We have just over a week to go until the release of EXO’s long-awaited seventh full album, and the group has now unveiled two pre-release tracks. Following emotional ballad Let Me In, Hear Me Out picks up the tempo ever so slightly to craft a throwback summertime groove.
I’m just… so underwhelmed by these pre-releases. Of course it’s great to have EXO back. Of course it’s amazing to hear their voices and see their faces after so long. But now that we’re two songs into the project, I’m finding my expectations cratering. Hear Me Out is fine — even addictive — in a subdued, groovy way. Its chunky bass, funky guitar and insistent beat are reminiscent of 90’s r&b in a way that feels quite nostalgic. There’s a place for a summertime hit like this (just ask NewJeans!), but the song is so slight.
It’s clear that Hear Me Out is meant to be more of a vibe than a dramatic statement of intent, but that approach would’ve worked just as well as an EXO-SC unit track or a Baekhyun solo single. The song could also function as a comedown between more ambitious moments on an album. We’ll see if Exist delivers that framework, but for now EXO’s wonderful vocals carry the day. There’s a warmth to the track that will likely have me coming back for repeated listens, but I’m worried the days of funky bombast and potent r&b are far behind us.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
Their sixth album was Obsession. Exist will be their seventh album.
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Dang! Counted wrong 😅
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The song grows on you as time but didn’t like the beginning at all I did not like how Sehun came in, but it’s EXO their vocal carried the underwhelming start and it got nicer with time.
Looking forward to their TT hopefully they don’t go SHinee route for the TT.
It’s a good feel good music in a midst of loud tracks nowadays but I just feel something missing🤷🏾♀️ but good to have EXO back.
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You hit the nail on the head when you said it feels like there’s something missing.
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It’s in my wheelhouse. Wish it had a little more bite, but I dig it. Love that Xiumin got lines! It can go on both the roller rink and backyard playlists.
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Right? It’s nice that they gave members that aren’t main vocalists time to shine in this song.
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I like this one a lot. They’re prolly saving their huge “WE’RE BACK!!!” song for the actual single. These mid tempo R&B songs are the ones I gravitate towards the most so I’m very happy with this song. Also seeing them all again in the video made my day.
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They nearly lost me at the beginning, too. I did not enjoy how it opened, but by the time we hit the chorus it was starting to win me over. This is a nice summer time groove, tailor made for sipping lemonade by the pool or hanging out around a summertime backyard campfire. In my brain, Chanyeol’s voice was made for this type of song, so my immediate thought as I was first listening was that this could have been an EXO-SC release, and now that you mention it, I can also hear how it would work super well as a Baekhyun solo track. But they do all sound amazing here, and it’s wonderful to hear (and see!) them together (the MV brings me so much joy). It’s simple and laid back fun delivered expertly, so overall, minus the very beginning, I really enjoy it.
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This song felt like I was listening to Jay Park’s Need To Know. If you go and listen to it , it has the same groove , vibe and even melody , so the first time I heard this song it did not click with me immediately like Let Me In did because my mind was like “where did I hear this song” kinda thoughts and that distracted me . I feel like it will be a cool song to play if it’s in a playlist but I don’t see myself going to play it voluntarily like I do with Let Me In . Nevertheless, it’s cute and I like it and I won’t lie , it kinda lowered my expectations for Exist and I think that it’s okay so that I don’t get disappointed in the end .
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That’s the thing, right? If I want to listen to a Jay Park song, I’ll go listen to a Jay Park song…
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It also reminded of Hello 2.0 by James Reid as well
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See I must disagree. This one has an – as cited – warmer groove and I think a more casual chill vibe? Like Jay Park is seduction but this is more akin to a summer barbeque or casual house party fun. Similar vibes but different feelings.
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Heh, wow I hadn’t heard the Jay Park, but they do share a lot. Not plagiarism but a remarkable similarity in vibe, as if one could loop both together for an hour and shift easily from one to the next.
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This sounds like a b-side on every R&B album ever circa 1995. If they sung up an octave (or two) with a breathy whisper, it could be an unreleased Mariah Carey from the Butterfly era. If this is your thing, scratches that itch, fine. Me, I’ll just go dig out my old Mariah Carey CD’s.
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I like it. Sehun at the beginning threw me off but it’s the groove and vocals that got me.
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I love this song, but for me it’s because it feels like a natural maturity now that they are all about 30, and I say that in a positive way because I’m turning 31 this year lol. Of course I love EXO for their bombastic style, but this speaks to a confidence and joy that they don’t want or have to try so hard. I enjoy that, because I don’t think they are being conceited. It’s just some quiet confidence. Wonder what they’ll do next.
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