[Album Review] LOVE RACE (15th Mini Album) – SF9

9 hours ago 21

If you cannot tell by the title of the post, SF9’s LOVE RACE is the next mini-album up for review (still a massive backlog to push through). It is SF9’s 15th mini-album since their debut in 2016 (almost 10 years ago!), and was released back in March this year. LOVE RACE features a total of 6 songs, including the title track of the same name. It is a solid mini-album overall, per usual for SF9. There are some terrific songs on the mini-album, so it is definitely worth checking out.

LOVE RACE (the mini-album) is their first comeback since August 2024 – the mini-album FANTASY and title track Don’t Worry, Be Happy. More recently, the group is embarking on a world tour.

1. LOVE RACE (Title Track) – Click here for LOVE RACE’s full review. (8/10)

2. Suited – Leading on from the title track is Suited, a very smooth mid-tempo pop track. This helped make the flow of Suited feel velvety and stunning, and many of the song’s best attributes stem from this smoothness. The song’s chorus was very charming. I particularly liked the upward inflexion at the end of the chorus, which gives the track something intriguing and memorable to remember it by. The vocals (and their layering) in Suited were really well done throughout. As for the rapping, I liked how they fit into the song while still maintaining an edgy tone. (9/10)

3. Side by Side – Side By Side is a great upbeat funky number. The energy that comes off this track is very refreshing. I also enjoyed the brightness exuded from the instrumental, making it suitable for a summertime track. The vocals and rapping were straightforward yet effective in contributing towards the same refreshing energy and bright tone. For this, it is my favourite track off the mini-album. (10/10)

4. WARURU – There was a lot that stood out in the electro-pop WARURU (which translates loosely to ‘Crashing down’). Firstly, I really enjoyed how JAEYOON (as the introduction), INSEONG and YOO TAEYANG delivered the pre-chorus. They really seized the opportunity to showcase their powerful vocals and did so very impactfully. I also enjoyed the line “Now you’re not the girl I used to know” delivered by YOUNGBIN and CHANI in the verses, which were memorable lines. The WARURU repetition was also noteworthy. This is all set against a solid background that enhances the dramatic nature of the song. (9/10)

5. No No No – I quite enjoyed how prolific the instrumental is in No No No. There is a strong funkiness to the instrumental, thanks to the electric guitar and brass elements, which come through quite strongly. The rest of the instrumental is strongly upbeat and comes off as ‘loud’ (but in a good way). I liked how the members really put themselves forward in the song through their rapping and vocals. The instrumental could have easily drowned them out, but SF9 ensured they were heard throughout No No No. I do think the song could have been blended together to be a little more cohesive. (8.5/10)

6. Love Puzzle (숨은 사랑 찾기) – We go into lovey dovey territory for Love Puzzle, which likens their lover to be the missing puzzle piece they are searching for. Love Puzzle is one of those mid-tempo pop ballads that is warm, fuzzy and lovely. The members do a nice job of making their vocals and rapping sound cohesive, as well. I find myself rather neutral towards the song (mainly because I am not the target audience), but I am sure fans are enjoying this more romantic side of the group. (7/10)