This & That
Stray Kids trade maximalist intensity for a relaxed, confident groove on their 10th mini-album's title track — a smaller flex, and a smart one.
By Song Reviews · August 21, 2026
Stray Kids trade maximalist intensity for a relaxed, confident groove on their 10th mini-album's title track — a smaller flex, and a smart one.
Landscape breadth, deliberately: Stray Kids have built their identity on maximalist, high-intensity lead singles (“MANIAC,” “Chk Chk Boom”), and “This & That” is a genuine tonal swerve — three minutes of relaxed, confident groove that doesn’t need to shout to make its point. The title’s the thesis: rather than picking one lane, the group’s embracing “this and that” and trusting themselves to handle whichever direction they end up pursuing.
It’s a smaller, subtler flex than fans might expect from this group, and it’s a smart one. 7.1/10 — proof they don’t need maximum volume to hold a crowd’s attention.
Hero image: Stray Kids at Incheon Airport, May 2024, by TV10 (티비텐), licensed under CC BY 3.0.