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sprinklesandshatters · 3 years

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A Review on NCT 127′s 3rd Album <Sticker>

So NCT 127 just came back with their 3rd Full Album <Sticker> and this is my first 127 comeback since I became a fan last year! Neozone is such a special album for me as it was their first album that I explored entirely. I've known NCT as the group who never fails any expectations so I've kept mine up although I know they'll exceed it anyway. And guess what, they did! I absolutely love their new album hence this review~

This isn't a technical music review—as I am not a musician myself—but rather a listener's honest takes, goofy notes, and interpretation on each of the tracks in the album. I admit I've also struggled to build my own opinions on some of the tracks until I listened to them over and over again.

I have also heard there are mixed opinions on the title track <Sticker> and a lot says it's another acquired taste. But I think it's not just that, as it can be a grower, just like how most of NCT's songs were for me. Maybe after a few listens and a right passage of time, it will grow on those people. The bottom line here is, I like it a lot! 😛

So I listed down the songs according to their respective track numbers and followed each with a bulleted list of my opinions and interpretations.

(Viewer/reader discretion: before you continue, minors, do not interact as there are few 18+ contents under the cut. Thank you.)

1. Sticker

THEY DIDN'T JUST PUNCH A NEW NOTCH ON THE BELT LIKE THAT

THIS SONG SLAPS, LITERALLY SLAPS… AND WHIPS

The recorder at the intro boyyyy I thought something was wrong but then I remember it’s NCT lmao

It already stuck in my head from my first listen from the Instagram audio.

With Taeyong opening the verse with his divine rapping, I knew I'm in for a new ride.

STICK-UH STICK-UGH STICK-UGHGHGH

To those complaining it sounding like noise music, imagine it sounding generic. I don't think it would fit as the title track. Not a b-track or in their repertoire, even. They are called NCT because they define the NEO in the music culture and music technology!

It honestly was an unorthodox, just like all of their title tracks, which I’m inherently here for.

Literally, no one does it like them!

The growls and the vocal flexes and adlibs! (You can tell it has Yoo Youngjin's brand.)

The crisp metronome sound that’s consistently ticking except for the pre-chorus and the dance break adds depth to the soundscape. I love how it’s used instead of the usual snaps.

The production quality blew my mind. Like how can someone think those melodies would sound so exquisite? CAN I CALL THEM GENIUS?

The piano at the back, oh my God—Yes! It adds this mystifying element to the song.

I'm not sure if it's a midi violin at the pre-chorus, but it added thrill to the song. It was a great transition from the bass line in the verses to the combination of the flawless harmony with the same instrumental.

"You treat me like a boy, like a grown-up child chasing a dream" JUNGWOO BABY NO MORE HUH

Taeil, Doyoung, and Haechan—the bridge vocal trinity!

But why the heck are they cowboys? I dig the concept, but why? LMAO

BTW GUNSLINGER MARK I’M ON MY KNEES YEEHAW

This is easily one of my favorite tracks from NCT 127's entire discography 💚

2. Lemonade

(⌐■_■)

Jaehyun starting off this song with his deep voice eee

The song opens to a verse oozing with chill confidence. They're like, yeah you're lurking because we’re cool.

This is such a huge slap to their haters. NCT's not chillin' like a villain, nah they're the main characters!

Well maybe they’re villains, but still ya not cooler than them ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Funny enough how they could have just referred haters as simply lemons whose sour/bitter to the taste, but 127 squad's success is sweeter than all the haters' spiteful remarks so yeah, SIPPY SIPPY LEMONADE 🧃

"WOOF"

I might have just barked too wOW

Yuta’s vocals hooooO his voice just sounds so glamorous mhmm

Also Mark referencing their previous title tracks such as: Firetruck, Cherry Bomb, and Regular (it's Irregular in the lyrics) in his rap part 👌💅

I just love Mark's energy when he raps. HE RESOLUTELY BITES AND STRAIGHT UP EATS EVERY TIME HE DOES.

3. Breakfast

Now breakfast time, oh jeez!

AAAHAHFU—

Summer 127's bestie!

If Summer 127 talks about dancing all night long, Breakfast is the morning after.

You know what it is.

"Even if I gulp and drink you, it's not enough for me." oho Taeyong no you ha—STOP

Sexual innuendos aside, isn't it just sweet if someone tells you they'd want to have breakfast with you every day? Okay maybe I'm melting at the thought 😩🙈💞

And I can see myself dancing to this song as I make breakfast (in the afternoon or at midnight bc I’m crazy)

This was an okay b-track for me at the first skim on the album, but boy it grew on me wildly.

Honestly one of my favorite tracks in this album.

4. Focus

Did I just invade a private call? LMAO

The analog voice filters make it like so.

Dude, this feels intimate in the level of eavesdropping a phone call between seasoned lovers. Then you realize you hear them whispering their kinks over the line and you're ooh, that's sexy! hfgklhfhf

My first listen to this, I almost went feral because,

"I can't wait to eat you…" when it's actually "I can't wait 'til we chill…" aahaha

"Baby call me when you want me." OKAY!

This sounds relaxing and chill. I'd love to play this on a late night drive or just before bed time along with Fly Away With Me, Sun & Moon, My Youth, and Long Flight.

Belongs to ‘make out session’ playlist ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

That was lowkey a playlist recommendation, huh?

I'd be kidding if I don't say I could touch myself while listening to this song AHAHAFGHFJFJ

I didn't know this would grow on me this much lol I love love LOVE THIS!

5. The Rainy Night

Ooh, the holy melancholy!

Piano at the intro—I knew I'd cry to this.

This song isn't just about break-up, but the heartbreak after one.

The yearning; the remnant pieces from the shattering of what was once there.

I think I crumbled from this one.

This hit so hard I felt like I fit in the shoes with the lyrics throughout the entire song.

What’s fascinating is I clearly forgot the title when I mentally said this sounds like a sad rainy day song from the first listen.

Something I’d turn up when it suddenly rains, just because I want to feel the blues.

Taeil and Haechan singing in lower register? I wanna cry :( they’re just one of the best vocalists in K-music industry right now.

Could have been also nice if they added Yuta to the vocals.

"My selfish heart who waits for you to come back," OKAY WHO HURT THEM?

And the fact that they sang it so good that it translated every ounce of the emotions well even before I looked up for English translations is the reason why I love this song too.

6. Far

Hmm… What the hell?! Do I like this? Wait...

Alright!

The jumpy vibe from the first verse to the pre-chorus set the mood for this song. It sounds merry and heavy. It was honestly too much to take until I’ve reached the chorus part.

Honestly, I think this song could fit NCT Dream better, as it gives off a vibe similar to Hello Future's b-tracks. If some credible source say this could have made HF’s track list, I might believe you too fast.

Also Dream’s Deja Vu where they go na nananananana na na na~

Playful yet confident! That’s what I mean!

As usual, the vocals are insane! Vocal flex from left to right!

I swear Jungwoo sounded a bit like Taemin at the second verse that I had to replay it hahaha

I love hearing Johnny as a vocalist! SM, how many signs do you need until you utilize his vocal talent???

Taeil's part where he sings, "go nuts, go nuts, 'til we go bust, go bust" IDEK BUT I SNORTED A LAUGH AT FIRST LISTEN HFCAHKFHK

Not my favorite, but still great though!

But wait it’s actually stuck in my head???

7. Bring The Noize

Yes, they never beat those noise music allegations

HERE'S SOME NOIZE, BITCHES

I love me some noisy percussions. AND THE BASS YO

This screams so much confidence!

The build up from the pre-chorus to the chorus—FIRE!

This song reminds me a lot of SuperM's Super Car, especially with the engine roar samples and the battle cry-like singing at the chorus.

JAEHYUN RAPPING? You mean Jaehyun the visual, the vocalist, the actor, the model, the funny dude, aka my everything?! (markie bb look pls look away for a moment)

THEY DELIVERED IT STRAIGHT FROM NEOCITY THAT'S SOME NCT MUSIC RIGHT THERE NO ONE DOES IT LIKE THEM

When I said I'd play Focus on a late night drive, and if I add this in the playlist, VROOM VROOM SPEED LIMIT WHAT

OUTTA MY WAY

“We got no shame” ouh TAEYONG’S FLOW IS JUST VERY HIM AND HE’S IN A LEAGUE OF HIS OWN

You know what's so clever about this song? It's how it ended with Mark's final rap without any instrumental, leaving you standing there with a doppler effect-like post experience.

A super car on a super speed just whooshed past you and you look its way as it zips through the road. It's gone in an instant but you're floored dumbfounded at a sidewalk. That's how I describe this song.

8. Magic Carpet Ride

This song… Wow. Oh gosh it's so beautiful.

Their harmony in the chorus—it makes me want to kiss someone so passionately that I'd cry.

This makes me want to feel love that transcends the universe. Literally, just please take me on a magic carpet ride :(

The background harmonies too oh my goodness—HEAVENLY.

Jaehyun's voice is so warm and soulful it fits perfectly with songs of this genre.

Okay alright Doyoung Grande!

And Taeil makes me feel like I'm listening to old school R&B.

The first time I heard this from the track video, I can't stop replaying because it's just that great.

This makes me want to love. I think that sums it up.

9. Road Trip

This is such a soothing song for me, especially how I easily become nostalgic thinking about the road trips I've had.

Whenever I listen to this, my brain immediately conjures up thoughts of my ideal getaways. Gazing at the sky through the car window, stirring up from a nap in the middle of the ride, and eventually reaching your destination.

Oh, to travel around anywhere... (curse you covid-19)

Okay that's it. I'M PACKING UP.

But where do I go—

I could also imagine Mark playing this on the guitar and the other members sing along together, something like that.

Just Wholesome™ vibes.

I love how it evokes such a nice emotion within me effortlessly.

This isn't my favorite, but I still love this.

10. Dreamer

Eyyyy such a refreshing song!

This song is so bright it makes me want to dance. I play this first in the shower!

It reminds me so much of Elevator (from Neozone)

The horns make it more lively I think!

Yuta and Jungwoo's voice suits lively songs like this.

The background vocal in low register in Taeyong's part in the first verse is so good ahhfhf

Taeil, the R&B vocal king you are...

There's this part where Doyoung and Johnny harmonized, that at first listen they seemed to clash, but it sounded actually fine after a few listens. Maybe it's just that I've never heard them do it before.

And I think it's Doyoung's laugh at the end of the bridge? Oh my goodness I really love this too!

11. Promise You

MY FIRST LOVE AND MOST FAVORITE SONG IN THE ALBUM!!!

The first time I heard this from their NCIT Sharehouse Sitcom, I fell in love with the song already.

It sounds like something you'd feel from a warm, welcoming hug.

The lyrics are so beautiful and endearing. It's definitely a be-there-for-you type of song that will touch your heart.

It definitely sounds like a promise.

A song about platonic intimacy.

This really fits to be the closing song of the album. It's like the end of it but holds a promise that says “see you soon.”

Because they cherish their fans like that.

It's also like I've watched a movie with a happy ending, where the camera pans up to the clear sky and this song starts playing.

Speaking of ending, I would love to hear them sing this as an encore stage in their concert. You know, that moment just before the stage lights die down at the end of the concert where they send final blows of flying kisses to NCTzens. Then you come home smiling and crying.

This wasn't supposed to be this long since I originally planned to write this with just simple phrases and emojis but I got too engrossed lol. I also meant to include my own ratings but I figured it’s pointless since I can’t really decide about them hahaha

I really enjoyed the whole album and I love how they're progressively defining what NEO means by breaking through standards. It's not NCT music if it doesn't make you say "WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?" But then you realize it’s stuck in your head and you’re enjoying it already.

✨ OVERALL RATING: 127/10 💚

if you’ve reached until here, thank you for letting me share you a braincell or two 💞

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deathwishskateboards · 7 years

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TAYLOR KIRBY - SKATE WAREHOUSE INTERVIEW

Hey what’s up Kirby?

Cruising man, just headed up to LA right now from Oceanside. Driving through Orange County, Going to stop by Happy Hour to grab some shades, and work on this giveaway they’re trying to setup.

You’re still living down in Oceanside?

Yup yup, got a sick little house. Right near the beach, near all the other bros houses too. It’s perfect.

Any downside from living in Oceanside compared to LA?

The downside of living in Oceanside? Uhhh I don’t even think there is one man. Rents cheap, Skate Park is amazing and there is no traffic compared to LA. Plus if I have to go to LA it only takes an hour and a half to putt up there. I don’t know man LA’s not for me. I like skating there but I could never live there. All my friends that do live up there all live in Hollywood, so its just chaos.

They just turned you pro at Vista. Did they catch you off guard? Was it completely a surprise or what?

Yeah I don't know, little kids were like commenting and shit on the flyer. Saying I’m going pro and stuff but when you’ve been skating for…fuck I don’t even know, 17…18 years and you’ve been amateur the whole time. It doesn’t feel like you’re ever actually going to go pro. You just kind of get used to being AM. You want to go pro and you see your friends go pro but its not something you ever actually think is going to happen. They caught me off guard. I don't know I just never expected it to actually happen you know.

Congrats man you definitely deserved it. That part was fucked up man. Which trick took you the longest to film? What did you battle?

Fuck, I don’t even know. I feel like it’s all the basic stuff. Its like the little tricks in the beginning of the part are the most torturous. All the big ones you either do it in a couple tries or your dead so I’d say the Enders were kind of the easiest. I battled the back 3 in Albuquerque for a little bit. Over that bump over fence. That one I kept sticking and eating shit. I don't know I’ve been getting lucky on a skateboard lately.

That’s good to hear. What has been going on with C1rca lately?

They got Neen and Cole Wilson on, which is nice to have some new guys on. It’s been pretty tight; we were just on a South America Trip for two weeks, which was just insane. So much fun down there, it’s like another world.

I bet, was that the first time you went to South America?

Yeah, pretty much the first time I left the country. Besides going to Montreal and Vancouver. But those don’t really count. Definitely first time down there. It was awesome.

Was it pretty nuts culture wise out there?

Yeah, it s just a different world. The driving is different, the language barrier is heavy, the ground is terrible out there. Probably why you don’t see to many articles to South America. The ground is complete shit. Its all torn apart, so the spots are rough. All of the locals that showed us around were so nice; they were so stoked to have us. Everyday they had something lined up for us, whether it was some bbq or some spot or a skate park. Something new everyday, it was bitchin.

Anything crazy and out of hand happen while you were out there?

I mean…Cole was blacked out from the second we left to the second we dropped him off. That was pretty funny to watch. The demo in Lima, Peru: they had like a stadium set up and there was a couple thousand kids. Afterwards we were trying to sell autographs, but the cops were pulling us away saying we were going to start a riot if we don’t leave. After 15 minutes of trying to pull on us. The cops finally pulled us away into this random room. Which turned out to be the city hall were we met the mayor of Lima. We ended up just kicking it with him; he was opening beers up for us, taking pictures. It was unreal, like some iron maiden treatment. That’s just one story I’m barely scratching the surface. It was chaos everyday down there.

I feel all the shep dawgs are turning pro. Who’s going to be the next one to get a name on a board?

It better be AJ. He works so god damn hard. He’s got a full time job now too, and every weekend he’s out there hitting it, no joke. I guarantee when his Slave part comes out, it’s going to fuck people up. He’s just the handrail master.

Do you still skate with him a lot?

As much as I can. You know we hit each other up to hit the skate park when he’s off work. I mean every other weekend will link up and go hit something. I mean he films with other people sometimes and I’m like up in LA sometimes. Were not always together but yeah I see him all of the time. He was at my pro party the other day, which was fucking tight to see him there.

So you said in your thrasher interview that you had enough footage leftover for a second part. When are we going to lay our eyes on that? You going to drop a second part right off the bat?

I don’t know, I mean I wish it worked like that. It took like a year to just put this part out. It’s hard to put stuff out when there’s not a company trying to put a video out. I have a shitload of footage but there’s no reason to put it out. Companies kind of want a piece of it before you do put it out. I was kind of waiting for the mag to line up with like other companies that want to put footage out for me. It just kind of kept getting pushed back and pushed back. I finally got this one out so I feel like it’d be just kind of torturous to try and get another one out. I wish I mean its possible id like too get more shit out this year. The Shep Dawgs video hopefully comes out the end of summer. I got enough for two parts id say.

You guys been doing shep dawg trips for the video? I saw you guys did that RV tour.

Yeah that was fucked. We had like 15-16 dudes in the RV for two weeks. There were shows being played along the way for Riley’s band. Just last weekend me and riley and Jacob and some other homies went out to Vegas, purely for the shep dawgs video. Got a bunch of shit, trying to hit up SF and Albuquerque next month too. Just trying to keep it going.

There was rumor about a deathwish promo coming out soon. Is that still in the works?

I hope so (laughs) I don’t know, those dudes over at Deathwish are always so busy. They always got new things popping up. Every other team rider has something else going on. So it’s really hard to coordinate something coming out. Shoot with Jamie Foy and Jake Hayes, those dudes are just machines. So I’m sure they’ll be able to put out a promo no problem.

So you’ve got that ETN video tomorrow. How’d that come about?

My friend Erik Bragg runs the whole ETN thing. He hit me up to do one of those facemelters, and I picked two spots to do it at. He couldn’t get permits for them. So that kid Milton Martinez, picked staples center hubba. I said fuck it ill skate it with you. Just last week I got a text from Bragg, saying Milton got hurt and that I am going to be skating it by myself. Now I got to skate it by myself, but I got a call from Lizard last night saying that he might want to skate it so hopefully I have a partner. I mean shit the things huge man. I’m thinking just a smith grind. If that is easy, than something else but that thing is huge.

Yeah, that thing looks pretty gnarly, have you ever skated it before or is this the first time?

No! Never! I mean I’ve always kind of looked at it when you’re in the zone. When you’re in the area you kind of have to go check it out. It’s perfect but its just fucking huge.

The thing looks massive, so Smith Grind is going to be your go to?

I mean I hope! Everything else has kind of been done; the easy outs have all been done.

Are you nervous for it at all? It’s kind of a crazy concept.

It is, yeah. I mean I’m a little nervous. They’re paying me so; I don’t really care what happens you know. Land or not, they’re going to pay me a little bit. So I’m stoked, lizard and slash are both going to be there, so they’re my tight bros. It will be pretty mellow. I’ve skated bigger stuff too before so I’m not too worried.

Who have you been skating with the most recently?

Riley and Jacob, our filmer. Riley was filming a lot for his Lakai deadline and he definitely got more than enough footage for it. So it really got the momentum going, so we’ve pretty much been skating everyday down in San Diego. We’ve resparked it; we’ve been hitting it pretty hard.

Were you skating with riley a lot during the filming of the Lakai video?

Yeah…but he’s been hurt. He’s had ankle problem after ankle problem. He would also go off to like Europe or something and I’m not skating with him than. All the San Diego and LA missions definitely though. We skate kind of the similar spots, so it’s been tight to feed of each other.

Is he going to have a pretty fucked up part in that video?

He is going to have the most fucked up part! People aren’t even ready cause there hasn’t been that much riley hype for like the past year since he’s been hurt. But his part is fucked! Just the last 3-4 months for him have been fucking gnarly. He’s been getting it.

What bands have you been listening too recently?

I’ve been pretty much listening to the same bands since I was little. The Judas Priest Painkiller album gets me pretty fired up. Jacob or Riley are usually djing so I don't know just something fast that doesn’t suck.

What’s your current complete set up right now?

Sick, I love that. I’m obsessed with my setup. I feel like its perfected for me. I ride the 8.475 Deathwish boards with some Shake Junt Grip, colored Spitfire Conical wheels preferably 53s or 54s. Bronson Bearings. 159 Indys, and some shake Junt bolts and size 10.5 c1rcas. The Neens!

That’s what you’ve been skating in? The Neens?

Yeah you can jump off the moon an take the impact in them. I love them.

Do you have any shoes in the works? Is that something we can look forward too?

I mean hopefully. Cole turned pro before me and so did Robbie so I’m sure they’re first inline for something. Atleast I hope so, I wouldn’t feel right making something before them. But yeah I can’t wait; I mean I just want to make a perfect shoe. Hopefully in a year or two Ill have something going.

Do you have anything in mind for it, any crazy?

I don't know I’ve been skating c1rcas for so long that id like to try my friends shoes you know. I'd like to skate a Figgy, a Riley and see what I like about theirs and what I don’t like. Kind of just pick the best shoe possible. All I’ve known is what c1rcas made, which is pretty good. But who knows there could be something little different in the build to a shoe out there that I could add to my shoe. I don't know, I want to make it perfect. A little bit of support and a good insole. That’s all that’s really important to me.

Who’s your guilty pleasure skater? Who do you like that know would expect?

Sheckler. Fuck, I grew up in the same town as him and I was never friends with him. Just cause he was older than me and traveling the world. Than senior year in high school, he let me skate his park one day. Than pretty much after that everyday during the week I would come and skate his park after school. He’s just the nicest dude ever. The last few months just recently he’s been all fired up to just skate his park. So my chick lives in San Clemente, so every time I’m down there I just hit him up and go skate his park. The dude is so gnarly. He’s so fucking good at skating, so it’s pretty entertaining. I try to skate with everyone in skateboarding, but he’s just a good dude to skate with. No one would guess that id skate with him.

That’s about all I got for you man, you got any final words you want to send us off with?

Fuck, thanks for wanting to do this interview with me, that kicks ass! Shout out to Shep Dawgs, Deathwish, and my family obviously. Yeah man good shit!

#Deathwish Skateboards #skate warehouse #taylor kirby #shep dawgs

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