Review | Sticker by NCT 127 review: K-pop LP shows rambunctious boy band’s maturity and gives them all a chance to shine
- A mix of dance, R&B, pop and hip-hop tracks, Sticker is the group’s third album, and its release comes just after their fifth anniversary
- Sticker shows off the talents of NCT 127’s nine members, giving each one their time in the spotlight
Fronted by a single of the same name, the 11-track album Sticker by K-pop group NCT 127 arrived on September 17, shortly after their fifth anniversary, and shows what they’ve been building towards artistically.
That single is followed by Lemonade, which has an explosive trap feel and some lyrical nods to previous NCT 127 albums Regular-Irregular and Cherry Bomb, and to 2020 single Punch. The smooth, vibrant house of the third track, Breakfast, is a wake-up to the world.
Sticker offers something for everyone. There’s the atmospheric alt R&B of Focus, the poignant The Rainy Night, the electropop explorer anthem Far and the exuberant chaos of Bring the Noize, before the album gets a bit magical with R&B ballad Magic Carpet Ride.
NCT 127 serve up the bright summery Road Trip and brassy funk of Dreamer, only to get emotional on the hopeful Promise You, which looks towards a day when everyone can meet again.
The stand-out feature of Sticker is not a single track or an individual band member, but rather the human voice; there’s a kaleidoscope of vocal performances and every few moments you feel like you’re discovering the tones of NCT 127’s vocalists anew. The title track has vocal belts and runs that stir the soul.