TXT Casts a Spell with The Dream Chapter: MAGIC
After having one of the most anticipated debuts in recent K-Pop, TXT is finally back with an equally long-awaited comeback! Following a seven month break in which the boys experienced numerous delays, the rookie boy group is finally back on the scene with their first full album, The Dream Chapter: MAGIC.
March’s The Dream Chapter: STAR, the group’s debut EP, not only saw substantial success but also left fans excitedly wondering how TXT’s sound would evolve. Where most groups take time to find their concept, TXT’s image as a group was pretty cohesive in their first release. The Dream Chapter: STAR saw the quintet as bright, energetic boys that took the classic cute boy concept and flipped it on its head, injecting youthful melodies with just enough creative cheekiness to set the boys apart from their contemporaries. MAGIC sees them in much the same light, with a hint of genre experimentation. But just how captivating of a spell does The Dream Chapter: MAGIC cast?
Run Away With TXT
“9 and Three Quarters (Run Away)” is the new title from TXT—a track with big shoes to fill after the group’s explosive debut with “Crown.” “Run Away” takes its theme from the Harry Potter book series, referencing the elusive Platform Nine and Three-Quarters where Hogwarts students catch the Hogwarts Express that transports them into the magical world. Much like “Crown,” “Run Away” isn’t about a romantic relationship, but rather a song that serves as a promise of escape for anyone who needs it.
Injected with a biting electric guitar and more than enough magical references to satisfy any Potterhead, “Run Away” sounds like the kind of mischievous, slightly bad-boy track you’d expect from a sophomore release from TXT, without realizing it’s what you expected in the first place. On the surface, it’s an enjoyable song with a chorus that won’t leave your head even after just one listen. From a more technical standpoint, the song is interesting in its swinging time signature that can easily alternate between 4/4 or 6/8 depending on the phrasing (for example Beomgyu’s “bibbidi bobbidi” line in the pre-chorus or the twinkling throughout the track), giving the song that extra magical edge. It’s intriguing to see electric guitars set against such overtly magical musical elements, as the two musical concepts almost seem at odds with each other, but somehow, it works.
The music video adds a mysterious storyline to the mix. Foregoing the usual school boy concept for something a little more mystifying, the video for “Run Away” shows the five members as outcasts in school that forge a bond while trying to escape the doldrums of daily life. Visually, the video is beautiful: the color palettes are incredible and the dynamic camerawork is stunning. The choreography for “Run Away” tells a story of its own, something TXT has wowed crowds with since their last release. For a song that’s enjoyable on its own, the music video for “Run Away” adds a much needed final magical touch.
All in all, “Run Away” is a great song: it’s a good listen that not only suits the boys well but also manages to not sound like anything else I’ve heard. That being said, I had hoped the concept-heavy song would’ve let TXT shine more as musicians, as they are incredible artists more than capable of creating magic on their own.
The Rest of the Album
Fans had been expecting a second mini-album from the group, so when news dropped that The Dream Chapter: MAGIC would be a full release from TXT with eight new tracks, fans rejoiced. The album opens with “New Rules,” a groovy dance track with a chorus almost as addictive as the one in “Run Away.” “Roller Coaster” is the third track on the album, following “Run Away,” and is a dance track in a similar vein to “New Rules” but with more of a 90s synth pop edge. One of my personal favorite moments in the album is the bridge in this song, which shows an almost sultry side to the boy group—something that has been notably absent in all their songs thus far. It suits them surprisingly well.
“Poppin’ Star” does a one-eighty in genre, adopting a much younger tone that fits in quite well with today’s tropical house-infused K-Pop scene. “Can’t We Just Leave The Monster Alive?” is an appropriate addition to BigHit Entertainment’s library, with the company’s in-house producers’ and frequent co-producers’ musical influences easily heard in the track. “Magic Island” is the first slower track on the album, and probably one of the best overall. The Dream Chapter: MAGIC is an album that has a lot going on and “Magic Island” is a muted, simplistic track that feels like a breath of fresh air. “20cm” is another slower song that tiptoes closer to R&B than its predecessor and finally allows the members to show off their vocal prowess, especially Taehyun.
The album rounds out with the upbeat “Angel Or Devil,” a dance track that sits somewhere between The Dream Chapter: STAR’s “Blue Orangeade” and “Cat & Dog” without managing to be as witty as either. As a standalone track, it’s an okay song, but it’s a bit of an odd note on which to end the album.
I truly enjoy everything about TXT. Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Huening Kai bring a much needed vitality to today’s K-Pop scene, however, this album did leave me wanting more. Maybe it’s because I know they’re capable of greater things or because they set their own bar incredibly high, but this album did not meet my expectations. The Dream Chapter: MAGIC is a generally good listen, but TXT is more than a generally good listen. I hope their third release helps them prove it.