Billboard's track-by-track review of TVXQ's Tense!

[ridzithenerd.livejournal.com]

At a showcase in Seoul for a Britney Spears and BoA show a little more than ten years ago -- on December 26, 2003, to be exact -- K-pop outfit TVXQ! made their debut performance. After a decade of defying the odds (five years is usually considered the expiration date for idol groups) and breaking international records, TVXQ! members Yunho and Changmin celebrate their anniversary and return to the K-pop scene with new album "Tense."

The 12-track release is the Korean superstars' seventh full-length Korean LP (released Jan. 6 by S.M. Entertainment), defined by throwback-inspired pop and sultry R&B productions that tackle the complexities of love but also show major love for their longtime fanbase -- known as Cassiopeia (Cassies for short).

The duo kicked off K-pop in 2014 right by dropping the ambitious, big band-inspired lead single "Something" (cut No. 2) on News Year's Day, following up with 11 other tracks sure to delight Cassies in addition to Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars and R&B fans.

Read through our track-by-track review of "Tense" and look out for more exclusive TVXQ! content celebrating the K-pop duo's 10-year milestone coming soon to Billboard's K-Town.

1. "Ten (10 Years)"

A spoken opening tells the listener, "I just want to say 'thank you' for the last 10 years" before a sultry, R&B beat backs the boys counting down from 10 to one -- a motif of the track a la Beyonce's own "Countdown," though, TVXQ! uses the countdown as background to their lyrics. While the beat is hot, this track is mainly for the fans who have stuck by from day one as Yunho and Changmin drop the titles of past singles (from 2004's "Hug" all the way to last years' "Humanoids") into the lyrics, promising fans: "I will never say goodbye."

2. "Something"

The lead single off "Tense" sees Yunho and Changmin diving into big band territory with this ambitious jazz-pop single. Blaring trumpets are mixed in with a modern pop beat as the boys unleash their signature harmonies, even dabbling in a little doo-wop. The most thrilling moment has to be in the bridge when the track unexpectedly changes course into  what is best described as bluesy dubstep: A drastic sonic shift brings rumbling drums and Jimi Hendrix-esque guitar riffs that feel like the tempo has moved into a dubstep-esque half-time, but, surprisingly, has not. While TVXQ! has gifted the K-pop scene with forward-thinking electronic-pop treats, this is a delightful delicacy that successfully combines the sounds of the past and today.  

3. "Your Man"

Funky guitar riffs and shimmering violins open this track that continues the throwback sound heard in "Something." Regal-sounding trumpets get thrown into the mix as the boys tell of the cute ways they would honor a lover if they could be "your man."

4. "Moonlight Fantasy"

Despite a somber piano intro, a walking bass line soon sneaks into the track, transforming it into a feel good funk-rock track with melodies that wouldn't sound out of place on a classic Michael Jackson record, but with a modern production (look out for the DJ scratch section) that feels at home on Bruno Mars' "Unorthodox Jukebox" album.

5. "Beside"

With a grooving electronic-based beat plus lively trumpets, cut No. 5 is a blend between the modern-day R&B teased in "Ten (10 Years)" and the throwback motif heard in every other track at this point.

6. "Double Trouble"

Listeners get an aggressive curve ball thrown at them with the punchy brass, aggressive guitar riffs, gritty-dubstep bridge and powerful vocal belts in "Double Trouble." The bold production is only momentarily balanced out by the boys' heavenly harmonies on the pre-chorus before moving into the chorus where the boys are on the verge of screaming their frustrations of love -- your neck will tingle when the guys wail "Is this the love?!"

7. "Off-Road"

Devoid of the throwback elements, the racing R&B production features hard-hitting beats balanced out by a melodic piano line and sweeping violins with lyrics that use the metaphor of an off-road car ride to uncharted territories in a relationship.

8. "Smoky Heart"

A simple beat backs Yunho and Changmin's croonings at the start while the production's intricacies grows up to the synth-laden chorus. The "Smoky Heart" refers to the feeling of missing a lover, as if their absence is causing a fire in their lungs and its smoke will soon fill them up.

9. "Love Again"

Another smooth R&B production showing off the duo's powerful vocals -- and as fantastic as the guys sounds on the stripped-down production, 10 years into their careers we already know these boys can sing (really well!) and at this point in the album, the listener may wonder why tracks like this or "Smoky Heart" are such safe arrangements.

10. "Steppin'"
The tempo picks back up again with this fun, bouncy number. Good luck getting that repetitive "steppin' steppin'" hook out of your head after first listen.

11. "Rise"

A gorgeous orchestral ballad that sees the arrangement's edginess evolve as it progresses from twinkling xylophones and fluttering flutes to booming percussion and electric guitar riffs. The inspiring lyrics -- composed by Changmin -- tell of pushing on even in the toughest of times, a message TVXQ! can certainly relate to in their decade-long K-pop careers.

12. "Always With You"

The record wraps on a happy note with this feel-good rock-pop track. The lyrics tell of a relationship -- likely a metaphor for TVXQ! and their Cassies -- recalling their past memories, returning to one another and the guys making the promise to always be there. The album ends with a few of TVXQ!'s signature belts, an appropriate send off until the next time the boys return to their devoted global fanbase.

first post, hi. hope everything looks okay!

source: billboard

Comments

[honeyfunnybunny.livejournal.com]

I love reading album reviews and this was spot on! I'm so in love with this album and now I don't know which one to get fml

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

My dilemma since the album was released is whether to buy the black one or the red one. And each one has different pictures. Ugh. I'm too broke to buy both.

[honeyfunnybunny.livejournal.com]

Ugh seriously when I found out the pictures were different I just... I don't know which one to get :(

[hinadori.livejournal.com]

Very solid album. The only song I didn't like was Moonlight Fantasy. It starts out so strong with Changmin's sultry first verse but the "funk-rock" beat is just not my cup of tea. And for comparison, favorite track from the album is Off-Road. I usually don't care for songs with heavy falsetto (why I can't stand Justin Timberlake) but this song really worked for me. Plus I get a kick out of the fact that both their falsetto voices sound so similar.

[ridzithenerd.livejournal.com]

i'm in love with Off Road, its been on repeat forever. I didn't like Double Trouble for a similar reason -- the beginning sounds like a pop rock jam but dubstep isn't my thing and basically ruined it for me. but overall, the album is soo solid.

[zuluuluz.livejournal.com]

havent gotten into the other songs on the album yet due to no time but its on my ipod next to be listened to after i stop replaying something i mean.... i LOVE this title track its asdjklahslfjkh

[1111-am.livejournal.com]

Hmm I'm probably alone on this, but I actually found Ten to be a bit disappointing. It was the one track I was really looking forward to since it was like their obvious "10 year anniversary" song (dur). I think it's partially my own fault for stupidly trying to compare it to Arashi's 10th anniversary song "5x10." Idk this is just a personal opinion. I found "5x10" to say everything I wanted to hear as a fan. It talked about their struggles, their doubts starting out, their gratitude and love for fans, their unity as a group, and their optimism for the future. "Ten" was special in it's own right and you could see how it was for fans who have stuck with them since the beginning and I liked how it addressed songs from their debut all the way up to this album's single "Something." I don't know. I think it was significant that there was mention of some of those songs from when Jae, Yoochun, and Junsu were still in the group. I can’t say exactly what it was about the song though, but something was missing from it. Like I don’t want to compare, but I feel like some of the genuineness that was there in Arashi’s “5x10” was lacking in "Ten." Like I feel like the lyrics were too focused on being clever on incorporating references to some of their old lyrics and song titles that the sincerity was lost, even despite the intro with the thanks to the fans. I don’t know, it may also have to do with that “5x10” the boys wrote that song themselves, while for "Ten" it was written by someone else, which is too bad since I think Changmin at least is a pretty decent lyricist in his own right. IDK. Also I feel like such butthurt dick for just thinking how stunning this whole thing could have been if JYJ had never left and they could have contributed some of their songwriting. Whatever.

That said, I feel like the rest of the album was overall able to convey all the things I wanted to hear as a fan and after listening through the entire thing a couple times through I feel like it’s a pretty solid album and you can see how they've matured musically as a duo. I think there’s only one or two tracks where I’m a little meh about them, but even then they’re pretty decent songs. Really loving "Always With You," it's so catchy.

I feel like I had more to say, but I kind of lost my train of thought and feel like I'm kind of rambling into non-sense anyways. Also, good lord I've already written a novel D: Hopefully I won't read this all tomorrow morning and disagree with everything I just said. That happens a lot lol.

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

Like I feel like the lyrics were too focused on being clever on incorporating references to some of their old lyrics and song titles that the sincerity was lost, even despite the intro with the thanks to the fans

THIS THIS THIS. Exactly why I didn't go apeshit over it like every other fan. Sigh...

[chemistrykim.livejournal.com]

[babyonions.livejournal.com]

I stopped reading after they compared 10 with Countdown lol
Album grew on me after a few listens, Something and Smoky Heart are still faves

[raisinrum.livejournal.com]

I have listened to the whole album twice and my favorites so far are something and moonlight fantasy.

[hurtmybones.livejournal.com]

it sounds sf dated (and not in a good way)

[caramelorchoco.livejournal.com]

off road, beside and double trouble are my favourite now.

and steppin (haha lol the lyrics are so stalkerish tho)

[japataz.livejournal.com]

The album is ....okay...but it sounds like you could take TVXQ out and interchange them with any other SM artist and still have the same sound.

I guess I was just expecting more from them...

[rosetta16.livejournal.com]

I agree with them the album is so freaking good I love it, and I love that the song is still in the top 5 in many charts, I think this is the longest a TVXQ song has charted so high ♥♥

[martha-sal.livejournal.com]

+1 I keep wondering why...

[bunica1990.livejournal.com]

great album

I'm obsessed with Something.