It’s been a year of changes for fromis_9. Not only did their contract expire with Pledis Entertainment but the group went through a reconfiguration upon signing with new label Asnd, reduced from nine to five members. “fromis_5” doesn’t have the same ring to it, so the girls have retained their name as a nod to their history and a commitment to the future. New single Like You Better echoes this strength, barreling forward with a shot of summer energy.
I can’t stress enough how refreshed I am by Like You Better‘s bombastic production. I’ve been waiting for girl groups to transition from the subdued “beigepop” that’s clogged the market for years now, and a song like this gives me hope that we might finally see that change. Like You Better‘s chugging instrumental favors stomping percussion and surging guitar, serving up the anthemic 80’s sound that Carly Rae Jepsen built her name on. Given today’s trends, I’m not sure how something this deliberately huge will be received, but when it comes to the summer season this is the kind of roll-down-the-window-and-sing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs material I’m looking for.
However, I’m not sure I love the actual song as much as I adore the spirit of its relentless instrumental. The structure is a bit cookie cutter and the chorus leans into the higher side of the members’ range with a melody that’s almost a carbon copy of past pop hits. Its strongest moment is the pre-chorus, which swells with excitement and fully capitalizes on the propulsive beat. This is why a bold arrangement is so important. Like You Better‘s thrilling sound steamrolls over any quibbles I might have with the songwriting, forcing me to move from my head to my heart and surrender to its open-hearted sentiment.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 10 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 9 |
