Winner is one of those groups that I have followed from the very beginning. I remember them when they where Big Bang’s back-up dancers, then from the survival show ‘Win: Who is Next?’ and finally when they debuted in 2014 with their album 2014 S/S.
Their latest release ‘Cross’ brings a complete new side of this idol group. I would say it’s similar to the concept of their debut song ‘Empty’ but, way more mature.
‘CROSS’
This mini album is not the usual summer-ish upbeat WINNER style. This time they went for a more dark concept and I absolutely love the diversity of sounds that this release brings. It feels like a new beginning for them.
‘SOSO’ is the first song and it is also their title track. This track definitely sets up the mood for the rest of the album and I absolutely love the concept of the music video. The shots are stunning and their vocals and rap just makes it even better. If you haven’t watched it yet, you can check it out below.
Second on the list we have ‘OMG’, this song has pop-ish ballad feel that I totally loved. The mix of instrumentals and especially the synths set it apart from the others.
‘Dress Up’ is third, and comes with playful tunes, rhythms and vocals that feel like the cool breeze of a spring night. The lyrics are just as lively as the song.
Now, lets go to one of my favorites on this mini album ‘Flamenco’. This song is just ICONIC. Starting with spanish guitar and the mix with latin rhythms make for a startling contrast from the other tracks. This is the first solo song by HOONY and the only thing I can say is that he knows how to roll those Rs.
Next one is YOON’s solo ‘Wind’ and it is everything I expected. The piano intro and the transition to more pop inspired tunes is super cool. Seung-Yoon showed off his powerful vocals as usual and I particularly liked those high notes in the hook of the song.
Last one in this album is ‘Don’t be shy’, this ballad shows a more mature WINNER, with some sexy grooves that surprised me in a good way. This track is the perfect closure for this release and makes you wonder what is next for this group.
Overall, ‘Cross’ was a delight to my ears and showed off the talent of the members who also co-produced and wrote all the lyrics of this album.
You can listen to the full Mini Album below.
