Song Review: CNBLUE – A Sleepless Night

Though they’ve lost members along the way, CNBLUE has slowly and surely grown into one of K-pop’s longest running bands. At this point, you can pretty accurately predict how their music will sound before even hearing it, which can be both comfortable and frustrating. New single A Sleepless Night (그리운건 그대일까 그때일까) is another solid rocker to add to their vast discography.

The song has some nice touches. The phrasing in the verses approaches hip-hop at times. Interesting keyboard flourishes trace the lines of the chorus melody and the track bursts into a more barreling energy during its bombastic bridge. However, A Sleepless Night never finds a sonic calling card of its own. It’s relentlessly solid — as you would expect from a group of their caliber — but rarely compelling.

Grade: C+