ALBUM REVIEW Stray Kids

STRAY KIDS GO LIVE

CAITLIN HOLLOWAY

Stray Kids are an absolute powerhouse in the Kpop industry at the moment and I always look forward to seeing what they bring out. As this is their first official studio album, I was even more eager than usual to see what kind of tracks they were releasing. However, I definitely didn’t expect to see all 8 members dressed like chefs, dancing in kitchens and seeing a Stray Kidsthemed race car zooming around a track all in one music video. Despite the slightly hectic MV, I actually love the song and choreography for the title track ‘God’s Menu’. The way that the lyrics liken the song to a dish that everyone can enjoy is actually a really fun concept. I like the way that, as Changbin says in the first verse, the song really does ‘satisfy all your five senses’. The whole

song is completely addictive to listen to, especially the hook. I’ve caught myself multiple times dancing along to it without even realising it. This song has firmly placed itself in most of my playlists and I think I’ll be listening to this one on repeat for a very long time.

Here’s a wrap up of some of my favourites from the album:

Airplane: This one is much more chilled out than the title track. ‘Airplane’ feels like the perfect summer song for our current situation. With lyrics like ‘Today is the day to fly away, Looking forward to the cloud bed’, they really grasp the excitement of being on that plane, heading somewhere exciting. Though the lyrics can seem a bit cheesy at times, the song itself is really fun to listen to. Despite being unable to travel, I feel like they have really captured the feeling of longing to get away and explore another corner of the world. I can imagine myself listening to this song sat next to a pool with not a care in the world.

Haven: I love this one. The fact that Stray Kids are creating this ‘Haven’ for anyone who listens to them is a great concept. I really like the sense of empowerment around this song, with lyrics like ‘Do whatever you want, Break the mould together, Gather here in this haven right now’. This message gives a real sense of unity and protection to their fans and I feel like the lighthearted feel of the song really adds to it.

TOP and SLUMP: I was so excited to listen to these two songs as the OP and ED of the upcoming anime ‘Tower of God’. OP is full of energy and I absolutely love this mix of synth and guitar on the backing track. It definitely doesn’t feel like a typical anime OST and Stray Kids have really given this song a life of its own. SLUMP, on the other hand, is much more chilled out and wistful and seems perfect for unwinding after an action-packed episode of Tower of God.

Considering I was already a fan of their EPs, it is absolutely no surprise that I love their first studio album. I’d definitely recommend this album if you’re in need of a bit of extra energy!