Stray Kids’ ‘ATE’ Album Review: Ranking Each Song

“JJAM,” an energetic hip-hop track that embodies the group’s signature sound, is next-level dynamics with clever lyrics that add a personal touch for fans to appreciate, such as the shout-out to member Lee Know in the final line of the bridge, “I know, you know, Lee Know!” Make sure not to miss the moment when Seungmin and IN (aka Vocalracha) harmonize to close out the second verse.

“JJAM” doesn’t rank lowest because it’s a bad song by any means, but it doesn’t compete on the same level of experimentation as others. ATE songs. Still, this doesn’t detract from the enjoyment, but rather highlights the group’s ability to combine consistency with innovation across their albums.

“Runners,” an inspirational English-language song composed by members Bang Chan and Felix, offers relatable themes of perseverance and confidence. The song transitions from Changbin rapping, “Cyber ​​system, yeah, I felt like a machine” to Seungmin and Lee Know’s bold assertions, “I know I’m becoming / GOAT, I’m awesome, let me show the world / I’m feeling nervous,” demonstrating the group’s range of push. The euphoric pre-chorus nearly overshadows the entire song with Hyunjin’s emotive texture delivering lines like, “Deeper and deeper, I’m thinking, I’m crying / Too many thoughts in my head, I gotta let it go,” highlighting a beautiful rawness that makes the line particularly perfect for Hyunjin, but can resonate with anyone who hears it.

Reminiscent of the group’s best songs like “Victory Song” or “Hall of Fame”, the opening song “MOUNTAINS” opens ATE in an epic tone with roaring vocals from IN and Seungmin over a thumping percussion backdrop. Written and composed by Bang Chan, Changbin, and 3RACHA’s Han, it showcases Stray Kids’ signature high-energy style while delivering introspective lyrics about overcoming obstacles: “Mountains, mountains, I woke up in the mountains / No one’s stopping me, I walk like a titan,” Changbin spits. While “Mountains” certainly stays within the group’s comfort zone, its anthemic quality makes it a standout track and the perfect song to open their upcoming world tour.

With flirtatious lyrics about enjoying an adventure without the pressures of love, “I Like It” isn’t just another new thematic avenue that Stray Kids explore, but something unique to K-pop as a whole. In an industry where songs about love and romance dominate, SKZ’s approach to more traditional Top 40 pop in a K-pop song is uncommon but refreshing, and makes one wonder if this is a song IN was referring to when he said, “I hope you don’t fool yourself.” also surprised by the things to come.”

Lines like, “Let’s not make it official, we can just stick with ‘you and me’” and “I love that I like you, but I don’t want to love” highlight the song’s playful attitude, while Seungmin’s warm vocals and Han’s dynamic raps add important depth to the performance. While it allows Stray Kids to push some boundaries and explore unconventional themes, “I Like It” should also help the group reach new audiences.

Perhaps the most unexpected song from Stray Kids’ latest album, “Twilight” combines jazz and bossa nova sounds for a refreshing change from the high-energy beat. ATE EP. Written entirely by Han, known for his influence in R&B, the song adds a soulful touch, highlighting his versatility as a songwriter and producer. With its lyrics written entirely in Korean (a marked departure for SKZ’s music in general, but particularly after the all-English song “Runners” in ATEAccording to Stray Kids’ tracklist, “Twilight” is a soothing contrast to what is typically expected from Stray Kids and should become a key song to move fans and new listeners alike.

“Stray Kids,” a song that acts as a self-referential anthem to uplift the group while also resonating universally, is a bold and special statement. The song allows them to showcase their self-worth (in lyrics like Felix’s “So proud of myself / Never doubt who we are”) and reflects pride and ambition in their musical journey (“We do what we wanna do / The message through our music,” IN sings).

“Stray Kids” also includes numerous references to their previous songs (including Stray Kids’ first, “Hellevator,” as well as fan-favorites like “Miroh” and “Lonely St.”) and other vocabulary that the veteran STAY members will pick up on to create a song with a vibrant tapestry of K-pop history. Stray Kids’ sophisticated style of blending personal and collective narratives into such an anthem makes for an even more powerful song. — which is not something many artists can achieve.

The featured track of ATEOn “Chk Chk Boom,” Stray Kids brings unexpected Latin influences to their signature style of creating high-energy hits in a true showcase of the group’s ability to be extremely versatile musically without losing the message of the musicians they were from the beginning.

Written entirely by Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han for 3RACHA, “Chk Chk Boom” and its Latin hip-hop and reggaeton elements are refreshing in SKZ’s soundworld while still offering Stray Kids’ signature insightful and introspective lyrics. Changbin’s raps feature several standout lines about how he’s “fed up with this life/ It’s normal” and declaring, “I own my goal.” Seungmin offers inspiration through the lyrics: “Take down my goals one by one/ I take them down with one shot,” while Han tells listeners, “I’m not a changed man.”

There are even some unexpectedly risqué lines like, “Filling up my truck, yeah you want that ride/ Hit you like a truck, I’mma make you fly,” sung first by Bang Chan and then by Seungmin in the second pre-chorus. Another fun surprise is integrating Spanish into the K-pop mix of Korean and English, but remaining completely Stray Kids with lines like, “Wolves, we can’t stop hunting,” with Wolves ser lobos in Spanish and recalls how the group previously compared their unity and determination to a pack of wolves in 2021’s “WOLFGANG.”

Beyond the musical, lyrical, and thematic triumphs, “Chk Chk Boom” scores extra points, pushing it to No. 1 on this ranking from ATE A “Festival Version” was also included to close out the EP. We’ll take that as an indication that Stray Kids will no doubt continue their run as festival headliners as they push through an epic year playing Lollapalooza in Chicago, BST Hyde Park in London, and I Days in Milan, as well as confirmation that Stray Kids’ reign at the top of the charts won’t be stopping anytime soon after breaking chart records and becoming the first group to debut their first five entries at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.