Song Review: NTX – Over N Over

Big, fun “recession era” pop music has slowly been creeping back into global music trends and I’ve had my fingers crossed that it would eventually find its way to K-pop as well. I didn’t expect this to happen via a group like NTX, who have thus far flown under the radar with a variety of different sounds (and varying quality). However, new single Over N Over is fun with a capital “F,” inviting you to silence your inner critic and relish the bounding beat and sing-along chorus.

There’s a ton of Bigbang-goes-rock spirit fueling Over N Over, but mostly it just sounds like every group of 2012-13 in a great way. After a brief intro, the song opens up and just keeps spreading its wings as we swerve from punchy verse to anthemic chorus. The moment when chorus #1 transitions to verse #1 is pure wish fulfillment for a fan like me who’s always clamoring for momentum and drive in his pop songs. All the while, the percussion chugs along as spikes of electric guitar offer texture and adrenaline. The whole thing relishes in its formulaic approach and I’m not the least bit mad at a song that simply wants to deliver on expectations.

At three and a half minutes, Over N Over is already a healthy length for a modern K-pop song, but it could really use thirty more seconds to go whole ham with a killer climax. During its finale, the track sounds as if it’s going to burst into an extended confetti drop but fizzles out instead. This is the sole part of the “recession pop” formula the song refuses to give us, and it’s a shame. On the plus side, it’ll only have me replaying this utter joy bomb… over n over again.

Grade: A-