Last year, Key (of SHINee fame), delivered this blog's top album of the year with Bad Love. The mini album was full of synth-pop bangers that were reminiscent of the 80s. He gave a retro-future vibe that you didn't know you needed. It was different and refreshing. Now, almost a year after that banger album, Key finally delivered his second full-length project, Gasoline.
Gasoline is not a continuation of Bad Love but Key carries some of the same musical concepts from that album to this one. It's full of atmospheric synths, heavenly vocals, and a retro-futuristic sound. Where Gasoline stands out is in the grooves. While Bad Love was full of these big sounds and drops, Gasoline really toned it down. This album is chill but it gives Key the opportunity to really show off his musicality.
Gasoline opens with the title track of the same name. Gasoline is the most explosive song on the album. It's full of triumphant horns and synths as Key sings about being a champion. His rapping takes center stage in the verses while his vocals shine in the choruses. His sound is aggressive. It's a perfect way to open an album as he really sings "here I am." This song is a treat for the ears and there's even a heavenly surprise near the end.
The rest of the album, even though it chills out, is still full of gems. There are some sexy grooves like on Bound and Burn. These songs are full of heavy basslines that let Key's voice really shine. Villian (ft. Jeno of NCT) is a low-key synth groove that gets your head bopping. There are the retro-future tracks, Another Life and Guilty Pleasure, which are definitely the big standout moments. Key's voice is as heavenly as it could get over these beautiful synths. They transport you to a different place. Then, there's the closer, Proud, which rounds the album off nicely on an R&B-inspired note.
While Bad Love really showed Key finding his niche, Gasoline indicates Key finding comfort in it. This album is 11 tracks and each one is as good as the last. Key really knows how to show off his talents on each one. His vocals shine beautifully and transport you to another realm. Gasoline is triumphant and finds power in its soft moments. It's an album that you should not miss out on.
Watch the music video for Gasoline below and check out the album on your preferred streaming service!
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