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

BABY YOU ARE

Mid-way through, EXO’s new album takes a decidedly funky turn. And as far as I’m concerned, it couldn’t have come too soon. My favorite track from their 2018 album was easily Gravity, which embraced the group’s poppier side to create a real showstopper. Baby You Are has similar ambitions, though it’s not nearly as ambitious.

Immediately, Baby unveils its bass guitar loop, soon to be joined by upbeat percussion and a sticky falsetto performance by Chen and Baekhyun. Rather than keep building, the track settles into a steady groove and basically stays there. It’s probably my favorite instrumental on the album, but I wish it went bigger. Gravity had that killer, sweeping chorus and breathless, rap-infused bridge. Baby You Are is like its more reserved sibling.

With that said, this is my preferred style for modern EXO (nothing beats their debut-era Mama/History madness). The song is sleek and catchy, with arguably the strongest hook on the album. EXO’s performance is airy and refined, befitting a group of their stature. They could stand to lean into the funk a bit more, but the lush, layered vocals on the chorus help to compensate.

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