Two years since their debut, Kiss Of Life are pushing into the Japanese market with their first J-pop single. It’s hard not to wonder if this move comes as a pivot away from the western markets they had been pursuing up until their controversy earlier this year. Whatever the case, Lucky is a so-so debut that slightly augments their sound while removing most of the bite from their persona.
On one hand, Lucky successful draws upon a slick 90s r&b groove, standing as the kind of subdued jam that eventually works its way under your skin. The vocal arrangement adds spice, but the melodies are too rote to work in the way they must. When you imagine great r&b grooves of the 90s, those songs took time and space to luxuriate in their slinkiness, working a rhythm until it became as sticky as possible. At just over two minutes in length, Lucky doesn’t have the gravitas needed to work as a compelling mood. It feels more like a small idea stretched across a few repetitions.
Because of this, Lucky requires a few standout moments. The song doesn’t seem interested in developing its melodies, wafting over the beat with little modulation. This makes it feel more like a diversion than a standout, teasing Kiss Of Life’s flavor for a new audience rather than presenting a fully-formed version of what they’re capable of.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 7 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
