Stray Kids are back with a studio album! This time it is five stars.

I wonder if they named it that due to Felix thinking Michelin’s star ratings go up to five. But I doubt it.

I love that they went with a star theme seeing as how Bang Chan talks about astronomy a lot and painted a constellation on his nails.

I’ve seen them branch out of JYP for their TT videos and that’s been fun, Changbin the ambassador of Stray Kids is doing a good job.

Anyhow, let’s jump into it.

Hall of Fame

This is the typical ‘I am the best’ type song. It’s a song where a group basically hypes themselves up and talks about the things they excel at.

They have reached the stars and their fame is taking them further and further into outer space. The fame that they have gained, has been gained through their skill and hard work.

There are a lot of science metaphors/references in this song too and I enjoyed that.

S-Class

The title track! It’s very Stray Kids. They have mastered their sound now. Sure, they switch up and mess around with different genres but there’s something about their music, it sounds like them no matter what.

I can hear it and be like, ah yes, this is Stray Kids. Which I imagine isn’t an easy thing to master, to keep your musical identity even while constantly trying new things.

The song is about how they’re special, the star in the sky, but also a little weird.

I really like the way Changbin’s rap is set up, giving those old school hip hop vibes that I love. It’s my favourite part of the song.

In the song, they’re also saying that you should shine brightly on your own and not rely on other people’s shine to succeed. Don’t chase the shine of others but be your own star.

The music video though! You can tell it was high budget. I watched it once, and I hadn’t watched the videos where they talked about it yet, and I thought, “Wow, that looks expensive.”

I don’t get the story line though. I feel like this is the first mv where I was like, “huh?” What was the main story? What did the octopus have to do with it?

Item

They started from the bottom now they’re here. I would say that summarises the meaning of the song.

Similar to Hall of Fame in that it’s the result of their hard work.

Also, because they have been minding their business shining their light, people have noticed and they want it, their light. Thus, their light is their special item.

In this song I really liked the pre chorus.

Super Bowl

I saw edits for this song as soon as it dropped. Stays on TT did not play! They were like, yes, I have a vision! I will execute the vision immediately!

This one is the mother of Gods Menu? I watched their Intro and I think it was this song.

It’s all in English and from the way they talked about it in the Intro video it was in Korean before. I wonder why they chose this song to translate.

It has a similar theme to Gods Menu, with food being the main metaphor used. They’re inviting you to taste whilst talking about their fresh ingredients.

The whisper lines are the best parts of the song, give it that feel that had Stays in a chokehold on TT. It’s also pretty hype and chanty.

Topline (feat. Tiger JK)

The melody is fun and it has Tiger JK! I saw the teaser for the mv for this song and I was hyped! (as of writing this it has not come out yet).

Tiger’s rap is so witty and I feel like I’m missing half of it because I can’t speak Korean! Even if I succeed in learning, there are some things that are hard to get when it’s not your first language, like idioms.

Topline, is a term to do with music making right? I’ve heard them say it a lot, the producer line and other groups who produce, so I’m assuming they are referring to that.

Oh, I love the One Piece references in the chorus, made me happy.

I was surprised it wasn’t 3racha heavy, for some reason I thought this would be a rap heavy song but it’s not.

DLC (Dance Like Crazy)

Changbin and Restart

(I haven’t mentioned the people who have made the other songs because it was mostly 3racha)

The song be saying, dance like no one is watching. Shake the cares of the world away with a good shoulder shimmy.

The lyrics are nice and really embody the feeling of just letting it out and dancing. I like how the song has moments without singing to give you the chance to dance as well.

They have dancers in the mv which is nice and they, Stray Kids, also freestyle. They filmed this one in France I believe.

Did anyone see the TT that was like the song gives Always Ad vibes? That killed me.

Get Lit

Han, Chae and Restart

This song does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a song about partying and letting loose, getting drunk.

It’s a dedication to their MT lol.

I really liked Felix’s part in the bridge, his singing was real nice there.

The mv for this was more understated than I expected. If it’s a song about getting lit, I thought it would be more lit.

Collision

Han and Millionboy

I like how this song starts with the trumpet. I love the singing of the first verse and then the fast rap singing of the second verse. I especially love how they rapidly follow each other from  Bang Chan, to Han, to Hyunjin, and finishing with Changbin.

The lyrics are nice, they’re asking for forgiveness and to be taken back. It’s clear that they’re the ones who did something wrong though.

I say the lyrics are nice even though the relationship is on the rocks because I just like love songs that take a different less gooey approach.

This may be my favourite song on the album.

FNF

Bang Chan, Felix and Trippy

(Felix took part in the lyrics and the producing, so proud)

A lovely song in dedication to Australia’s flora and fauna, that was lost because of the wild fires.

They’re sad for the loss and damage to their home, them being Felix and Bang Chan of course.

It’s a pretty chill song and gives nice vibes when you’re listening to it. I don’t know if it’s because the mv is filmed at a beach but the song gives me summer vibes.

The mv was done in Australia, which was a nice touch, and it has a nostalgic feel somehow. I’m not Australian yet I felt attached.

Although, I did do a semester there, and I loved it, so maybe that’s why.

Youtiful

This song is also in English.

It’s an uplifting song telling the listener that they are enough and also that they are not alone.

We have Stray Kids, they are here for us, as they too have had hard times and so can relate and can use that experience to help.

It’s a lovely, soft song, that gives soothing vibes.

The Sound (Korean Ver.)

It’s The Sound but in Korean, the original was one of their Japanese releases.

I don’t feel like it fits with the vibe of the album, it doesn’t give summer the way the others do. I feel like this would have worked better if it was released as a single, but that’s just me.

Mixtape: Time Out

This isn’t a new song, this is their summer song from last year. It was very cute then and it’s still cute now.

It has warm vibes and I’m glad they included it in the album. I would have liked it after FNF more maybe, and I would have liked the album to end with Youtiful, I just feel like the song ties everything together well and is a nice message to end on.

All in all it’s a solid album. It’s not my favourite Stray Kids album but that’s just down to personal taste.

This album gives summer, there are a lot of hype songs but then they cool things down towards the end. However, even their more chill songs give summer.

Which was your favourite.