Robin Murray, writing for Clash, said that the dynamic of "the group vs the individual, outside forces vs their own unique voice – is what drives Shape of Love, a project fuelled by a quiet sense of evolution". About the tracks, Murray feel that "Love" is buoyed by "red-hot 90s hip-hop vibes, filtering boom-bap elements through an R&B lens", "Burning Up" found "Monsta X lining up alongside R3hab, and it takes the project in a slightly more subtle, soulful, and explicitly emotional direction", "Wildfire" is "all layered vocals and potent lyricism, with I.M having contributed extensively", "Breathe" is "a snappy, quickfire offering", and closing track "And" is "led by stadium-level guitar lines, reminiscent of Coldplay but within a definitively K-pop context".
