No Hard Feelings by The Chainsmokers
The title’s honest—there are certainly “No Hard Feelings” here, because there are hardly any feelings at all.
The Chainsmokers have returned with No Hard Feelings, a six-track EP that wants to rekindle the fire of their early success but instead feels more like reheated leftovers. The duo seems to be leaning heavily into their formulaic sound, and not in a “nostalgic throwback” kind of way, but more like they’ve discovered that you can keep serving the same bland dish and people will still show up out of habit. If you’ve been craving innovation or anything resembling excitement in your electropop, well, keep craving.
To give some credit where it’s due, the production is polished, as you’d expect from two seasoned EDM veterans. Unfortunately, that’s where the praise ends. The entire EP feels like it’s trying to take you on a sonic journey but forgets to pack anything memorable. The sound is predictably slick—lots of synth-heavy hooks and breakbeat patterns—but it lacks any real depth or daring. Songs like “No Shade at Pitti” and “Addicted” might have been designed to make you move, but they instead come across like background noise at a club you can’t remember. And let’s talk about those beats—persistent, yes, but as relentless as a headache after too much bass.
Here’s where it gets bleak. The lyrics are essentially a shallow pool of recycled phrases about love, loss, and late-night partying, only now they’re wearing the thin veneer of emotional insight. Tracks like “Tennis Court” and “Green Lights (Demo)” try to evoke heartache and longing, but any emotional punch is dulled by uninspired lyrics that feel like they were spit out by an AI trained on their 2016 catalog. Even the collabs, such as with R&B singer Fridayy on “Friday,” can’t elevate these songs beyond cliché. It’s all the emotional depth of a motivational Instagram post.
“Bad Advice” tries to bring in some funky basslines and disco flair, but it ends up being the equivalent of watching someone dance at a party way past their prime—it’s fun for a moment, but mostly you’re just embarrassed for them. “Friday” does, in fact, bring back some of that old Chainsmokers energy, but let’s be honest, that’s like getting excited for toast because you’ve forgotten what fresh bread tastes like.
For an EP that’s supposed to be short and punchy, No Hard Feelings drags. The tracks blend into each other without much distinction, making it feel more like a single drawn-out, mediocre song than six distinct pieces. Any attempt at experimenting with genres, like adding disco elements or trap beats, feels like a poorly executed afterthought rather than a cohesive artistic direction. It’s like they threw a bunch of ingredients into the pot and hoped for the best, but forgot to season any of it.
Listening to this EP is like catching up with an old friend you used to party with, only to find out they’re still talking about the same wild nights you’ve long since moved on from. There’s nothing here that pulls at your heartstrings or makes you feel like you’ve experienced something profound. It’s just more of the same—glossy, soulless, and ultimately forgettable.
This will likely appeal to diehard Chainsmokers fans or casual listeners who aren’t asking much from their music beyond something to bob their heads to. If you’re looking for songs to fill the silence while you scroll through your phone, this EP might do the trick. But if you’re expecting The Chainsmokers to grow or offer anything new? Well, let’s just say you should keep your expectations as low as the lyrics on No Hard Feelings.
The Chainsmokers’ No Hard Feelings is an apt title for an EP that feels like it was made without much heart—or any intention of making you feel anything substantial. It’s a passable, uninspired collection of tracks that might keep their fanbase content for another few months, but it’s far from the innovative or emotional work they clearly want it to be. If you’re looking for music that challenges or moves you, keep scrolling. No hard feelings.
