BTS’s J-Hope is shortly making up for misplaced time — not that there weren’t initiatives and songs launched throughout his army enlistment as nicely. Simply two weeks after his duet with R&B crooner Miguel, he’s again with solo single Mona Lisa. This time the music is a little more upbeat and groovy, however the track feels simply as slight as its predecessor.
Humorous sufficient, Mona Lisa sounds extra prefer it may have been launched pre-BTS-enlistment than publish. From the lure percussion to the repetitive hooks to the just-over-two-minutes working time, a lot about this transports us proper again to 2019-2020. This high quality makes Mona Lisa really feel extra like an appetizer than a full-on assertion. Ambition is low, the developments are trending and the flatness of the manufacturing appears designed for looped play on streaming companies. If that is the factors we’re holding the monitor in opposition to, I assume you may say it checks all of the packing containers. Nevertheless, nothing right here feels recent or thrilling in any method.
J-Hope’s voice is slurred with results, at occasions accentuating its texture however extra typically flattening particular person character. The verses and refrain seep collectively, following the same rhythmic sample and maintaining the vitality relatively monotonous all through. With a contrasting hook (possibly Miguel ought to have been featured on this monitor as a substitute?), we would have a satisfying sluggish jam on our palms. Because it stands, that is one other underwhelming entry in J-Hope’s current catalog. I hope we’re constructing as much as one thing extra dynamic sooner or later.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Longevity | 7 |
| Bias | 6 |
| RATING | 6.75 |
Grade: D+
