Stray Kids "Rock-Star" Review
Written by Breanne Gill
In Stray Kids’ latest studio album, Rock-Star, they prove that rock n’ roll is not dead. Although the album’s sound is a collage of genres ranging from digital hardcore and phonk to light rock and pop, an overarching theme resonates with what it really means to be a free spirit, an outcast… a rockstar. The album, without hesitation, throws you into a mosh pit of carefully layered instrumentals, fast-paced raps, and powerful vocals; the experience is disorienting, gritty, bold, but utterly intoxicating. When you think you know what direction the album is headed, that you know the flow of the chaos of the pit, you’re pushed into the opposite direction. This intense and genuine energy is what has catapulted them into the spotlight, with them being one of the highest-selling acts in K-Pop and Rock-Star being one of the most anticipated albums this November. This album’s release, only emphasizes that this spotlight is growing bigger and brighter.
Courtesy of JYP
Mirroring some of rock’s oldest traditions, Stray Kids start the album with the drum-heavy tune of Megaverse before counting off, “Un, deux, trois,” into an anthemic and electronic introduction to their world. Like the count-off at punk rock shows, the song takes the listener from 0 to 100 in a matter of seconds, overwhelming the senses. Since the group’s debut in 2018, Stray Kids have prided themselves in being a self-produced group that carved a path for themselves in terms of musical experimentation and genre creation. Megaverse invites you into this world that they have constructed and warns that there is no room for naysayers or cynics. The track, in terms of both musicality and theme, exudes confidence and demonstrates the intricacies that years of experience and experimentation can produce.
Without taking their foot off the gas, lead single Lalalala launches into a Tokyo Drift-esque beat, with main rapper Seo Changbin boldly proclaiming “Welcome to heaven.” 3racha, Stray Kids’ internal production team, begins to layer deep bass riffs, tinny snares, and glitchy digital beats until they meld into a harmonious yet cacophonic melody. With Stray Kids acting as the DJs or maestros, the listener is transported to a landscape of chaos and buzzing energy paralleled with that of a rave or symphony. At the climax of the chorus, the listener is hypnotized by the melodic pause amongst the chaos before dropping into an even more intense beat with vocalist Lee Know proclaiming “Just feel the rock!”. With Lalalala Stray Kids are not holding punches or asking permission. Rather, they are commanding attention and taking charge of the listener’s experience.
In contrast to the bold and confident title track, Stray Kids takestake a step out of the spotlight for Blind Spot. Rather than indulging in their rockstar image, the song delves into the blindspots of fame that fans never see. “Even if we look cool on stage… we’re always competing”, Lee Know explained in their intro video to the album. With pop-punk instrumentals and emotionally charged lyrics/vocals, the song feels like a strange, but wholly enjoyable, mix of nostalgic 2010’s rock music and sports anime openings. Although the track dives into Stray Kids’ personal struggles, the lyricism is ambiguous enough that anyone can relate to the struggles of working without recognition or having sides of yourself that never see the light.
As the distorted guitar riffs and spirited vocals fade, Comflex makes its entrance with sirens blaring and a scraped metallic ambiance. Although this combination may seem unconventional and perhaps intimidating, Stray Kids manages to produce a strutty and aggressive pop tune. With Comflex being a song discussing pride in one’s differences and flaws, the unique instrumentals provide an excellent backdrop to the scene Stray Kids is painting. When looking at the structure of the song, there is a similarity to that of vogueing or even drag anthems. The song builds up anticipation in the first verses before stripping away the chaos into a near-empty chorus; the silence is filled with stand-alone beats and self-affirmative statements that make the listener feel as though they should be posing for a camera. The cheeky and sassy chorus is interlaced between bouts of aggressive rap which creates an exhilarating and anticipatory listening experience.
Just as the listener feels as though they know the tempo of the album, that the energy will only continue to rise, Cover Me drastically shifts the tone. With lulling acoustic guitar and soulful vocals, there is a soft intensity that pulls the listener in. The lyrics read as a story, with Stray Kids describing a restless and lonely night. As the cold night and song progresses, we embark on a journey through the narrator’s stream of consciousness. The song’s structure and the mental state of the narrator seem to unravel and delineate further into anxiety at the climax of the chorus. As the song comes to a close and the dawn is on the horizon, we are left with a sense of hope with the narrator “accept[ing] the warm light shining down.” Although the calmest track on the album, the emotional ferocity matches the tempo that Stray Kids has perpetuated.
While Cover Me focuses on the relationship with self, Leave showcases the emotional intensity of a lost connection between two people. The track’s instrumentals feel longing and nostalgic, with the guitar seemingly whining and crying as the base melody. Although the song’s theme is focused on the sad reality of a relationship’s end, the emotions are far more complex than your average song about loss. Rather than focusing solely on loneliness and melancholy, it takes us through a journey of fear: fear of hurting the other person, fear of being alone, or fear of being seen in such a vulnerable way. The song showcases emotions that are relatable but delves into topics that the listener may not even want to face head-on. Although the melody is comforting, the lyrics unabashedly reveal the ugly truth of selfishness, desperation, and regret. All of these beautifully crafted pieces come together to form a raw and thought-provoking ballad with thematic flexibility to adapt to the listener’s personal narratives.
As the album comes to an end, the last two tracks ring true to the album name of “Rock-Star.” The Korean version of Social Path (feat. LiSA) fits in seamlessly despite the song being released earlier this year in Japanese. LiSA’s pop-punk energy and years of experience only add depth to the bold and hard-hitting energy that Stray Kids bring to the table. The grungey energy is only amplified as the album ends with Lalalala (Rock Ver.). Keeping the exact structure and vocals of the original version, the guitars, and drums add a depth that didn’t seem possible for the already energetic title track. The resulting sound resembles that of nu-metal or electronic metal.
The album as a whole can seem haphazard or random at first glance, but ultimately it showcases Stray Kids’ ability to take a common theme and extrapolate a plethora of genres, emotions, and energies. The commonality between the tracks comes from the central idea of being different than those around you, or as they put it, being a rock star. As the listener progresses through the album, they are able to see how this societal separation can manifest as confidence, fear, sadness, and even anger. Although this theme is not new for Stray Kids, the rawness and authenticity of the album show the magnitude of how they have grown as both musicians and emotionally aware individuals. Although K-pop can come across as unapproachable due to language barriers or stereotypes in the Western world, the musicality and emotional intensity of the album is something experimental that transcends the boundaries of language and genre.
