Fresh, youthful and bright; Beomgyu, Yeonjun, Soobin, Taehyun and HueningKai, collectively known as TommorowXTogether or TXT, have finally made their debut with The Dream Chapter: Star. As BigHit’s first boy group since BTS, TXT understandably gained quite a bit of attention—especially since the teasers that led up to their debut were shrouded in mystery through morse code and aesthetic shots. So it's safe to say the anticipation and curiosity was quite high for the release of the title track “Crown.”

Coming from BigHit, many expected for the boys to go for dark, serious concept, leaning towards the genre of hip-hop. However, TXT pleasantly surprised us all by going for something on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. “Crown” sings of a young boy who, upon discovering he has grown horns on his head, runs away to find acceptance with a boy who grows wings on his back. The horns in this case symbolize the difference that prevents this boy from fitting in with others. Upon discovering the boy with wings, he learns to accept his flaws, managing to transform his horns into a crown. The song, much like its uplifting message, is a burst of high energy and uplifting vibes. The morse code from the teaser makes an appearance at the beginning, seamlessly blending into a catchy synth-infused beat setting an exciting tempo from the get go. The first verse is enough to let us know that TXT as a group are filled with strong vocals. The smooth vocals are interspersed by the scattered rap verses, making the whole song follow a very natural flow.

The music video focuses on visually pleasing us as viewers with well designed sets, smooth transitions and effects, and of course, the members themselves. Along with trendy effects, namely the neon light effects that have been all the rage on Instagram lately, the music video is where we get a taste of TXT’s strongest quality—performance. Not only were the moves incredibly detailed and well connected, their sharp delivery commands your attention. I do wish that they’d have played on the concept of the song a bit more, since the flashy effects and sets take away from the beautiful message of the song.

The rest of the songs on the album display TXT’s ability to explore and adopt a variety of genres. “Blue Lemonade” draws inspiration from hip-hop of the ‘90s and early 2000s with its funky flow and drums. However the unique delivery of the verses is what gives this song its kick. “Our Summer” is a tropical house track that sings of a love as refreshing as summer. This song is a perfect example of a track venturing into an overused genre but managing to still sound fresh and distinct. “Cat&Dog” is a delightfully unusual take on a hip-hop influenced track. The catchy speak verses and beat along with the barking convey a cute message of them wanting to be a pet so as to stay by a lover’s side forever. The bare instrumentals of “Nap of a Star” allow the group to shine as vocals. The breathy, quiet nature of the song ends the album on a very mellow and emotional tone.

With their tight choreography, strong vocals, and incredible stage energy, it’s hard to believe that they’re rookies at all. While following BTS’s footsteps in terms of meaningful music concepts and coming of age, TXT’s youthful vibe allow them to make this their own and find their own niche. The album further warms our hearts by mentioning the strong relationship between the boy with wings and the boy with horns, a reference to the connection between BTS and TXT’s journey. I love the fact that they’re so different from their senior group, but still have their own journey of self love and acceptance to tell. Completely living up to expectations, I’m sure I’m not the only one excited to see what the future holds for TXT.