One song. Every day. Alphabetical order.

Keep up with EXO’s A-Z reviews here!

Stay (from Universe – 2017)

Taken from EXO’s third winter album, Stay is a traditional piano-led mid-tempo augmented with a few unique instrumental touches. It’s even produced to sound like it’s spinning on an old record player. The chorus brings in some ambient, trip-hop percussion that kicks around for remainder of the track. Though not an unusual sound unto itself, Stay feels idiosyncratic within EXO’s discography. It’s moody in a different way from most of their material, and grows more robust and layered as it grows. Melodically, the track is too lightweight to become a standout, but I appreciate their willingness to switch things up — especially within the risk-averse context of a holiday album.

~