Enough of you asked for it, and who am I to deny? It’s time to dive deep into SHINee’s long-awaited comeback album Don’t Call Me, track-by-track.
1. Don’t Call Me // 2. Heart Attack // 3. Marry You // 4. CØDE // 5. I Really Want You // 6. Kiss Kiss // 7. Body Rhythm // 8. Attention // 9. Kind
HEART ATTACK
Don’t Call Me (the album) is not what you’d expect from its title track. While Don’t Call Me (the song) has a heaviness in keeping with K-pop’s current love of hulking beats underlined by skittering hi-hats, most everything else is light on its feet with a real sense of life to it. This has always been my preferred SHINee sound, so I couldn’t be happier with many of the b-sides. It’s just a shame that the group didn’t stick to their strengths and choose a different track to promote. There are at least three songs on here that have made stunning singles.
One of these is Heart Attack – perhaps the closest to a “classic SHINee sound” that the album gets. Its synth-heavy instrumental and explosive performance draw from my favorite SHINee era – the 2012-13 Sherlock/Misconceptions/Everybody years. Heart Attack would have fit right in, and instantly welcomes back long-time fans with the sound many of us have been craving.
The first thing you’ll notice is the track’s throbbing bassline. Instantly, we’re greeted by a rhythm that pulls deeply from funk. Nudges of guitar add to the exciting brew, and SHINee’s vocals make a nimble companion to the groove. The pre-chorus builds drama before we crash into the chorus. The synth textures here are thrilling, and propel the track forward with dancefloor drive. The new generation of idol acts could learn a thing or two!
This being a SHINee dance track, there are surprises around every corner. I especially love the filtered scratch that interrupts the second verse, and the squiggle of synths that offer a funky fill as we move from pre-chorus to chorus. From start to finish, Heart Attack is firing on all cylinders. It’s a good reminder of how fantastic idol groups can be.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 10 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 10 |
| RATING | 9.5 |
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The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
YES Nick actually agreed to our pestering!
Not my favorite song on the album and that speaks of the quality of it (the album) as a whole. I assume it’s your favorite though
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Nope!
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Glad to know that! I hope it is the near-perfect Code!
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Oooh speculation time. I’m placing my bets on I Really Want You – but it could be Code, too. Now watch me be wrong about both 🙂
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Actually, I think I’m going to review every song on the album too! It deserves it. I’ll start tomorrow with the title track, and continue from then on once a day.
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I am thinking Nick’s favorite of this album would be I Really Want You or CODE.
And this album is literally divine perfection.
We have a Golden Child Mini Album and SHINee full album which are difficult to top….so who would dare try?
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(oops, I read this after commenting my prediction above. great minds think alike?)
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I guess they do!
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This album is just so good, I’m glad you’re doing an in-depth review on it.
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One of my favorite songs on the album is Heart Attack, it feels like the pinnacle of that classic 2012-13 SHINee sound which most of us fell in love with, this time it comes back larger and with more-than-a-few interesting production flourishes. Heart Attack is built around an explosive synth performance, It’s take-on-the-dancefloor production invites the listener with an addictive craft of propelling synths, rhythmic guitar and a sinister bassline. Absolutely fantastic.
Heart Attack kicks off with a gurgling synth, It rips through the roof and makes for an invigorating introduction. The guys voices welcome us into the song, as the supple percussion gives a light-on-its-feet groove, we get pulled on to the pre-chorus segment. Most of the instrumental is stripped away, the drama is building with the help of those tense vocals. It acts as the perfect layout to Heart Attack‘s rousing chorus. SHINee’s tight vocal blend duet with the exciting synths, It all weaves together in perfect execution, propelling to a bombastic funk drive which looks back to no end.
The Post-Chorus hook is even better. The percussion ticks with an impossibly funky groove, while the edges of guitar give it a gritty backbone. Heart Attack could have really made an amazing single. It stuns you on first listen and only gets better with every listen. This is truly SHINee at their peak.
My rating would also be a 9.5!
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Waiting for the remaining reviews for all songs of this album.!
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Hurray! We get an in-depth album review! I feel like a kid whose dad has just steered into the nearest McDonald’s drive through.
This song is one of my favourites from the album. It’s so funky – but the synths make this more full than many funky songs I’ve heard. It has the characteristic catchy bass line, but it has a lot of ‘meat’ on those bass ‘bones’ as well. It’s wonderful. Love the little ‘dum dum dum’ vocals at the end of the chorus.
Throughout this whole album I’ve gained a new appreciation for Taemins vocals in particular. I don’t listen to his solo material much and I more or less forgot how good he sounds and how unique his voice is.
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That first line. “Hurray! We get an in-depth album review! I feel like a kid whose dad has just steered into the nearest McDonald’s drive through.”
Whenever my dad used to do that, I used to feel over-the-top euphoria, and I am getting the same feeling of euphoria back right after seeing Nick doing he In-depth album review!
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I feel like a kid on Christmas morning seeing this post! I’m SO over the moon happy that you’re giving one of the best albums of the year (THE best, in my opinion) so far an in depth review! I’ll be excited to read all your posts. I think I’m head over heels for every single track, but that’s just my bias coming out. This one really does take me back though!
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I am super biased for Golden Child, but this is no doubt better.
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I think “Heart Attack” is positioned perfectly in the album. The title track is dramatic and pretty different for SHINee, so placing this upbeat, SHINee-sounding song after it is like the album reassuring us that they haven’t lost their musical roots.
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