Song Review: Minho (SHINee) – Call Back

Today, Minho becomes the final SHINee member to release a full studio album. New material from SHINee is always something to cheer about, but in the past Minho’s work hasn’t often been targeted to my taste. He tends to prefer more downbeat, vibes-driven material. New single Call Back adds a driving beat, but its tone is still quite subdued.

For whatever reason, I feel like the listening public doesn’t give Minho enough credit as a vocalist. He may not be a powerful singer, but his tone is unique and incredibly pleasant. It fits this mid-tempo r&b sound quite well, even if the song’s top line could use more punch.

Call Back unleashes a solid groove that buoys every other element. The chorus is simple and relatively flat, but I think its stealth hooks will play well in the long run. I especially like the use of keys throughout the track. There are plenty of textures at play and the production is spacious enough to give them all room to shine. The instrumental build leading into each chorus is very effective, adding tension without dividing the song into predictable segments the way many K-pop arrangements do. There’s an ease to Call Back that belies the craftsmanship happening under its hood, and this can be a difficult balance to pull off.

Grade: B