Key BAD LOVE: In-Depth Album Review – Yellow Tape | The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion

In honor of SHINee’s Key taking charge of his sound on new mini album Bad Love, I’ll be taking a look at each track throughout the week. Check back every day, and make sure to explore my other In-Depth Album Reviews if you’re interested!

1. Bad Love // 2. Yellow Tape // 3. Hate That… (ft. Taeyeon) // 4. Helium // 5. Saturday Night // 6. Eighteen (End Of My World)

Yellow Tape

After the synth throwdown of Bad Love, Yellow Tape moves into funkier material that sounds like a full-group SHINee track. In fact, it would have fit quite comfortably on their most recent album. And while I think the song would have benefitted from the diverse tones of the members, Key convincingly drives it forward on his own.

Yellow Tape’s introduction is incredibly atmospheric. We’ve got the rumble of synthwave tied to police sirens, setting the scene for a dramatic arrangement. The verse hits us with a funky beat, bringing a more energetic sound than Bad Love. I’m particularly infatuated with the infusion of rhythm guitar during verse two. I love the blend of rock and dance, and I think Key does too.

From here, Yellow Tape offers a simple hook. The melody is clipped and aggressive, coupled with a catchy “breathe in, breathe out” response that adds great texture to the chorus. There are stronger refrains on the album, but Key tugs on the phrases to generate a satisfying oomph. The siren-like electronics are very effective here, and add to the song’s momentum while giving it a disco sheen. Yellow Tape is Key thriving within his comfort zone, and that will always be thrilling to hear.

Hooks	8
Production	9
Longevity	9
Bias	10
RATING	9

10 thoughts on “Key BAD LOVE: In-Depth Album Review – Yellow Tape”

KEY ‘BAD LOVE’ EP

FIRST LISTEN

BAD LOVE [10,9,9,9] = 9.25/10
Yellow Tape [9,9,8,9] = 8.75/10
Hate That [8,7,7,8] = 7.5/10
Helium [7,8,8,8] = 7.75/10
Saturday Night [8,9,8,8] = 8.25/10
Eighteen (End Of My World) [9,8,8,8] = 8.25/10

Thoughts:

It took me a few listens but I now love the melody in ‘BAD LOVE’.

I’ve only listened to the other songs once but ‘Yellow Tape’ is easily the standout for me. I like the melody and the overall vibe but I love the panning arpeggiated synths that bounce around the track. It adds a whole other layer to the tracks and gives a futuristic feel.

‘Hate That’ has a beautiful instrumental melody but it’s pretty repetitive and not as upbeat as I would have liked.

I like ‘Helium’ but after only one listen, the melody still feels kind of weird. I like the consistent four on the floor kick.

‘Saturday Night’ has a nice instrumental. It has some nice warm synth chords and the melody is good. I like the groove of the chorus.

Random Thoughts [LOL]:

The arpeggiated synth that first plays at 0:10 in ‘Yellow Tape’ can be created using the ‘Vox Lead’ synth in GarageBand LOL.

The weird random underlying voice that is clear at 0:50 in ‘Helium’ reminds me of the repeated descending hook ‘Menea para abajo’ in NCT Dream’s ‘Hot Sauce’.

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As much as I love the single, I have not been crazy over the album. Yellow Tape is probably my favorite b-side, probably clocking in around 8.5 or 8.75. Nonetheless, Bad Love is just getting better.

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