Though it’s not likely to receive that same attention as BigBang‘s similarly scheduled roll-out in 2015, DAY6 are releasing a single and accompanying music video each month this year. It’s a remarkably exciting prospect, especially for a group who feels like they haven’t been allowed to release nearly enough material since their debut in 2015. January’s track, I Wait, was a dynamite punch of anthemic power rock, but for February the guys have slowed things down with You Were Beautiful (예뻤어).

As the group’s first straightforward ballad title track, You Were Beautiful offers a more focused showcase of the guy’s vocals. I feel like every time I review a DAY6 song, I mention how gorgeously diverse these vocals are. It’s rare to find a band where every member sings in addition to playing their instrument, but it’s even more uncommon to hear such a full array of vocal tones. Many k-pop dance groups can’t even boast that. This undeniable talent certainly drives the song, which is otherwise relatively unadorned. Its chorus is everything you’d expect to hear from a moody rock ballad, soaring and cinematic in both sound and emotion.

That said, the track isn’t quite as tight as I Wait was. As beautifully delivered as its melody is, You Are Beautiful drags in places and feels a bit overlong. This is due to the arrangement, which doesn’t build on itself or progress into anything different as the track plays on. Instead, it hits an expected, repetitive flow. A stronger middle eight or more compelling instrumental would have helped, though the group’s trademark harmonized backing vocals are definitely a nice touch. All in all, You Were Beautiful keeps the quality high, but feels less exciting than DAY6’s past title tracks.