I didn't realize how much I missed Infinite until I heard Sungkyu on his new release "I'm Cold". Paired with expansive trap beats, modern production, and surprising composition (see, "Divin'") the EP is a welcome tweak to the widening pallete available to a post-military idol soloist. For once, the material allows him to use his whole range, from the sort of chocolaty lower register and fluttery mid range vibrato, to the searing highs that characterized Infinite's sound. The mix places his voice fully center, so the listener experiences the emotional totality within each inflection of throbby despair or heartpiercing cry. "Fade" shades BTS's "One More Day" to minor key longing, while the vaguely oriental instrumentation and dynamic songwriting in "Room" evokes the moving Chinese ballads from Sally Yeh, Sandy Lam or Jackie Cheung in the 80s and 90's. Truly lovely.

Be may be the most cohesive BTS album thus far, a soothing delivery vehicle for star rider "Dynamite". But while western charts enjoyed tailormade pandering, "Life Goes On" conveyed the bittersweet mood and the healing songwriting that touches hearts in Korea. Melancholy melt into remembrances of better days through delicate infusions of harmonies. "I remember, I remember" is answered by heavenly echoes, both a promise of unifying hope and bittersweet acknowledgement that for some, the reunion might be in the afterlife. 

See also: "Ugh!", a rap showcase hearkening to the group's roots, and "I'm On It" from Hyundai's Korean commercial. Earlier this year, we replaced our old Subaru with a used Hyundai Veloster - nothing to do with the Ioniq release or Kai's epic promotional partnership in any way. I swear.