Glitch Mode

Glitch Mode is the second studio album by South Korean boy band NCT Dream, released on March 28, 2022, through SM Entertainment. Following their previous album Hot Sauce and its repackaged version Hello Future, Glitch Mode is NCT Dream's second record to feature seven members after Mark's return to the lineup and the termination of their age-based graduation system.

Glitch Mode
Digital and Glitch version cover
Studio album by
NCT Dream
ReleasedMarch 28, 2022 (2022-03-28)
Recorded2022
StudioSM Studio Center (Seoul)
Genre
LanguageKorean
LabelSM
NCT Dream chronology
Hello Future
(2021)		 Glitch Mode
(2022)
NCT chronology
Universe
(2021)		 Glitch Mode
(2022)
Singles from Glitch Mode
  1. "Glitch Mode"
    Released: March 28, 2022
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
NME[1]

Background

Glitch Mode came nine months after NCT Dream released their first studio album Hot Sauce, which was met with commercial and critical success, and its reissue Hello Future.[2] In January 2022, SM Entertainment confirmed in a statement to the South-Korean newspaper MyDaily that NCT Dream would release a new album in March.[2] Glitch Mode is NCT Dream's second album to feature a seven-member lineup following Mark's return and the termination of the age-based graduation system.[3]

Composition and concept

Glitch Mode is a R&B, pop and hip hop record.[4] On it, NCT Dream strays further away from their original "high-teen" concept and bubblegum pop music in favor of a more "mature" image and hip hop sound.[5] While the album opens with more "experimental", "loud" and "animated" tracks,[1] it mainly comprises "fairly lowkey" songs that evoke a "comforting" atmosphere with its sincere messages expressed in the lyrics.[6] During the Glitch Mode press conference, Mark stated that through the album and lead single of the same name, they wanted to express how "everyone's abnormal". He revealed that the Korean crime-comedy film Attack the Gas Station heavily inspired the album and music video for the lead single, saying that the concept "popped in my mind after listening to 'Glitch Mode'".[7]

Songs

The opening track, "Fire Alarm", speaks of NCT Dream's ambition to surprise the world and features an "energetic" chorus with a clapping sample.[8] The lead single, "Glitch Mode", is a hip hop dance song that contrasts an introductory narration with a "dynamic" 808 bass and chanting chorus.[9] Its lyrics, with rap verses co-written by Mark, express how someone freezes "as if buffering" when they see someone they like.[10] The accompanying choreography includes a "buffering" move that embodies the song's theme.[11] "Arcade" is a hip hop dance song with "powerful" beat, whose lyrics follow arcade game motifs and project a message of confidence: "you must follow me to win".[8] A mid-tempo pop song, "It's Yours" is anchored by bass and electric guitar, as well as rap verses written by members Mark, Jeno, Jaemin and Jisung.[12] "Teddy Bear" is an R&B pop ballad focusing on the members' "sweet" voices.[13] "Replay" is a mid-tempo R&B pop song that combines instrumentation ranging from old-school instruments to hi-fi synths and deep bass. Mark, Jeno, and Jisung participated in writing the lyrics, which express longing for happy moments after a breakup.[12] Performed by Mark, Jeno, Jaemin and Jisung, "Saturday Drip" is a '90s hip hop-inspired track with repeating synths and rap flow that depicts a Saturday night.[14] "Better Than Gold" is a synth-pop song with a funky rhythm and upbeat bass line.[14] Its lyrics express how moments spent together are "more precious than gold".[11] With lyrics intended to comfort those who are struggling and weary, the production of "Drive" centers on acoustic piano and guitars.[15] "Never Goodbye" is an R&B ballad that combines "restrained" percussion with a "gentle" Rhodes keyboard and chimes. It conveys the sentiment of "always waiting in the same place", much like the North Star.[13] Mark, Jeno and Jisung each interpreted the concept differently while writing the lyrics, resulting in different ideas shining throughout the song.[11] The final track of the album, "Rewind", is a "lively" mid-tempo R&B pop song with a light beat. The lyrics reminisce the memories the group members have shared, conveying their desire to stay together forever as "7Dream".[15]

Release and promotion

On February 28, after SM Entertainment confirmed a March release window for NCT Dream, the album title Glitch Mode, written in different "old-school computer-themed" fonts and colors, was revealed in a video teaser.[16][17] On the same day, SM the announced the release date and opened pre-orders.[17] Beginning on March 14, SM released five sets of photo teasers, in which the members were depicted wearing different outfits, from black suits with futuristic bike helmets to hot pink outfits, in various locations, including an abandoned house and a gas station, to convey the "unusual charms" of the lead single "Glitch Mode", whose concept centers around "errors".[18][19][11] The images were accompanied by a set of video teasers with a glitch effect featuring individual members.[18] On March 25, NCT Dream teased all eleven tracks with a mashup video uploaded to the group's social media platforms.[20] Glitch Mode was officially released on March 28, alongside a music video for the lead single.[5]

The group held two live broadcasts on YouTube on March 28 and 30 to celebrate the release, where they performed "Glitch Mode" for the first time.[21] From March 31, they performed "Glitch Mode" alongside the b-side "Arcade" on various South Korean music shows, including M Countdown,[22] Music Bank,[23] Inkigayo,[24] Show Champion[25] and Show! Music Core.[26] However, member Chenle had to limit his participation in the stages due to an ankle injury.[27] On April 14, they performed the b-side track "Never Goodbye" on M Countdown as a gift to fans.[28] On March 7, SM announced NCT Dream would hold their second online concert, "Dream Stage: Glitch Mode", in support of the album on April 5.[29]

Pop-up store

A pop-up store in Seongsu-dong, Seoul to commemorate the release of Glitch Mode will be open from April 1 to May 29. The arcade-themed store includes a photo zone that reproduces the music videos's shooting location and an entertainment zone with 8-bit games inspired by the album artwork. Other products and attractions include balloons with the members' signatures and handwritten letters.[30]

Commercial performance

Glitch Mode surpassed 2.03 million pre-orders on the day of release, the second-highest ever for an act under SM and exceeding NCT Dream's previous career high of 1.71 million pre-orders for Hot Sauce.[31][4] The album sold 700,000 copies on its first day after release.[32] As of April 3, Glitch Mode recorded sales of 2,100,339 copies within one week, breaking the group's previous personal record of two million copies sold in 16 days for Hot Sauce.[33]

Glitch Mode debuted at number 50 on the US Billboard 200 dated April 9, 2022 having sold 15,000 album-equivalent units,[34] becoming NCT Dream's first entry on the chart,[35] as well as number two on the Billboard World Albums chart.[36]

Track listing
Glitch Mode track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Fire Alarm" (파이어 알람; Pai-eo Allam)
  • Lee Seu-ran
  • Rick Bridges (X&)
Bleu3:12
2."Glitch Mode" (버퍼링; Beopeoring; lit. Buffering)
  • Benjamin 55
  • Alony 55
  • Sam SZND
  • Benjamin 55
  • Alony 55
3:27
3."Arcade"Jung Ha-ri (Joombas)
  • JeL
  • Dem Jointz
3:27
4."It's Yours" (너를 위한 단어; Neoreul Wihan Dan-eo; lit. Word for You)
HighSquadHighSquad3:44
5."Teddy Bear" (잘 자; Jal Ja; lit. Good Night)
  • Kwon Deok-geun
  • Bikkyu
  • Xiso
  • Senji
Kwon Deok-geun4:02
6."Replay" (내일 봐; Nae-il Bwa; lit. See You Tomorrow)
  • Hwang Yu-bin
  • Mark
  • Jeno
  • Jisung
  • Ludwig Lindell (Caesar & Loui)
  • Gregory G Curtis II
Ludwig Lindell (Caesar & Loui)3:34
7."Saturday Drip" (sung by Mark, Jeno, Jaemin, and Jisung)Rick Bridges (X&)
  • samUIL (Decade +)
  • Rick Bridges (X&)
samUIL (Decade +)3:00
8."Better Than Gold" (지금; Jigeum; lit. Now)
  • Ryan S. Jhun
  • Scott Russell Stoddart
3:20
9."Drive" (미니카; Minika; lit. Mini Car)Jo Yoon-kyung
  • Noak Hellsing
  • Robert Habolin
  • Markus Sepehrmanesh
Robert Habolin3:18
10."Never Goodbye" (북극성; Bukgeukseong; lit. North Star)
  • Hwang Yu-bin
  • Mark
  • Jeno
  • Jaemin
  • Jisung
  • Zayson
  • Kim Ji-hoo
  • Zayson
  • Kim Ji-hoo
3:32
11."Rewind"
  • minGtion
  • Junny
  • minGtion
  • Junny
minGtion3:04
Total length:37:44

Charts

Sales
Overall sales for Glitch Mode
Region Sales
South Korea[47] 1,646,949
Japan[48] 61,024
United States[34] 15,000

Release history
Release history and formats for Glitch Mode
Region Date Format Distributor Ref.
Various March 28, 2022
[49]

See also

References
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  2. Yoon, Joo-oh (January 27, 2022). SM "NCT DREAM, 3월 목표로 새 앨범 준비 중" [공식입장] [SM "NCT DREAM, preparing a new album with the goal of March" [Official Position]]. MyDaily (in Korean). Archived from the original on February 3, 2022. Retrieved March 25, 2022 – via Naver.
  3. Yeo, Gladys (February 28, 2022). "NCT Dream drop teaser for sophomore studio album 'Glitch Mode'". NME. Archived from the original on February 28, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
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  48. Cumulative digital sales of Glitch Mode on Oricon Chart:
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