Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reviewing every song in EXO’s discography, from A-Z. That will continue, but I’m taking a brief break to write about the songs on their newest album, Obsession.

Be sure to check back every day as I take a look at each and every track!

1. Obsession // 2. Trouble // 3. Jekyll // 4. Groove // 5. Ya Ya Ya // 6. Baby You Are // 7. Non Stop // 8. Day After Day // 9. Butterfly Effect

GROOVE

Groove’s one-word title tells you pretty much all you need to know. It’s a song primarily driven by rhythm, though you wouldn’t know it by its first verse. Groove opens with that kind of light, languid, r&b that seems to be all the rage these days. EXO’s vocals make it work, but it’s hardly a galvanizing introduction.

Things change as we move into the chorus, which delivers the titular goods as a samba-like groove takes hold. It’s bolstered by airy vocals, which lend the song an ephemeral sweetness. It’s almost too lightweight for my taste, but the instrumental will get your toe tapping at the very least. Groove’s rhythm is fully capitalized on later in the track, as Chanyeol and Sehun trade lines for a standout rap segment that builds seamlessly into a vocal-rich bridge and flute-led breakdown. Ultimately, Groove is more pleasant than it is transcendent, but as a sumptuous mood-setter, it’s among the album’s most convincing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=120It4zkIZU

~