Gasoline

Gasoline is the second studio album by South Korean singer Key. It was released on August 30, 2022, through SM Entertainment. It consists of eleven tracks, including lead single "Gasoline". The album was commercially successful, debuting at number one on South Korea's Circle Album Chart, and received positive reviews from music critics. A reissue, titled Killer, was released on February 13, 2023. It features three new songs, including the lead single of the same name. Gasoline and Killer form the second and third parts of the "retro trilogy" Key started with his 2021 EP Bad Love. Background Gasoline was Key's first solo release in nearly a year, following his 2021 EP Bad Love. His first studio album Face was released in 2018. He began developing the album while working on Bad Love, and took inspiration from various retro horror films, such as Friday the 13th, Gremlins and Mars Attacks!. Born in 1991, he grew up before the introduction of computer-animated films, and was influenced by the hand-drawn designs associated with the films of his childhood. Key stated that he wanted to show a different, more "powerful" side with this album, describing it as "Something that only Key can do". He wrote four of the eleven songs himself, saying he wanted "to give life to the album" by including autobiographical stories. Composition Lead single "Gasoline" is a hip hop dance song that features chanting laid over brass and drum sounds. The lyrics, written by Key, express his determination to forge his own path like gasoline. "Bound" is an uptempo pop song with a heavy bass and various club sounds. The lyrics describe his desire to overcome his limitations. "Villain" features Jeno of NCT, and contains rhythmic synths and FX sounds. It is about a villain who has aspirations of becoming the hero. "Burn" is a pop song that features piano riffs, a strong bass and rhythmic electric guitar sounds. Lyrically, it is described as an "emotional" song about the burning flames of a relationship. "Guilty Pleasure" is a synthwave song that utilises synthesizers and bass. "G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time)" is a pop ballad about the hardships and concerns of adulthood. It includes bells, synths and soft bass sounds, with an orchestra in the second half. "I Can't Sleep" is an uptempo pop song with electric guitar riffs. The lyrics describe feelings of insomnia. "Ain't Gonna Dance" is a midtempo pop song with rhythmic 808 bass and drum loops.