NCT has brought all 20 of its members together for the 2023 edition of their full-group album; this one titled Golden Age. I gave it a listen a here are my thoughts.
Baggy Jeans
Taeyong, Doyoung, Ten, Jaehyun, & Mark
Much like most other NCT title tracks, this is the experimental track. Most people will either love it or hate it, and I am somewhere in the middle. I definitely don’t love it, but it isn’t the worst song from an NCT group.
3 stars
Call D
Taeyong & Ten
These two are my biases in NCT, so them doing another duet is all I really want to be honest. I love how has a distinctly different vibe than Baby Don’t Stop (their previous duet). It’s the only other song that has an experimental edge to it and I like it much better in this track.
4 stars
PADO
Johnny, Taeyong, Jaehyun, Mark, Xiaojun, Hendery, & Haechan
I enjoyed this song more on additional listens than I did on the first, but I think that is because I was too focused on the lyrics since I watched the archive video for it. There are some head-scratching lyrics, but if you just listen and vibe with the song it’s quite enjoyable.
4 stars
Interlude: oasis
Yuta, Jaehyun, Winwin, Jaemin, & Chenle
I wish we got this as a full song because the style it has is so interesting. It’s a style I didn’t anticipate from NCT but it is so good. Definitely the song that makes you want to vibe with it the most. I really wish it was a full song and longer.
4.5 stars
The BAT
Taeil, Johnny, Yuta, Jungwoo, Hendery, Jeno, & Jisung
This song feels pretty standard for an NCT track, which is not a bad thing. I like this style of song so I enjoy it. It just doesn’t do anything revolutionary. Not that all music has to be that way.
4 stars
Alley Oop
Yuta, Winwin, Hendery, Jeno, Jaemin, Yangyang, & Jisung
The beat is addictive and makes you want to groove along with it. The chorus is my favorite part. It’s a solid b-side.
4 stars
That’s Not Fair
Johnny, Taeyong, Ten, Mark, Jeno, & Yangyang
Another addictive beat although darker than the previous track. The strength of this song is in the verses in my opinion since it highlights all of the rappers and their different styles. Plus the added vocals from Ten are a nice addition to the verses. However, I just don’t like it as much as other tracks on the album.
3.5 stars
Kangaroo
Taeil, Kun, Renjun, Yangyang, Chenle, & Jisung
What a tone shift this song is after the previous one. It’s a pleasant song just not the style I personally gravitate towards. I don’t see myself listening to this song again just because it isn’t my personal taste but if it came on I wouldn’t be annoyed.
3 stars
Not Your Fault
Taeil, Kun, Doyoung, Ten, Jungwoo, Xiaojun, & Renjun
Every album has to have a slower, ballad-like song, and this is it. I don’t tend to love these songs, to be honest. I do like that there is still a bit of a beat so it isn’t purely a ballad. And it is nice to hear the vocalists in their element. I found myself swaying along, but much like the previous song I don’t see myself listening to this one again.
3.5 stars
Golden Age
NCT 2023
I’m not surprised that this song is the closing track since it brings all members together and is a cumulative song of their different styles. For once I don’t hate the blending of styles and genres because it actually highlights the skills of their members.
Overall Rating
Overall, I enjoy the album and think it is generally good. There isn’t a bad song, but definitely some better than others. I wouldn’t say any of the songs are amazing, but I do enjoy a good few of them.
Have you listened to Golden Age? Tell me your favorite song in the comments!