The second mini album of XG, “AWE“, was dropped on 11.8.2024. To be honest, it is not as amazing as their first mini album “New DNA“, which earned many attention due to its extremely high music quality and cutting-edge concept design. However, “AWE“ still an outstanding album comparing other pop music album in 2024. The album contains 6 tracks: “Howl“ as an intro, the title song “Howling“, the skit, two pre-released song “IYKYK“ and “Somethin’ ain’t right“ and two unexpected R&B song “In The Rain“ “Is This Love“. The remix of “woke up“ was added in the album, which is a confusing decision.
Hear The Awe👂🐺
From the prospective of album, “AWE“ is not a great work since the connection and the illustration of concept only exist in former 5 tracks. The later 3 songs more like a platform set for the members to perform their skills of vocal and rap together with strong production brought by the team. However, the music productions are still higher than the average of pop music industry. The music producers are doing extractions when making music: our ears only sucking for beautiful melody, groovy verses and drums in stead of piliation of those so-called “popular elements”. You don’t want some kinds of serum preset or kshmr samples fill in the entire space of a song.
Howling
The title song “Howling“ starts with double bass and swing hi-hats, a jazzy intro which may makes people associate it with “Cowboy Bebop“. The main style of this song is more like hip-hop, typically drill because of the tight hi-hat and 808 slide. The lyrics are strong, even tough. We hear Cocona spitting
The Vision👀
Nature against Industry
Oriental therapy
Superpower
The Incident
In a version of XG’s physical album,
Probably Jakops, the XGALX, Japanese fans and western fans won’t expected that Chinese fans feel strongly uncomfortable when acknowledged Simon himself would be in the album of XG.