MyName is one of those kpop groups that just haven’t received the recognition they deserve. They’re consistently solid, but haven’t produced that breakout hit that could bump them up a tier or two. One of the problems is that they’ve been incredibly active in Japan, where they enjoy a certain amount of success, and that’s kept them from really digging in and gaining a bigger fanbase in their homeland.

I Am 27 is another Japanese song, but this time it’s by leader and main vocal Lee GunWoo. It’s an admirable ballad, with nice build and a catchy spoken repetition of the title. In fact, I’d say it sounds more like a standard Korean ballad than a Japanese one. He might be wise to release it in Korea as well, especially during wintertime when songs like these tend to take hold. The string section and melancholic piano compliment the chugging guitar and give the track some drive. And while it takes a few listens for that chorus to truly stick, it rises to a satisfying crescendo by the last third of the track. The song will be part of GunWoo’s solo debut album released on the 30th. I hope it won’t all be ballads, even though this is a good one.