Taemin - 2nd Album 'MOVE' Listening Post!

[mylovebelt.livejournal.com]

Tracklist
1. (00:00) Move
2. (03:32) Love
3. (07:21) Crazy 4 U
4. (10:57) Heart Stop [Ft. Seulgi]
5. (13:52) Rise
6. (17:24) Thirsty
7. (20:50) Stone Heart
8. (24:18) Back To You
9. (27:55) Flame of Love [Korean Ver.]

source: Antoaneta Lee

Comments

[liu-zhoucheng.livejournal.com]

Move, Rise, and Thirsty are amazing. The whole thing is amazing, but those three in particular. Lee Taemin delivered.

[undeniablysarah.livejournal.com]

Alright I have listened to the full album. I honestly think this is one of his most cohesive and well put together albums to date. The sound is great and his vocals really stand out.

My favs are Crazy 4 U, Move, Love, Thirsty and Stone Heart. Something I have noticed with these songs is that they start kinda slow but have an awesome switch up in the middle of the song that just works really well.

I am very proud of Taemin for this release. The "emotional" vocals (I have seen them coined online already) are very well done and show his improvement as an artist.

I am looking forward to seeing him perform them live. I am wondering which other song he will perform with MOVE, I am kinda hoping for Crazy 4 U so see what kinda dancing he will do with it.

Overall one of he best albums of the year tbh

[arhythmicpulse.livejournal.com]

This album feels heavy for me, so many feelings and sensuality. I personally think this is the album where Taemin delivers the most vocally (so far). He did say that this was going to be unexpected. I don’t know how this will sit with the Korean audience, but for someone who is more accustomed to the Western sound, I love this album a lot. I also appreciate how well-produced each song is.

A number of the songs start out sounding somber, then they morph into something else, like Crazy for You and Stone Heart. The shifts in these two songs are amazing. Like, you think you’re already okay with how the song sounds initially but once the beat drops they get even better.

Rise, Back to You and Love are sang so beautifully. I was moved the most listening to these three. Rise reminds me of Soldier, I think because they have some similar chords?

Thirsty. Heh. I cackled at the description of SM for this song “insufficient love with thirst”. Yeah, right. 😂 I was pretty sure this was by Jonghyun but I was wrong! Sensual song #1 of the album.

As for Heart Stop, at first listen (like, before the beat drops in Crazy for You and Stone Heart), this seems to be the most lighthearted song in the album. This sounds very dreamlike, like there’s some depth to it...? Reminds me somewhat of Shift. Also, YAAAAAS AT TAEMIN/SEULGI DUET. YAAAAAS.

Lastly, Move. When I heard the teasers this was exactly what I was expecting. It’s a bit dark-sounding and sensual and sexy (but still this is only Sensual song #2 of the album because Thirsty). I LOVE IT. I dare you to walk without strutting while listening to this song. I can’t help but groove to it. Ughhhhh. THIS NEEDS TO BE LONGER OK.

Oh and um, Flame of Love. I always liked the Japanese version better so the Kr version is probably the only song in the album I don’t love. :))

Overall a solid album for me. I’m proud that Taemin constantly wants to release new things—like, each Kr album/mini he has released so far have a different air from each other. I can’t even say if I like this or Press It more.

My qualms:
1. UM EXCUSE ME, BUT WHERE IS ALL ABOUT YOU? :)) tbh though I don’t think it would fit in the overall sound of this album.
2. Need. More. Songs.

[tsuyoi-hikari.livejournal.com]

Never thought that I will see the day when people describe his singing as "emotionally expressive". 8D

I'm so proud to see how far he has become.

[undeniablysarah.livejournal.com]

+1

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

I see what you mean about Heart Stop and Shift.

[mylovebelt.livejournal.com]

ok so i listened to it completely and i like it a lot. i dont love it the way i continue to love ACE but i could def listen to this album from start to finish and never feel the need to skip a song

i wish he was more emotional with his singing when he sings ballads but he's improved so much ~

love my boy!

[benihime99.livejournal.com]

Very solid mini
I enjoy pretty much all the songs, even love some of them
I think he did very well with his release, probably my fave for him (so far)

Edit: in Flame of Love, he sounds like Jae a bit

[dynamite-state.livejournal.com]

1. Move: This is phenomenal. It's not as instant as Danger but I was hooked by the 2nd listen. The Sexuality sequel I deserve.
2. Love: It tries to be big and dramatic, which is a good thing, it saves it from being boring.
3. Crazy 4 U: Upbeat filler, and we have time for that.
4. Heart Stop: I didn't know what to expect from that collaboration but I liked what I got! Easier to get into than the previous two.
5. Rise: Another ballad but it works better than Love. I love how Taemin ballads always go for a "dramatic" angle (to cover up Taemin's vocal weaknesses? it doesn't matter), I know I'll be entertained.
6. Thirsty: BOP! I expected the verses to sound different but the chorus saves it. I don't expect it to drop outside my top 3 from the album.
7. Stone Heart: "oh, another ballad" I thought when it started. I THOUGHT! I'll be shocked if this is not produced by LDN Noise.
8. Back To You: It's no NCT 127 - Back 2 U but I love it! It's the most barebones of the ballads here but somehow my favorite one? He pulled it off
9. Flame of Love: Unlike Goodbye, I was all about this when it first came out. The quintessential Taemin ballad, I'm glad it's back.

Overall this album leans more heavily into ballad territory than I was expecting.
It's strange cause his Korean title tracks are always upbeat VS the Japanese ballad singles, but the b-sides are almost the opposite. It's not a bad thing though cause he knows his strengths and weaknesses, so he rarely goes for something he cannot pull off.
Is it better than Press It? Yes, I think so. But there are no moments like "Mystery Lover" or "Sexuality" deep in the album to truly take me by surprise.

Looking at his concert setlist and Flame Of Love's inclusion, I wouldn't be surprised if a repackage with the Korean versions of the Japanese bops + a new title track will follow this up soon.

[byeolbyeol.livejournal.com]

tbh. i don't think we're getting a repack. he's gonna be promoting until mid-november which then leads into a schedule that shinee has overseas and then into year end stuff. after that jonghyun is rumored for his cb around january. i honestly think that the inclusion of the korean ver. of his japanese songs were to give him a full setlist back in august - because he couldn't reveal his full album back then. (but it was apparently only going to be a mini at that point.)

[dynamite-state.livejournal.com]

I mean, it still is a mini... The only reason it's called an album instead is because they threw Flame Of Love in there (EPs can have a duration up to 25-30 minutes, MOVE closes in at 31 lmao). Your reasoning on their inclusion in the concert makes sense but there's always the possibility Jonghyun also gets pushed back, no? lol

we'll see!

[byeolbyeol.livejournal.com]

oh yeah, it's def still a mini. sm just worked some strings to make it seem like it wasn't which i'm kinda "????" about. they easily could've had him release a mini and saved the second full for a better time, but sm doesn't make sense. anyway!!!! jonghyun could get pushed but idk. the rumor for awhile has been that he's coming back before the olympics - which are in february and is gonna cause a halt in releases. by the time they're over it'll be march and shinee will be preparing for their anniversary activities / next tour in japan so i'd be surprised if he got a repack.

[carmine-pink.livejournal.com]

I think his singing has improved yet again, I'm so proud of him. So far my favorites are Move, Thirsty, and Back To You. Flame of Love I already like in the original version. Overall a sensual album without being overdone.

[missshallelujah.livejournal.com]

THIRSTY

(https://postimages.org/)

[vh4n.livejournal.com]

THIRSTY!!!



Edit: sorry OP I suddenly forgot how to attach images on LJ lmao

[jillyjellly.livejournal.com]

lmao where is this from

[vh4n.livejournal.com]

haha it's from Jjong's Young and Rich VCR

[mylovebelt.livejournal.com]

https://youtu.be/wmapK_TxfS4

[byeolbyeol.livejournal.com]

i'm on my second listen through right now and it is a really cohesive / great album. i think i'll have to give it a few more listens but it's pretty different from press it - not totally different, but it's much calmer sounding than press it was. not that press it was loud or anything but it def had more upbeat tracks - or upbeat for taemin, lol

[saemcrh.livejournal.com]

Can't write all I feel, but I did just order both versions of the album if that's any indication about how I feel lol.

[dynamite-state.livejournal.com]

oh, a stan!! I only bought one and later asked for a specific version

[saemcrh.livejournal.com]

I was gonna buy just one (random vers.), but then I when I was looking at previews (+ the different posters), my shallow side took over my rational side and I bought the set. I'm so weak for the pretty tbh, I should probably get help for that.

[evilcoc0nut.livejournal.com]

[mewaqua1.livejournal.com]

what a great album! it's really one cohesive album, like all the songs fit each other and have the same colour/feeling to it and make it feel a solid album. his singing is also amazing, way better than ace and even press it, was really impressed with it, seems like he keeps working on it and shows his "never satisified with the current results" kind of personality again, impressive too, that he keeps improving more and more, every comeback again!

I have to say my faves are Stone Heart, Love and Move but I rlly adore all songs, one of the few albums I wouldn't skip a song (and i'm rlly a "skip a song" kind person, i'm horrible i know), it's a close call but i might even like the b tracks more than press it's but could be just be me being impressed af in this moment with how the album MOVE sounds (tho nothing can top press your number for me, that was my fave song of whole 2016 by far and still one of my all-time favorites)

I hope he will preform Love or Stone Heart too at some point during the music shows promo's

[jillyjellly.livejournal.com]

Does the chorus in Love remind anyone of a different song?

[yxerin.livejournal.com]

the post-chorus in stone heart is making me astral project

[songchoding.livejournal.com]

i'm poppin' my p*ssy to this whole album!

[lightframes.livejournal.com]

Move and Heart Stop my dude.

Seulgi did not disappoint.

[seulgibear.livejournal.com]

sound-wise this is nothing he hasn't done before, some of the songs here sound like songs on press it but! he does this well and he sounds amazing so keep going!

move is def my fav song on the album it's fucking amazing. crazy 4 love is my second fav and also rise bc it gave me goosebumps wow i love all the album and i will probably purchase because the aesthetics are right up my alley, love everything about it

[annayism.livejournal.com]

THIRSTY.

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

Not into the title, Love or Rise but LOVE most of the rest

[smilez4you.livejournal.com]

I'm seriously loving this album. Definitely top 5 for me for this year.

[antrea.livejournal.com]

Rise holy wow
This album is gonna be on repeat for a while I think. Solid, solid stuff.