Song Review:: THE BOYZ: Last Kiss

• Release date: 2024 December 02

• Album tracklist: Last Kiss, Candle Light, Winter Sleep

• Album runtime: 10 minutes

This is likely going to be their final release under their old company, and I don't know what kind of song I'm expecting from them. This looks like a holiday album, judging by the names of the tracks, but I wonder how nostalgic they're going to get with it. Good luck, THE BOYZ! I wish you well in your new home!

 Not gonna lie, I was not expecting that opening from a song called Last Kiss because it sounds like we're going into a hip hop song. Not that hip-hop can't have holiday songs, but I'm a bit of a traditionalist and do wrinkle my nose at attempts to make the classics "hip." The strong trap instrumentals are an interesting pair with the fairly mellow lyrics, and I don't think I particularly like it, particularly the way the beat is so much faster than the vocals. In a different kind of song, yes. It would be fine. This sounds like the kind of thing I'd imagine One Direction or the Jonas Brothers releasing in the early days of their respective groups. Note that I didn't listen to them willingly, but I was a pre- teen or teenage girl during that time with other girl friends. We do hear some of the more traditional holiday music elements over that beat, and really, I wouldn't have a problem here if the beat was less strong. The sections of the song where that is true, I very much like. I particularly like the bom bom-bom. It's fun. It's cute.

The members' voices, and the effects layered over the top of them, are perfectly suited to the kind of song this is. It's quite lovely, actually. Even the rapping is gentle and mellow. I don't know how (probably?) Sunwoo feels about doing it, but he sounds really good in particular. Vocally, my traditional little heart doesn't have any sort of issue, and I'm pleased with the song.

The nostalgia is strong with this one. I don't know much about the group, but even I can tell you there are some very early days clips in there. It's the hair. It starts off with them doing their closing, which is cute and a little painful, and then goes straight into slice of life, and it is precious and adorable and sweet. Also, some clowning, but from what I understand, that's an integral part of the group dynamics. Good luck, THE BOYZ! And thank you for your hard work so far! See you later!