of Dongwoo and Hoya who are known for bringing a delightfully intense edge to Infinite tracks, as well as dominating in their own sub-unit, Infinite-H. It was exciting to hear they were coming back after their successful world tour with a FULL.LENGTH.ALBUM. but how does their highly anticipated Season 2 stack up to what they've done so far? Let's check it out:
Season 2: Yes, this is an intro, but intros are supposed to do exactly what it says on the tin: introduce the atmosphere of the album, particularly the lead off track, which in this case is "Last Romeo." "Season 2" sticks to the Infinite style of fading in and out with their singles' vocal part while featuring gorgeous instrumentation, which in this case is a haunting piano part slowly joined by some of the orchestration we'll hear soon in our next track...
Last Romeo: Infinite can generally be counted on for singles if songs like "BTD" and "The Chaser" are any indication, and "Last Romeo" follows their style of leading off with something intense and catchy that still plays up the gymnastics of the vocal line, though the rap line also has a strong showing with Dongwoo's second verse rap and Hoya's closer. After how much I loved "BTD," "Nothing's Over," and "The Chaser," I wasn't as impressed by "Destiny" as a single on their last album, but "Last Romeo" looks like it will be worming its way into my favorite thanks to how well it pulls on all the vocal power Infinite has on its side. The video is also amazing, so if you haven't watched it yet, what are you waiting for?
Follow Me: I tend to be easily swayed by violins, so this tracks piqued my interest from the first notes. "Follow Me" wound up being a light-hearted, fun, and somewhat whimsical track that worked primarily thanks to the gorgeous harmonization on its chorus courtesy of Woohyun and Sunggyu, our power vocals. Both don't shy away from grabbing those high notes, and the result is a beautiful thing to listen to (plus, you know, lotsa violins). It's a fast shake up from a song so intense as "Last Romeo," but stays right on the theme of pointing out to the listener that Infinite definitely has the voice to back up the visuals and dancing.
로시난테 (Rosinate): As much as "Last Romeo" wooed me, this track is my real favorite from the album. First you have the infectious dance beat and a great Dongwoo rap, and then you move into a funky beat which leads into an even funkier chorus. Not only do you have Infinite's traditional stellar range-y vocals, but you also get some glorious, glorious falsetto. I like it when K-Pop groups dabble in more throwback songs (as long as they don't stray too much into disco), so this track really nailed it for me on my first and subsequent listen throughs.
숨 좀 쉬자 (Breathe): And speaking of funky beats, "Breathe" also delivers quite nicely in that category, though I would still argue that the overall vocals and arrangement of "Rosinate" are better. "Breathe" does pack more power than the previous track, but it left me wanting a little more rap in it than it gave (especially since the next track is a Sunggyu solo, and we won't be able to hear a nice rap attack again until the Infinite- H appearance). Still a great number, and I'm always an advocate for keeping the listener pumped during the lead off tracks so when the slower stuff comes, they're prepared for the break.
Light (Sunggyu Solo): And who better to bring the smooth jams than Leader Gyu? His voice never fails to amaze me, particularly after watching his long-suffering character in the group's realities. He has all that bravado and being picked on to make him come across as forever indignant, and yet he still sounds like a perfect angel when he opens his mouth to sing. I wouldn't pin this song on the same level as his stunning "60 Seconds" ballad, but he does pull off the smoother, more upbeat sound quite well for a singer best known for his slower songs and relentless high notes. And never fear: the high notes are just as good here, though they fall more into his falsetto range rather than being straight up power notes.
Alone (Infinite H): Infinite H also manages to show up right when you need them, and I'm glad this song fell when it did on the album, directly following a song without a rap part. Rap lines can often be a weak point in groups (as BTS points out in "We Are Bulletproof," a lot of rappers get the position simply because they can't sing), but both Dongwoo and Hoya come by it honestly. Dongwoo in particular has a to die for deep range that sounds fantastic in this style of singing-rap that I also admire in greats like Mithra Jin and TOP. Hoya has also majorly stepped up his singing game so he isn't just an asset to the rap line, but to the vocals of both Infinite and Infinite- H as well.
Memories: This was the first song on the album I was somewhat indifferent to. The vocals are good, but the pacing of being not quite a ballad, not quite a fast paced song has to be done well in my book, and while "Memories" did an okay job, it didn't strike me as being particularly memorable in spite of its name and lyrics. The guitars also drowned out the rap a bit, and although we just got to hear plenty of Dongwoo's skills in the previous track, I'm still not advocate for covering that voice of his up.
나란 사람 (A Person Like Me): Are those violins I hear? Here at last we have our first straight up ballad, and since Infinite has plenty to boast in the way of vocals, tracks like these are always something to look forward to. Rather than going on again about how hella good the lead vocal team is, I'd like to add how nice it is that everyone in the group can sing on the ballads, rappers included. I do wish Sungjong and Sungyeol would be given a few more parts (though they both do well at harmonization), because they certainly have solid vocals of their own. Sungjong in particular has that high, almost girlish tone that has the potential to sound gorgeous in tracks like these, but we'll get to hear more from them in Infinite F's upcoming track!
Reflex: The first thing I think of when I hear a song called "Reflex" is the Duran Duran song, and this one actually starts off with a somewhat 80s dance beat, which can either be a good sign or a death signal depending on how you feel about the 80s. "Reflex" does a decent job as a dance number, but somewhat constrains the vocals in parts, which it keeps it from being as good as previous Infinite songs like "Come Back Again," for example, where nothing can hold that power back.
미치겠어 (I'm Going Crazy) (Infinite F): This track marks the beginning of the Infinite F sub-unit, the special place for Sungyeol, Sungjong, and L, the sub-vocal line, to show what they've got. They aren't high note belters by any means, so the best format for them is something smaller scale and suited to their more simplistic style, so "I'm Going Crazy" provides these three the perfect medium to showcase what has been in many ways overshadowed by their groupmates over the years. The video game-esque backing track was a great smart (it instantly put a smile on my face, just like with BTS's "어디에서 왔는지 'Where Did You Come From'), and though the vocals won't blow you out of the water, the three of them together serve up a fun track that will leave most fans relieved that the visual line can shine with more than two or three lines per song.
눈을 감으면 (Close Your Eyes) (WooHyun Solo): Sunggyu had his chance to show off earlier, so of course his buddy Woohyun can't let that slide without offering up his own solo track. Out of the two, Woohyun has the better lower range for ballads like "Close Your Eyes," which call for an emotional delivery just as much as a technical delivery. Woohyun can do both with his eyes closed and hands tied around his back, so if you're a ballad fan, this one will definitely do it for you. I personally enjoy his "Time" solo from the group's earlier album a wee bit more, but this track definitely does his vocal ability justice.
소나기 (Shower): The boys wisely turn the energy back up with a full group number with a driving beat that will make you want to get back up on your fear for the album's closer. I like album endings to be loaded with all a group has to offer to tempt you into listening to the album again or at least pull you in the direction of one of their other works, and "Shower" did that just that for me. Harmonization, on point rapping, high note ad-libs, that distinctive Infinite sound when all of their voices come together... all of it hammers home the point of Season 2 being a fantastic new addition to Infinite's catalog, because they happen to be a fantastic group in the K-Pop world overall.
This one gets an A from me. Even the weaker songs are still good listens, and like sunbae group Big Bang, this group knows how to break off into solo works and still keep the entire album sounding cohesive with the group tracks. Infinite's vocals have continued to get better over the years, which keeps it from feeling like only a few of the members are carrying the album, and it'll be interesting to see what Infinite F does with their new platform now that Sungyeol, L, and Sungjong have more ways to showcase their own talents. Overall, another great job from Infinite!
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