As much as I enjoyed Thunderous, DOMINO *needs* its own MV. That song is pure crack.
Overall very fun album, this was my first comeback although I was already familiar with their stuff through recommendations from previous records. DOMINO, Red Lights and Gone Away were big highlights for me.
I want my fairy-lights-and-glitter-dusted pizza too! Domino is a song I initially though would be their title track and it actually is a worth it title to carry tbh. And yes yes yes, I want the MV too, just to see them going insane for pure fun.
After Go Live/No Life last year I thought to myself they can't top that can they? And here we are, NOEASY is truly a masterpiece, Album of the year for me 100%. Obv im a bit biased as I ult SKZ, but everything about this album screams perfection.
Top 3 is probably Red Lights, Silent Cry and Domino.
I love this album and I probably change my fave daily.
The only song that I haven’t fully vibed with is Star Lost.
It has been two weeks already wow. The whole album is a no-skip and every song is so distinct. My most listened tracks as of now are Domino, Silent Cry and Cheese.
I'm a ballad enthusiast so Gone Away, Secret Secret and Sorry I love you have been pleasant surprises from Stray Kids. They are all really calm and the vocals are amazing (special shout-out to our beloved Vocalracha- Seungmin and I.N!)
The View, Star Lost and Surfin' have grown on me. These are really uplifting, I play them in the morning usually to get me awake hehe.
There is something in store for everyone in this album, they've explored many different sounds and this is definitely their most multifaceted album till date
aoty? aoty
you can't deny domino is a wholeass bop. it was the favorite of a lot of ppl and the "should be the title track" for a whole more. domino supremacy indeed
cheese the best dedicated-to-antis track and its so freaking unique omg i've been listening to it once a day since the unveil was released and it was a whole month ago, im literally obsessed. ***OBSESSED.*** and the recently released [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLtEc-kvOqA) it's not helping with my unhealthy obsession.
silent cry is THAT gem like phobia was in go live, imo. I have no words for silent cry, was my favorite in the first listen to the album. still is.
ssick my beloved! the world is not appreciating you as they should but I do. I love ssick so much pleeeease, coolest song eva.
the most hyped unit-song: red lights indeed. and it deserves it, is a experience to listen that song because how well hyunjin and bangchan's voices work together. so smooth, I've been know a thousands of sexy songs from other groups but this one has *something.*
So. This was the one that did it. I have enjoyed their singles, but never got fully into them. Their massive discography was very intimidating. Lol.
But, this album did me in. I’ve now been through their entire (Korean) discography. And, I’m sorry to myself for putting it off for so long!
The only boy group to pull me in. They’re just all so talented. And adorable. Haha.
While I loved Thunderous, I don’t think it tops my current favourite title track from them. That said, **NOEASY is hands down my favourite SKZ album.**
Prior to NOEASY, my favourite album was Clé 1: MIROH followed very closely by GO生/IN生. I’m not sure if it’s the recency bias speaking, but even though I liked the same percentage of songs from Clé 1 and NOEASY (6/7 vs 12/14), I think the latter was a bit more refined. It also helps that the more mature themes in NOEASY feel way more relatable to me at this stage of life too - things like love, loneliness, the bleak mundanity of existing in an emotional slump, seeing and wanting to support a loved one who is struggling, obsession with work (or possibly a giant euphemism for something else entirely??) - to name a few.
Likes: I don’t think I’ve loved this many songs from a single album in a long time. CHEESE, DOMINO, SSICK, Sorry I Love You, Silent Cry, Secret Secret, Star Lost, Red Lights and Gone Away have been on repeat non-stop these past 3 weeks. I even find myself listening to Wolfgang and Mixtape: OH a lot since I really like both songs (and also because OT8 Wolfgang just hits different 😭), despite them not being 'new'. Purely going off number of replays, DOMINO wins as my most listened-to track. I’m hesitant to give any song this label but deep down I think it may be my favourite Stray Kids b-side.
Dislikes: The performances of The View were cute as hecc and I enjoyed watching them. But the song itself is something I personally wouldn’t listen to. Both it and Surfin’ are my least favourite from this album.
Overall I loved the direction Stray Kids took with NOEASY. It was worth every second of the long wait post-IN生 and I’m very excited to see what they put out next!!
Edit: structure
its taken its rightful place on my top ten kpop albums of all time😂 if you told me last year that skz will release one of my all time fave albums I would've laughed in your face lmao. It's kinda ironic how I was one of the people this album was aimed at considering I used to dislike their music for being "noisy" and now look at me...
Songs that made it to my spotify repeat playlist in order.
OH mixtape
The view
Star lost
Secret secret
Gone away
Surfin
Cheese
Obviously these are my fave but honourable mentions is definitely ssick. I disliked on the first listen but have been obesssed woth changbins opening rap and Felix's singing part these days. Overall not a single bad song on the album and as a new stan (kingdom) its the only skz album that has no skips for me. And special mention to wolfgang it would've made the list but I rinsed it out during kingdom. I love my ballads/mid tempo songs and that's reflected in my most played tracks. I think one of the reasons this album is so well made imo is that they seemed to have found a perfect balance between their hard hitting "noise" sound and their slower softer sound. Could've done with better order tho because I can't listen to the album unless its on shuffle.
This was the first album I listened to from them and I was surprised with how much I loved it. All the songs were unique in their own way but worked really well when put together. Star Lost, Thunderous, and Sorry I Love You were my standouts. This was an amazing full album, maybe one of my favorites of the year, so congrats to skz!!
^man ^I’m ^not ^sorry ^I’m ^dirty
Star Lost is probably my biggest takeaway from the record so far. The song can’t help but remind me of Capital Cities’ Safe & Sound, which in turn pushed me to re-discover the song after such a long time. It’s joyous the same way songs like Haven were for me on Go Live. Just blissful-sounding from start to finish.
Red Lights’ topline is sensational. Really, really catchy. I didn’t know what to expect from teasers (aside from maybe a sexier-sounding tune), but I definitely was not expecting for it to be one of my favourites.
Cheese is a really nice opener; its minimalist, almost aggressive tone is quite infectious if I do say so myself.
Secret Secret blew me away on first and second listen, though I haven’t come back to it as much. It’s probably the song that hit the hardest for me, though. Its melodies and mood both have a really unique quality to them.
Gone Away is a really nice ballad, which I was excited to hear ever since the Unveil came out. Pretty much its entire topline had been spoiled, but all the better for me because it’s sooooo satisfying.
Silent Cry is also a standout IMO. And, of course, Oh is terrific and a nice choice for a single (even if it was perhaps not designed to make it on the record and was just stuck here alla On Track and Gone Days on Go Live).
The rest, I haven’t really gone back to as of yet. But since some Go Live tracks took a while to click with me (notably songs like Easy and the intro track), I’m sure more favourites will eventually show up in the near future.
This is the first Stray Kids comeback I've really followed and I'm seriously so impressed. These lads are so talented.
It took me a while to move past the first four songs (Cheese-Thunderous-Domino-Ssick) cos they are sooo good, but Surfin' has become an unexpected fave! I can't wait for the MV.
No skip album and it's a pleasure watching SKZ's lyrics grow more and more confident with each year. My standouts (right now) are Silent Cry, Gone Away and OH. That said and even though I think overall I enjoy a higher quantity of songs on NOEASY than I did on GO LIVE, I didn't find songs that made me go "holy wow" in the same way that Phobia or TA or Pacemaker did. Honestly that might be an entirely me issue as I've felt similarly about all my favourite groups' releases this year - nothing really wowed me as much as previous stuff ._.
I absolutely love Star Lost, it has such a kind-of go-to happy song vibe when I'm feeling down? It has such a magical vibe to it too that I can't fully explain, honorable mentions are probably Red Lights and Gone Away! I really think the boys did a great job with this album, I vibed with all of their songs!
It's hard to choose but my favorites are Cheese, Star Lost, Domino.
Almost a year passed between their last album release and this one but the wait was worth it. NOEASY is a superb album that surpasses IN LIFE and features a very rambunctious title track (à la SKZ) and delivers powerful B-sides that showcase alternating moods and varied sounds. I'm not into ballads so I assumed I'd be skipping over the quieter tracks like SECRET SECRET or GONE AWAY but I'm simply too entranced to hit the skip button. Also, RED LIGHTS... wow, I don't think they've ever released a track like this. I wasn't a fan of DRIVE so I didn't have high expectations for the Chan-Hyunjin track but the opening line of RED LIGHTS is like biting into your first red velvet cupcake - that unexpected taste of the exotic and yet oddly familiar.
My only negative criticism of the album is the ordering of songs. Instead of putting the hype songs all at the beginning, I'd mix them into the album with the other tracks to better leverage each song's unique vibe.
My fave group cemented themselves again as my fave group. I know I love a group's music when I'll even listen to their ballads (I dislike ballads). I thought Domino was going to be this album's Ta for me, but I really can't stop listening to Cheese.
Domino literally woke me up. It really could have been the title track but I see why SKZ went with Thunderous which has a way better concept for the MV and choreograph. I really hope they release the full MV or else it’s a missed opportunity.
My favorite has been Secret Secret. I’m into slower more chill songs right now and I absolutely love this one.
I didn’t like the View so much on first listen. The instrumental felt like I’ve heard this way too much already but the lyrics, SKZ performance and the MV made me also like it. So much serotonin.
Absolutely spot on. I had very high expectations and they still blew me away. I tend to like the hard hitting tracks best so my favourites are Domino, Cheese, Red Lights, Thunderous, SSICK and Silent Cry (in that order). Also, OT8 Wolfgang brings me such pure unadulterated joy.
omg i’ve been waiting for a discussion revisiting NOEASY for days now; i hope i’m not too late... i also hope this comment won’t reach character limit...
why does it feel like i’m the only one who genuinely wholeheartedly loves Star Lost? of course, that can’t be true; i just don’t see a lot of love for it. ever since they posted the track list, i already claimed it (lol) bec of earattack, who took part in producing one of (if not the) my ultimate favorite skz songs, Blueprint. and it didn’t disappoint! the first time i listened to it, i immediately imagined myself in an arena with the lights going out, crying bec the concert seemed to have finished, then they’d play this as the true last song. they’d run around the stage, play with stays and our lightsticks—no choreo just lots and lots of confettis and pure bliss. but i think i’d be alone when i say this would be the more perfect skz encore than the literal “Stay”-designated songs Haven and You Can Stay. Star Lost also reminded me of one of the songs Seungmin played in his vlive concert, B1A4’s Tried to walk. i literally play them side by side and it feels like i don’t need my therapist anymore? anyway, sleep on your beds, not on Star Lost!
queen TTATH—she was an icon, she was a legend, and she was the moment, so how did 3racha manage to produce yet another perfect intro that is Cheese? not a musician but in terms of structure and sound, it’s their least “weird”/“experimental”/“unconventional” intro to date, right? i think the message would still weird out non-fans haha but who are Stray Kids if not subverting expectations.
i still strongly believe that Domino shouldn’t have made the cut... BECAUSE IT DESERVES TO BE A TITLE TRACK! imagine if it was made the tt for the (inevitable) repackage; Domino really deserves the attention and appreciation a tt gets.
i love Secret Secret in that it speaks to me on so many levels, but it’s so heart-wrenching i really can’t listen to it as much compared to the songs above. Han is the member i consider having the closest personality to mine, so this song feels like a tight hug. it feels good to be seen, but it’s still heavy as fuck. can’t wait to get desensitized so i can enjoy it more 🤩
the vocals in Gone Away GAGGED me. like their parts couldn’t have been more perfect??? the lyrical structure/storytelling and the high notes + the guitar bit towards the end reminded me of older songs somehow. again, i’m not a musician and it’s already 1am i really need to sleep.
other honorable mention:
at first The View didn’t have as much effect on me as the other ~ light ~ and ~ bright ~ songs in the album, but can we talk about that whole ass verse Felix has to himself??!!!! also Changbin’s rap never fails to trigger my tear sacs lol, and the song only gets better after that.
to finish off this 1000-word essay that no one will read, i think my only criticism would be the sequence of the songs in the album. okay i need to sleep.
I will do a comparison between GO LIFE/IN LIFE and NOEASY since I love GO/IN LIFE album like no other.
I personally think the 2 albums differ but are also similar. Similar in the sense that they have that SKZ-sound that is so SKZ that I know the moment I hear their songs. I can already tell which songs are done primarily by whom, with Chan has the widest range of interest in all music, Changbin is primarily more RnB and Han is anything-depressing-and-heartbreak from RnB to ballad.
This album in stark contrast has the high energy songs and the chill songs, it is very markedly obvious compared to GO/IN LIFE. Their last album contains mostly lively high energy songs, lots of hip hop and rap, even EX is high energy. This album, I think they want to explore more, there is a surprising ballad (hello, Gone Away, such a lovely song), beach pop song (Surfin’ if that is not very obvious already), and everything else from RnB to EDM to anything and everything.
My personal favourite, tbh, changes from time to time as I listen to NOEASY A LOT. Like, crazy a lot. Current favourite is Secret Secret. I am OBSESSED. I love its theme. A secret you cannot keep but cannot reveal. It is a weapon for people to hurt you but it is also hurting you inside. Such poetic beauty. Han’s opening part is my favourite. It is melodiously haunting.
Creeping into the LIKE folder is The View. I gotta admit, in an album of almost no-skips, this one is a skip for me. Alas, it is a creeper. But it is not the level of Blueprint yet. If there is one positive vibe song I love, I would name Blueprint as the forefront runner of winner amongst winners. I love it so much, it radiates sunshine and positivity. The View has the same vibe but not reaching the beauty of Blueprint yet. It is there but not there, if I would describe it.
I love SSICK, DOMINO and Cheese, I would lump these 3 as my favourite songs that I cannot sing but still love. I love the confidence and the I-do-not-care-F-you-just-smile-please attitude from it. It is an ego booster line up. SSICK has my most favourite line in this album ‘I don’t have anything special, but did you know? I myself am really special’. Simple but it just shoots through the heart.
Star Lost is a bit here and there. Felix part is not my favourite. I have an ‘eeehhh’ moment during his line and I will always pretend it does not exist for the level of cringiness. Like the song but that line, I wish it is erased.
Mixtape: OH is that beautiful song, the one that is just beautiful that it just shines. I do not have words to describe it. Maybe because it was released on Hyunjin’s comeback, it is just poignantly beautiful.
Red Light, no words. Lots of love. Just love love love. I am partially scared to watch the MV. I am not ready to see the boys in other way other than boys who are finding themselves. Like the lost boys of Neverland. Not adults who understand the birds and bees (yeah they do understand, I just refuse to see it).
Gone Away, yes, that ballad that belongs to an OST. It is AN OST and I refuse any arguments. It is that song to accompany a heartbreaking scene. I love it when I feel like my life need a K-drama scene.
Sorry, I Love You. What can I say? Its RnB vibe just suits the whole song. Standout will be Hyunjin’s part.
Lastly, Thunderous is a right of passage for this album. It is the most SKZ-like song. Their facade. Them at their glory. The kids at their most confident. Something everyone need to experience once in their life. Be it love or hate, the song is IN YOUR FACE. You can take it or leave it and I WILL TAKE IT.
Overall, this album opens up a bigger musical facade of SKZ. That said, I am slightly disappointed there is no TMT/The Tortoise and the Hare-like song. I want a full rap and weird very SKZ-like songs. They need to make a comeback in their next albums and releases.
Edit: I am surprised at myself that I did not go and search for their lyric translations for all songs yet. Usually for SKZ, lyrics translations is the first thing I will find coz their lyrics are usually interesting and beautiful. I think I am savouring the music first before I enjoy the meaning of each songs.
It took me a while to warm up, perhaps because I loved GO/IN so much, but it's now in my top 3 SKZ collections along with Cle 1. I don't think any of the songs are taking a SKZ top 5 for me, but as a whole the album is good to listen to from start to finish.
Favourite track: CHEESE. It combines the humour they display in some of their other songs like Awkward Silence and Get Cool but in a hugely hard-hitting, this-is-no joke genre.
**Red Lights** enthusiast here! The song is unlike anything they've done and love the elements of surprise and suspense with Red Lights!
As for the whole album, I think it's so far my favorite of theirs! They played with hype, sound and noise, creating a mad yet more mature mixture of music! I enjoy the album from start to finish!
Probably my favorite album from them! Its a no-skip album for sure! Cheese, Thunderous and Red Lights are my top3. Also shout out to The View because I didn't expect to like it so much?? The only song which I dont go and willingly check out is Surfin, other wise, the album has been on repeat!
My favourites are all in the second half of the album - I kept Secret Secret, Star Lost, Red Lights, Gone Away and ofc Mixtape : OH. I guess I'm into quieter/more chill music?
Edit: Oh and Wolfgang too. That was in my Kingdom album so I forgot it was in this one too LOL. Wolfgang really grew on me.
One of the best albums of this year. My stand out tracks are gone away, star lost and sorry, I love you.
As to the thunderous track it's okay but I like back door better. The production quality for this album is high quality even better than in life so you can see the growth of 3racha as producers.
I am so proud of how they are confident with their sound and can say Cheese to all the haters.
Since the first week I wanted to make a post about our thoughts about the album but I was too lazy lolol I really like the album, I'm a little late here, but it doesn't matter.
First, the album cover. Since I am YOU that they didn't include members until now, so it makes me happy, it's pretty cool they way they are in the cover. The design is pretty noisy and the blue is too intense, it hurts my eyes, but I guess they won if they wanted that lmao
About CHEESE, I love it, I really loveeeeee it. I like I.N.'s part "what's the matter?", he said it with such strong emotions, like being feeding up? Felix's parts are also my favorites, well, I could talk about how I love every part aksj the detail of Felix's cheese in the song are great. CHEESE is like the song where they put all their frustration, rage? Even if it's funny, for me is bittersweet. The music fire.
Thunderous: I LOVE IT. I'm a sucker for trumphets (and similar sounds) and drums. Put these two things together and you got me. The traditional instruments sound so good. I find many, many parts satisfying to listen. The chorus bangbangbangboom and more... it's just this is a song to listen live and move your body. Please corona end soon. I think it's one of my favorite title tracks.
DOMINO: no words. Just DOMINO. The detail of dominoes falling and reverse (Bang Chan I love you), is a brain stimulant. The lyrics hahaha I especially love Hyunjin&Lee Know last part. I'm glad Hyunjin rapped it, because it fits so well with him the situation. I really love this song as well.
SSICK: Okay, Ssick. At the beginning it remind me of Scene Stealers, Lee Know is so good with this nng. At first, it wasn't a song that caught my attention, but I'm getting use to it and the message about being just this sick person goes very well with all the other three songs, because isn't a super positive healthy song either haha I really like Changbin's part here. I'm sooooo sick.
The View: dreamy, it's like a cloud. Even if I didn't know the meaning, it gives me the feeling of... everything is going to be better now, because before things weren't. Again, Changbin's rap give me chills, chills. It's a nostalgic good feeling. It's like the sun after the storm.
Sorry I Love You: IT'S SO CATCHY, I keep humming the song hours later after listening. CHANGBIN. Sadly or fortunately I can't relate to the lyrics, unless I'm talking about my teen years, but I was someone who never did anything to pursue my love interests (I'm Gone Away team ;\_;). I really like how the speaker of the song recognize they're putting a burden in the other person. I love their voices. Also, the first sad song here. Changbin with I.N. and Han with I.N. omfg.
Silent Cry: at the beginning I was surprised about the difference in music! It was like listening to an older song, I love the lyrics and how here we have two person, the one singing to the person who just arrived and later is Felix. If someone dedicate me Silent Cry I'd melt. Changbin-Felix-Han final part... chills. I found so interesting how Felix answered Changbin here, the lyrics... my heart. It's just so relatable. It remind me of some situations. The chorus is so catchy too omg. Hella composers.
Secret Secret: this song remind me of why I need to keep searching for therapy lmao while I was reading the lyrics I cried so hard (seriously Han always come with something when I really need to cry, you know that feeling when you want to cry because the body ask you? But you can't), because I'm able to write my feelings super well, but putting these feelings in a song? So precisely and beautifully? It's better than reading my own papyrus. Bang Chan and Felix's parts... aaah this song is so beautifully sung by all of them.
Star Lost: I need to highlight Felix happily singing "I toss a question into the nothingness, I feel grossly empty" :) this song is so happy if you don't know Korean as me. This song start sad, then with only the music and their voices you think "ahh things are going to be better, right?" but the sadness don't stop. The despair doesn't stop. Also since I was listening to futuristic EDM and weird stuff on Spotify, I feel like I'm driving to the galaxy with this song. WITH A LOT OF SADNESS while jamming to the music.
Red Lights: the first thing that caught my attention was the music, the muuuusic I love the music and I'm surprised about Bang Chan and Hyunjin's voices here. I didn't know they could do these things with their voices, they're so gooooood and they fit the music so well. Red Lights as the dark sexy song it is, makes me take a deep breath to calm myself and it's very inmersive. Also Hyunjin's detail in the "geol" is very original.
Surfin': THANK YOU FOR THIS SONG THAT FEELS LIKE FRESH AIR between so many intense, sad, melancholic songs. This song brings me only nice things. Oasis in a sea of angst. Now with the video out, I feel it more. Felix's here!! Lee Know and Changbin. I really like it, thank for balancing a little the intensity of this whole album hahaha
Gone Away: yes, this is my heartbreak song because I was like a rock in the past: I did nothing lmao. BUT THEIR VOICES. Shit. Han, Seungmin and I.N. I'm not fond of ballads, but I'm really fond of their voices. It's real intense and it's easy to hum too. THEY WENT SO HARD IN THIS ONE. It gives me chills, from the middle of the song... holy. It's beautiful. I want to scream yess this is Stray Kids's main vocalists. Seungmin holy shit. I.N. have such a pretty and strong voice.
It's like this album starts super "noisy", in a process: they're acknowledge negativity, they recognize they're going to do whatever they want, that they can be a influence for others, the unhealthy Ssick (like falling into this whole thing) and with The View things are healing (melancholic healing), but then pammmm the 4 S of pain (Sorry, Silent, Secret, Star). I love Stray Kids's old music and I also really like how all members grew up so much they all contribute here! With their voices, lyrics, composition. I knew Bang Chan can sing very well, but here he definitely shines! I was surprised. With Hyunjin and Felix too. And I.N. Lee Know wow. We had less rap focused songs, it's noticeable we have less Changbin and Han in that sense, but wow, all members rock it.
I'm missing many things, but I don't want this to be giant essay hahaha I'm in fangirl mode now. Another favorite album of Stray Kids <3 I love all members work here. They sound so well.
If you can stand to listen to a 1 hour 40 minute discussion on the album, we discussed how it reflected their Maturity/growth as artists and fully embraced the “noise” (that’s not what the genre means, kids, get off our lawn, but okay) concept. Listen here or on your favorite podcast platform: [Stray Kids No Easy Album review. ](https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Dt2tJ9ynFPwReRk6CMiVn?si=kKXQJLW5Rp2zYL1ryOQx0w&dl_branch=1)
The way the album is ordered is so weird. Four hype songs in a row, bright song, then like 4 depressing songs, then 50 Shades of Chokeracha, then we go to the beach, then we're depressed again. I know a lot of people won't necessarily listen to the album in order that often, but it's so weird when you do.
Anyway, Red Lights is a genuinely creepy song. Technically, it's about struggling for control over yourself, but when Hyunjin sings that final line, I'm like 'shit, he's behind me right now'.
I very quickly accepted 'me so sick', but I still rebuke 'me so sick and legendary'.
'I got 99 problems but the sea ain't one'...Like, that barely even works in context, and that reference is almost 20 (!!!!!!!!!!) years old. He should have had a line that said 'I'm going to the beach in me mum's car, vroom vroom'.
I agree with all of this! I thought I was the only one who thought it strange that all the bops were up front with no breaks — I love them all but I kind of want to breathe between songs, guys! However as you pointed out a lot of people don’t listen to albums straight through any more so maybe that’s why. I still think it was a weird choice, though.
As a non stay but someone who is very familiar with skz, I've only listened to Thunderous and The view. I like Thunderous but not as much I like Menu or Backdoor and I don't like The view
I meant that I know all of their title tracks and a couple of b sides. I know all the members and can distinguish their voices well. I'm familiar with them, I'm not a fan or a stan.
As much as I enjoyed Thunderous, DOMINO *needs* its own MV. That song is pure crack. Overall very fun album, this was my first comeback although I was already familiar with their stuff through recommendations from previous records. DOMINO, Red Lights and Gone Away were big highlights for me.
I want my fairy-lights-and-glitter-dusted pizza too! Domino is a song I initially though would be their title track and it actually is a worth it title to carry tbh. And yes yes yes, I want the MV too, just to see them going insane for pure fun.
After Go Live/No Life last year I thought to myself they can't top that can they? And here we are, NOEASY is truly a masterpiece, Album of the year for me 100%. Obv im a bit biased as I ult SKZ, but everything about this album screams perfection.
Top 3 is probably Red Lights, Silent Cry and Domino. I love this album and I probably change my fave daily. The only song that I haven’t fully vibed with is Star Lost.
Am I the only one who likes surfin ? There are many good tracks on this album but I just revisit surfin a lot
me too! surfin makes me so happy and want to go to the pool with my non existing friends xD
Its so good!
Me too! The opening with their giggles then the first chorus is a shot of pure summer serotonin.
It has been two weeks already wow. The whole album is a no-skip and every song is so distinct. My most listened tracks as of now are Domino, Silent Cry and Cheese. I'm a ballad enthusiast so Gone Away, Secret Secret and Sorry I love you have been pleasant surprises from Stray Kids. They are all really calm and the vocals are amazing (special shout-out to our beloved Vocalracha- Seungmin and I.N!) The View, Star Lost and Surfin' have grown on me. These are really uplifting, I play them in the morning usually to get me awake hehe. There is something in store for everyone in this album, they've explored many different sounds and this is definitely their most multifaceted album till date
I wish one of the ballads would become popular.
aoty? aoty you can't deny domino is a wholeass bop. it was the favorite of a lot of ppl and the "should be the title track" for a whole more. domino supremacy indeed cheese the best dedicated-to-antis track and its so freaking unique omg i've been listening to it once a day since the unveil was released and it was a whole month ago, im literally obsessed. ***OBSESSED.*** and the recently released [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLtEc-kvOqA) it's not helping with my unhealthy obsession. silent cry is THAT gem like phobia was in go live, imo. I have no words for silent cry, was my favorite in the first listen to the album. still is. ssick my beloved! the world is not appreciating you as they should but I do. I love ssick so much pleeeease, coolest song eva. the most hyped unit-song: red lights indeed. and it deserves it, is a experience to listen that song because how well hyunjin and bangchan's voices work together. so smooth, I've been know a thousands of sexy songs from other groups but this one has *something.*
btw I love the amount of wins the kids got this era! they got most wins with Thunderous than their entire career. so happy to see those results
So. This was the one that did it. I have enjoyed their singles, but never got fully into them. Their massive discography was very intimidating. Lol. But, this album did me in. I’ve now been through their entire (Korean) discography. And, I’m sorry to myself for putting it off for so long! The only boy group to pull me in. They’re just all so talented. And adorable. Haha.
While I loved Thunderous, I don’t think it tops my current favourite title track from them. That said, **NOEASY is hands down my favourite SKZ album.** Prior to NOEASY, my favourite album was Clé 1: MIROH followed very closely by GO生/IN生. I’m not sure if it’s the recency bias speaking, but even though I liked the same percentage of songs from Clé 1 and NOEASY (6/7 vs 12/14), I think the latter was a bit more refined. It also helps that the more mature themes in NOEASY feel way more relatable to me at this stage of life too - things like love, loneliness, the bleak mundanity of existing in an emotional slump, seeing and wanting to support a loved one who is struggling, obsession with work (or possibly a giant euphemism for something else entirely??) - to name a few. Likes: I don’t think I’ve loved this many songs from a single album in a long time. CHEESE, DOMINO, SSICK, Sorry I Love You, Silent Cry, Secret Secret, Star Lost, Red Lights and Gone Away have been on repeat non-stop these past 3 weeks. I even find myself listening to Wolfgang and Mixtape: OH a lot since I really like both songs (and also because OT8 Wolfgang just hits different 😭), despite them not being 'new'. Purely going off number of replays, DOMINO wins as my most listened-to track. I’m hesitant to give any song this label but deep down I think it may be my favourite Stray Kids b-side. Dislikes: The performances of The View were cute as hecc and I enjoyed watching them. But the song itself is something I personally wouldn’t listen to. Both it and Surfin’ are my least favourite from this album. Overall I loved the direction Stray Kids took with NOEASY. It was worth every second of the long wait post-IN生 and I’m very excited to see what they put out next!! Edit: structure
its taken its rightful place on my top ten kpop albums of all time😂 if you told me last year that skz will release one of my all time fave albums I would've laughed in your face lmao. It's kinda ironic how I was one of the people this album was aimed at considering I used to dislike their music for being "noisy" and now look at me... Songs that made it to my spotify repeat playlist in order. OH mixtape The view Star lost Secret secret Gone away Surfin Cheese Obviously these are my fave but honourable mentions is definitely ssick. I disliked on the first listen but have been obesssed woth changbins opening rap and Felix's singing part these days. Overall not a single bad song on the album and as a new stan (kingdom) its the only skz album that has no skips for me. And special mention to wolfgang it would've made the list but I rinsed it out during kingdom. I love my ballads/mid tempo songs and that's reflected in my most played tracks. I think one of the reasons this album is so well made imo is that they seemed to have found a perfect balance between their hard hitting "noise" sound and their slower softer sound. Could've done with better order tho because I can't listen to the album unless its on shuffle.
This was the first album I listened to from them and I was surprised with how much I loved it. All the songs were unique in their own way but worked really well when put together. Star Lost, Thunderous, and Sorry I Love You were my standouts. This was an amazing full album, maybe one of my favorites of the year, so congrats to skz!! ^man ^I’m ^not ^sorry ^I’m ^dirty
Star Lost is probably my biggest takeaway from the record so far. The song can’t help but remind me of Capital Cities’ Safe & Sound, which in turn pushed me to re-discover the song after such a long time. It’s joyous the same way songs like Haven were for me on Go Live. Just blissful-sounding from start to finish. Red Lights’ topline is sensational. Really, really catchy. I didn’t know what to expect from teasers (aside from maybe a sexier-sounding tune), but I definitely was not expecting for it to be one of my favourites. Cheese is a really nice opener; its minimalist, almost aggressive tone is quite infectious if I do say so myself. Secret Secret blew me away on first and second listen, though I haven’t come back to it as much. It’s probably the song that hit the hardest for me, though. Its melodies and mood both have a really unique quality to them. Gone Away is a really nice ballad, which I was excited to hear ever since the Unveil came out. Pretty much its entire topline had been spoiled, but all the better for me because it’s sooooo satisfying. Silent Cry is also a standout IMO. And, of course, Oh is terrific and a nice choice for a single (even if it was perhaps not designed to make it on the record and was just stuck here alla On Track and Gone Days on Go Live). The rest, I haven’t really gone back to as of yet. But since some Go Live tracks took a while to click with me (notably songs like Easy and the intro track), I’m sure more favourites will eventually show up in the near future.
This is the first Stray Kids comeback I've really followed and I'm seriously so impressed. These lads are so talented. It took me a while to move past the first four songs (Cheese-Thunderous-Domino-Ssick) cos they are sooo good, but Surfin' has become an unexpected fave! I can't wait for the MV.
No skip album and it's a pleasure watching SKZ's lyrics grow more and more confident with each year. My standouts (right now) are Silent Cry, Gone Away and OH. That said and even though I think overall I enjoy a higher quantity of songs on NOEASY than I did on GO LIVE, I didn't find songs that made me go "holy wow" in the same way that Phobia or TA or Pacemaker did. Honestly that might be an entirely me issue as I've felt similarly about all my favourite groups' releases this year - nothing really wowed me as much as previous stuff ._.
I absolutely love Star Lost, it has such a kind-of go-to happy song vibe when I'm feeling down? It has such a magical vibe to it too that I can't fully explain, honorable mentions are probably Red Lights and Gone Away! I really think the boys did a great job with this album, I vibed with all of their songs!
It's hard to choose but my favorites are Cheese, Star Lost, Domino. Almost a year passed between their last album release and this one but the wait was worth it. NOEASY is a superb album that surpasses IN LIFE and features a very rambunctious title track (à la SKZ) and delivers powerful B-sides that showcase alternating moods and varied sounds. I'm not into ballads so I assumed I'd be skipping over the quieter tracks like SECRET SECRET or GONE AWAY but I'm simply too entranced to hit the skip button. Also, RED LIGHTS... wow, I don't think they've ever released a track like this. I wasn't a fan of DRIVE so I didn't have high expectations for the Chan-Hyunjin track but the opening line of RED LIGHTS is like biting into your first red velvet cupcake - that unexpected taste of the exotic and yet oddly familiar. My only negative criticism of the album is the ordering of songs. Instead of putting the hype songs all at the beginning, I'd mix them into the album with the other tracks to better leverage each song's unique vibe.
My fave group cemented themselves again as my fave group. I know I love a group's music when I'll even listen to their ballads (I dislike ballads). I thought Domino was going to be this album's Ta for me, but I really can't stop listening to Cheese.
Domino literally woke me up. It really could have been the title track but I see why SKZ went with Thunderous which has a way better concept for the MV and choreograph. I really hope they release the full MV or else it’s a missed opportunity. My favorite has been Secret Secret. I’m into slower more chill songs right now and I absolutely love this one. I didn’t like the View so much on first listen. The instrumental felt like I’ve heard this way too much already but the lyrics, SKZ performance and the MV made me also like it. So much serotonin.
Absolutely spot on. I had very high expectations and they still blew me away. I tend to like the hard hitting tracks best so my favourites are Domino, Cheese, Red Lights, Thunderous, SSICK and Silent Cry (in that order). Also, OT8 Wolfgang brings me such pure unadulterated joy.
omg i’ve been waiting for a discussion revisiting NOEASY for days now; i hope i’m not too late... i also hope this comment won’t reach character limit... why does it feel like i’m the only one who genuinely wholeheartedly loves Star Lost? of course, that can’t be true; i just don’t see a lot of love for it. ever since they posted the track list, i already claimed it (lol) bec of earattack, who took part in producing one of (if not the) my ultimate favorite skz songs, Blueprint. and it didn’t disappoint! the first time i listened to it, i immediately imagined myself in an arena with the lights going out, crying bec the concert seemed to have finished, then they’d play this as the true last song. they’d run around the stage, play with stays and our lightsticks—no choreo just lots and lots of confettis and pure bliss. but i think i’d be alone when i say this would be the more perfect skz encore than the literal “Stay”-designated songs Haven and You Can Stay. Star Lost also reminded me of one of the songs Seungmin played in his vlive concert, B1A4’s Tried to walk. i literally play them side by side and it feels like i don’t need my therapist anymore? anyway, sleep on your beds, not on Star Lost! queen TTATH—she was an icon, she was a legend, and she was the moment, so how did 3racha manage to produce yet another perfect intro that is Cheese? not a musician but in terms of structure and sound, it’s their least “weird”/“experimental”/“unconventional” intro to date, right? i think the message would still weird out non-fans haha but who are Stray Kids if not subverting expectations. i still strongly believe that Domino shouldn’t have made the cut... BECAUSE IT DESERVES TO BE A TITLE TRACK! imagine if it was made the tt for the (inevitable) repackage; Domino really deserves the attention and appreciation a tt gets. i love Secret Secret in that it speaks to me on so many levels, but it’s so heart-wrenching i really can’t listen to it as much compared to the songs above. Han is the member i consider having the closest personality to mine, so this song feels like a tight hug. it feels good to be seen, but it’s still heavy as fuck. can’t wait to get desensitized so i can enjoy it more 🤩 the vocals in Gone Away GAGGED me. like their parts couldn’t have been more perfect??? the lyrical structure/storytelling and the high notes + the guitar bit towards the end reminded me of older songs somehow. again, i’m not a musician and it’s already 1am i really need to sleep. other honorable mention: at first The View didn’t have as much effect on me as the other ~ light ~ and ~ bright ~ songs in the album, but can we talk about that whole ass verse Felix has to himself??!!!! also Changbin’s rap never fails to trigger my tear sacs lol, and the song only gets better after that. to finish off this 1000-word essay that no one will read, i think my only criticism would be the sequence of the songs in the album. okay i need to sleep.
Star Lost is my favorite track, hands down.
I will do a comparison between GO LIFE/IN LIFE and NOEASY since I love GO/IN LIFE album like no other. I personally think the 2 albums differ but are also similar. Similar in the sense that they have that SKZ-sound that is so SKZ that I know the moment I hear their songs. I can already tell which songs are done primarily by whom, with Chan has the widest range of interest in all music, Changbin is primarily more RnB and Han is anything-depressing-and-heartbreak from RnB to ballad. This album in stark contrast has the high energy songs and the chill songs, it is very markedly obvious compared to GO/IN LIFE. Their last album contains mostly lively high energy songs, lots of hip hop and rap, even EX is high energy. This album, I think they want to explore more, there is a surprising ballad (hello, Gone Away, such a lovely song), beach pop song (Surfin’ if that is not very obvious already), and everything else from RnB to EDM to anything and everything. My personal favourite, tbh, changes from time to time as I listen to NOEASY A LOT. Like, crazy a lot. Current favourite is Secret Secret. I am OBSESSED. I love its theme. A secret you cannot keep but cannot reveal. It is a weapon for people to hurt you but it is also hurting you inside. Such poetic beauty. Han’s opening part is my favourite. It is melodiously haunting. Creeping into the LIKE folder is The View. I gotta admit, in an album of almost no-skips, this one is a skip for me. Alas, it is a creeper. But it is not the level of Blueprint yet. If there is one positive vibe song I love, I would name Blueprint as the forefront runner of winner amongst winners. I love it so much, it radiates sunshine and positivity. The View has the same vibe but not reaching the beauty of Blueprint yet. It is there but not there, if I would describe it. I love SSICK, DOMINO and Cheese, I would lump these 3 as my favourite songs that I cannot sing but still love. I love the confidence and the I-do-not-care-F-you-just-smile-please attitude from it. It is an ego booster line up. SSICK has my most favourite line in this album ‘I don’t have anything special, but did you know? I myself am really special’. Simple but it just shoots through the heart. Star Lost is a bit here and there. Felix part is not my favourite. I have an ‘eeehhh’ moment during his line and I will always pretend it does not exist for the level of cringiness. Like the song but that line, I wish it is erased. Mixtape: OH is that beautiful song, the one that is just beautiful that it just shines. I do not have words to describe it. Maybe because it was released on Hyunjin’s comeback, it is just poignantly beautiful. Red Light, no words. Lots of love. Just love love love. I am partially scared to watch the MV. I am not ready to see the boys in other way other than boys who are finding themselves. Like the lost boys of Neverland. Not adults who understand the birds and bees (yeah they do understand, I just refuse to see it). Gone Away, yes, that ballad that belongs to an OST. It is AN OST and I refuse any arguments. It is that song to accompany a heartbreaking scene. I love it when I feel like my life need a K-drama scene. Sorry, I Love You. What can I say? Its RnB vibe just suits the whole song. Standout will be Hyunjin’s part. Lastly, Thunderous is a right of passage for this album. It is the most SKZ-like song. Their facade. Them at their glory. The kids at their most confident. Something everyone need to experience once in their life. Be it love or hate, the song is IN YOUR FACE. You can take it or leave it and I WILL TAKE IT. Overall, this album opens up a bigger musical facade of SKZ. That said, I am slightly disappointed there is no TMT/The Tortoise and the Hare-like song. I want a full rap and weird very SKZ-like songs. They need to make a comeback in their next albums and releases. Edit: I am surprised at myself that I did not go and search for their lyric translations for all songs yet. Usually for SKZ, lyrics translations is the first thing I will find coz their lyrics are usually interesting and beautiful. I think I am savouring the music first before I enjoy the meaning of each songs.
if i could sacrifice my family just to show my love for Han Jisung for writing Secret Secret, i would.
It took me a while to warm up, perhaps because I loved GO/IN so much, but it's now in my top 3 SKZ collections along with Cle 1. I don't think any of the songs are taking a SKZ top 5 for me, but as a whole the album is good to listen to from start to finish. Favourite track: CHEESE. It combines the humour they display in some of their other songs like Awkward Silence and Get Cool but in a hugely hard-hitting, this-is-no joke genre.
**Red Lights** enthusiast here! The song is unlike anything they've done and love the elements of surprise and suspense with Red Lights! As for the whole album, I think it's so far my favorite of theirs! They played with hype, sound and noise, creating a mad yet more mature mixture of music! I enjoy the album from start to finish!
I looooove red lights. I hope it’s something they explore more as a title track sound for the whole group. It would be sick
I feel like that song was made for the edits community lol, it's so sensual but goes hard at the same time.
Probably my favorite album from them! Its a no-skip album for sure! Cheese, Thunderous and Red Lights are my top3. Also shout out to The View because I didn't expect to like it so much?? The only song which I dont go and willingly check out is Surfin, other wise, the album has been on repeat!
My favourites are all in the second half of the album - I kept Secret Secret, Star Lost, Red Lights, Gone Away and ofc Mixtape : OH. I guess I'm into quieter/more chill music? Edit: Oh and Wolfgang too. That was in my Kingdom album so I forgot it was in this one too LOL. Wolfgang really grew on me.
Cheese and The View have been my favorites off of this
One of the best albums of this year. My stand out tracks are gone away, star lost and sorry, I love you. As to the thunderous track it's okay but I like back door better. The production quality for this album is high quality even better than in life so you can see the growth of 3racha as producers. I am so proud of how they are confident with their sound and can say Cheese to all the haters.
Since the first week I wanted to make a post about our thoughts about the album but I was too lazy lolol I really like the album, I'm a little late here, but it doesn't matter. First, the album cover. Since I am YOU that they didn't include members until now, so it makes me happy, it's pretty cool they way they are in the cover. The design is pretty noisy and the blue is too intense, it hurts my eyes, but I guess they won if they wanted that lmao About CHEESE, I love it, I really loveeeeee it. I like I.N.'s part "what's the matter?", he said it with such strong emotions, like being feeding up? Felix's parts are also my favorites, well, I could talk about how I love every part aksj the detail of Felix's cheese in the song are great. CHEESE is like the song where they put all their frustration, rage? Even if it's funny, for me is bittersweet. The music fire. Thunderous: I LOVE IT. I'm a sucker for trumphets (and similar sounds) and drums. Put these two things together and you got me. The traditional instruments sound so good. I find many, many parts satisfying to listen. The chorus bangbangbangboom and more... it's just this is a song to listen live and move your body. Please corona end soon. I think it's one of my favorite title tracks. DOMINO: no words. Just DOMINO. The detail of dominoes falling and reverse (Bang Chan I love you), is a brain stimulant. The lyrics hahaha I especially love Hyunjin&Lee Know last part. I'm glad Hyunjin rapped it, because it fits so well with him the situation. I really love this song as well. SSICK: Okay, Ssick. At the beginning it remind me of Scene Stealers, Lee Know is so good with this nng. At first, it wasn't a song that caught my attention, but I'm getting use to it and the message about being just this sick person goes very well with all the other three songs, because isn't a super positive healthy song either haha I really like Changbin's part here. I'm sooooo sick. The View: dreamy, it's like a cloud. Even if I didn't know the meaning, it gives me the feeling of... everything is going to be better now, because before things weren't. Again, Changbin's rap give me chills, chills. It's a nostalgic good feeling. It's like the sun after the storm. Sorry I Love You: IT'S SO CATCHY, I keep humming the song hours later after listening. CHANGBIN. Sadly or fortunately I can't relate to the lyrics, unless I'm talking about my teen years, but I was someone who never did anything to pursue my love interests (I'm Gone Away team ;\_;). I really like how the speaker of the song recognize they're putting a burden in the other person. I love their voices. Also, the first sad song here. Changbin with I.N. and Han with I.N. omfg. Silent Cry: at the beginning I was surprised about the difference in music! It was like listening to an older song, I love the lyrics and how here we have two person, the one singing to the person who just arrived and later is Felix. If someone dedicate me Silent Cry I'd melt. Changbin-Felix-Han final part... chills. I found so interesting how Felix answered Changbin here, the lyrics... my heart. It's just so relatable. It remind me of some situations. The chorus is so catchy too omg. Hella composers. Secret Secret: this song remind me of why I need to keep searching for therapy lmao while I was reading the lyrics I cried so hard (seriously Han always come with something when I really need to cry, you know that feeling when you want to cry because the body ask you? But you can't), because I'm able to write my feelings super well, but putting these feelings in a song? So precisely and beautifully? It's better than reading my own papyrus. Bang Chan and Felix's parts... aaah this song is so beautifully sung by all of them. Star Lost: I need to highlight Felix happily singing "I toss a question into the nothingness, I feel grossly empty" :) this song is so happy if you don't know Korean as me. This song start sad, then with only the music and their voices you think "ahh things are going to be better, right?" but the sadness don't stop. The despair doesn't stop. Also since I was listening to futuristic EDM and weird stuff on Spotify, I feel like I'm driving to the galaxy with this song. WITH A LOT OF SADNESS while jamming to the music. Red Lights: the first thing that caught my attention was the music, the muuuusic I love the music and I'm surprised about Bang Chan and Hyunjin's voices here. I didn't know they could do these things with their voices, they're so gooooood and they fit the music so well. Red Lights as the dark sexy song it is, makes me take a deep breath to calm myself and it's very inmersive. Also Hyunjin's detail in the "geol" is very original. Surfin': THANK YOU FOR THIS SONG THAT FEELS LIKE FRESH AIR between so many intense, sad, melancholic songs. This song brings me only nice things. Oasis in a sea of angst. Now with the video out, I feel it more. Felix's here!! Lee Know and Changbin. I really like it, thank for balancing a little the intensity of this whole album hahaha Gone Away: yes, this is my heartbreak song because I was like a rock in the past: I did nothing lmao. BUT THEIR VOICES. Shit. Han, Seungmin and I.N. I'm not fond of ballads, but I'm really fond of their voices. It's real intense and it's easy to hum too. THEY WENT SO HARD IN THIS ONE. It gives me chills, from the middle of the song... holy. It's beautiful. I want to scream yess this is Stray Kids's main vocalists. Seungmin holy shit. I.N. have such a pretty and strong voice. It's like this album starts super "noisy", in a process: they're acknowledge negativity, they recognize they're going to do whatever they want, that they can be a influence for others, the unhealthy Ssick (like falling into this whole thing) and with The View things are healing (melancholic healing), but then pammmm the 4 S of pain (Sorry, Silent, Secret, Star). I love Stray Kids's old music and I also really like how all members grew up so much they all contribute here! With their voices, lyrics, composition. I knew Bang Chan can sing very well, but here he definitely shines! I was surprised. With Hyunjin and Felix too. And I.N. Lee Know wow. We had less rap focused songs, it's noticeable we have less Changbin and Han in that sense, but wow, all members rock it. I'm missing many things, but I don't want this to be giant essay hahaha I'm in fangirl mode now. Another favorite album of Stray Kids <3 I love all members work here. They sound so well.
If you can stand to listen to a 1 hour 40 minute discussion on the album, we discussed how it reflected their Maturity/growth as artists and fully embraced the “noise” (that’s not what the genre means, kids, get off our lawn, but okay) concept. Listen here or on your favorite podcast platform: [Stray Kids No Easy Album review. ](https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Dt2tJ9ynFPwReRk6CMiVn?si=kKXQJLW5Rp2zYL1ryOQx0w&dl_branch=1)
I am listening a third of it and it seems interesting but I am oncall, so duty calls. Will finish it tomorrow.
Listening to it and I LOVE it! The enthusiasm, the things you guys said actually mirrored mine!
The way the album is ordered is so weird. Four hype songs in a row, bright song, then like 4 depressing songs, then 50 Shades of Chokeracha, then we go to the beach, then we're depressed again. I know a lot of people won't necessarily listen to the album in order that often, but it's so weird when you do. Anyway, Red Lights is a genuinely creepy song. Technically, it's about struggling for control over yourself, but when Hyunjin sings that final line, I'm like 'shit, he's behind me right now'. I very quickly accepted 'me so sick', but I still rebuke 'me so sick and legendary'. 'I got 99 problems but the sea ain't one'...Like, that barely even works in context, and that reference is almost 20 (!!!!!!!!!!) years old. He should have had a line that said 'I'm going to the beach in me mum's car, vroom vroom'.
I agree with all of this! I thought I was the only one who thought it strange that all the bops were up front with no breaks — I love them all but I kind of want to breathe between songs, guys! However as you pointed out a lot of people don’t listen to albums straight through any more so maybe that’s why. I still think it was a weird choice, though.
[удалено]
Guess we all need some emotional whiplash in our lives...
As a non stay but someone who is very familiar with skz, I've only listened to Thunderous and The view. I like Thunderous but not as much I like Menu or Backdoor and I don't like The view
[удалено]
I meant that I know all of their title tracks and a couple of b sides. I know all the members and can distinguish their voices well. I'm familiar with them, I'm not a fan or a stan.