The Boyz Have “No Air” Without You
The Boyz have returned to the music scene with third mini-album The Only, a six-track album featuring an EDM and house-influenced beat that ventures away from the group’s signature sound, bringing something new and exciting to the table.
Title Track: “No Air”
The group certainly leaves an impression with their latest release. “No Air” has a Latin, house beat influence that is reminiscent of KARD’s releases like “Don’t Recall” and “Rumor,” or even UP10TION’s “Runner.” The change in musicality catches the listener’s attention immediately. The lyrics “my eyes, breath, heart want you” leading up to the chorus and beat drop are super addictive, and you’re guaranteed to have this track stuck in your head after just a single listen. However, the most striking musical point is the half-time change that occurs after the second chorus, not to mention the intense crescendo in Sunwoo and Eric’s rap verses is just absolutely stunning. From a musical standpoint, this is The Boyz’s strongest comeback to date.
The visuals are no joke, either, though we figured that out from the teaser images of the boys in dress shirts submerged in water. The depiction of this particular element in the music video is fantastic, with the dance takes performed in shallow waters being our favorite parts of the whole shoot. It’s hard to go wrong with the beauty of water dancing, and the group’s strong ability to put on such a performance makes it a perfect visual element. The monochrome outfits help draw attention to the little highlights of color scattered through the video, making for a very pleasing experience all around. The Boyz didn’t come to play with this comeback!
The Album
The Only begins with simple EDM intro “Breath to Breath,” which builds tension and leads into the title track. The B-sides kick off with “Only ONE,” an upbeat EDM track that has a more traditional pop sound than previous songs on the album. “Lucid Dream” follows, and it’s a lighter jazz-influenced song that adds a new flavor to the overall presentation. The main melody with the staccato piano helps the song maintain a light atmosphere; this is definitely our favorite off the album.
Closing it out we have “36.5° Melting Heart” and “4EVER,” two tracks that take the energy level down a notch. “36.5° Melting Heart” is the R&B track we all want and need, with a sensual undertone complemented by sweet vocals. “4EVER” closes out The Only as a warm, sentimental pop ballad song.
This is a pretty strong comeback from the sophomore group, and it’s safe to say the different genres mixed throughout make the album even more intriguing. Be sure to support The Boyz during their promotions!