[Album Review] Pleasure Shop (3rd Mini Album) – KEY (SHINee)

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Yep, I am still in 2024 with some of the album reviews. Up next is KEY’s 3rd mini-album, Pleasure Shop, which was released in September last year. The six-track mini-album is led by a track that shares the same name as the mini-album, alongside five additional tracks. With KEY at the helm of the mini-album, you know it is going to be a strong and good set of tracks, and KEY does not disappoint with Pleasure Shop. It is definitely a recommended listen from me.

More recently (say in the last month), KEY returned with his third studio album, HUNTER, led by the title track of the same name.

1. Pleasure Shop (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for Pleasure Shop. (8/10)

2. Overthink – Overthink is probably the most intriguing single on this mini-album, instrumentally, with its really cool and sharp harp-like synth and the powerful, deep beats. While both initially felt conflicting, they somehow melded with one another to balance each other out. KEY himself manages to slide over the top of the background and join the cohesiveness that is Overthink, a definite pleaser in an aesthetic club. (10/10)

3. Golden – This dance pop track brings out a relatively more mellow sound, following the previous track. That being said, it is still quite upbeat. Just like the title of the song, Golden has a golden aura to it that makes it feel just right as the soundtrack for a sunset on a summer day. This is amplified by KEY’s vocals, which possess a particularly warm tone. I don’t think Golden stands out as much as some of the other songs on the album, but it is a nice palette cleanser for the mini-album. (8/10)

4. I Know – I love the deep funky vibes that really make I Know’s house instrumental – I wouldn’t mind listening to an instrumental version of the track just for those vibes. KEY’s bright vocals bring a nice accent to the song, as well. However, melodically, I Know feels a bit plain for my liking, especially on this mini-album. I wish there were more to I Know’s melodies to help it stand out more. (8/10)

5. Going Up – Going Up has similar deep funky vibes in its instrumental, but KEY’s vocals are so sensually alluring in this song. The bass is so powerful in this song that my surroundings feel like they are vibrating along when I play it. The synth-pop accents in the instrumental are also so beautiful. The way the ‘Up’ in the lyrics soars upwards briefly, relatively to the rest of the song, is also very unique. (10/10)

6. Novacaine – What gets me about Novacaine is the smooth vocals that KEY delivers. This, over the drum and bass instrumental, just clicks and works perfectly with one another to create such a pleasant closer to the mini-album. (10/10)