As any longtime fan of Teen Top knows, when the South Korean boy band so chooses, they can light a fire on the dance floor.
Though much of the group's recent material, including the bulk of the new six-song Teen Top EP "Red Point," released on Jan. 18, shows a more introspective side of the group, the leadoff single "Warning Sign" is as fired up as anything in their recorded output so far.
Incorporating shades of "Bad"-era Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake's "FutureSex/LoveSounds" album alongside modern day dance icons like The Weeknd and Drake, Teen Top also is clearly channeling acts more close to home like Jay Park, Epik High and Big Bang.
Though their first two years of releases were heavily produced K-pop of the more solid yet standard variety, once Brave Brothers took the group in a more vintage R&B direction on 2012's "To You," the group's creativity flourished.
It would appear they haven't looked back.
Teen Top is at their best when they are producing infectious, movement-inspiring dance music, that while smartly produced, has an indescribably looseness that their earlier material often seemed to lack. On "Warning Sign" they are continuing in this exact mold and the results are a highpoint for the band.
It's good to see that Teen Top and their production team realizes that when you take a booming bassline over a well-constructed drum loop that's all these six vocalists need to thrive. And though the highly mainstream-sounding chorus was an unfortunate choice, when that bass kicks back in, all is forgiven.
The more this group allows their true personality to shine through the production gloss, the more exciting to watch they become.
Listen to the new single "Warning Sign" from the six-member South Korean boy band Teen Top's new extended play album "Red Point" RIGHT HERE
