FTISLAND’s “Unthinkable” Return
Between two members leaving (one to pursue acting and the other due to scandal), the remaining members enlisting, and the birth of Minhwan’s twins, it’s been a wild past two years for K-Rock group FTISLAND. While many believed that 2019’s ZAPPING would be the last release to come from one of Korea’s first idol rock groups, PRIMADONNAs all over the world were surprised to see the November 29 announcement from FNC Entertainment’s official Twitter account that the now-trio would be releasing their eighth mini-album. Titled LOCK UP, the mini-album features five brand-new tracks from Hongki, Minhwan, and Jaejin, with three tracks composed and arranged by Hongki (credited as Hong’s Tower) and one track featuring him as lyricist as well.
The Title Track: “Unthinkable”
The mini-album opens with the title track “Unthinkable,” which is hauntingly beautiful and just as dramatic as the early days of FTISLAND. Between Hongki’s mellifluous vocals, the crescendoing orchestra paired in the background, and the beautiful opening and closing piano arrangement, it’s hard to not feel emotional upon first listen. This isn’t just FTISLAND’s big return; it’s FTISLAND proving that they’ve not lost their touch and that they’re still one of K-Rock’s strongest groups ever.
If you think the track is emotional, the music video is equally heartbreaking. Opening with Hongki walking up a lit driveway towards a house in the woods with a scratch on his face, his voice in the background sings about the heartbreak of love ending only on one side of the relationship. He’s soon joined in the house by Jaejin and Minhwan, coming in to play the role of best friends trying to cheer him up. They’ve brought cake, champagne, confetti poppers, and their sparkling smiles, but it’s not enough for Hongki to forget, and he eventually retreats upstairs.
Described in the music video’s details as having trapped the memories of his lover in Pandora’s Box after the breakup, Hongki then opens that box when he’s alone and relives some of those brighter memories. From listening to Cyndi Lauper records, slow dancing, and taking selfies, these memories are looked back upon with a soft smile on his face. The music video then does a rewind and we see a crashed vehicle on the side of a worn road, the cause of Hongki’s scratched face. It’s a deep music video, one that many can relate to, and is the kind of cinematic masterpiece one can expect from FTISLAND.
The Mini-Album: LOCK UP
Following “Unthinkable” and its Pandora’s Box of memories come four B-sides: “Beautiful,” “Obvious,” “Bones,” and “Set Me Free.”
“Beautiful” is a much more lighthearted track than the title and is the first track on the album to feature Hong’s Tower credits. With a peppy guitar line and smooth snapping rhythm in the background, you’ll find yourself swaying softly in your seat in no time. “Obvious” is track three, and brings back the more melancholy sound that was found in “Unthinkable,” but in a different way. “Obvious” is more uptempo than the title track, but there’s still this feeling of heartbreak as Hongki sings.
The last two tracks on LOCK UP are “Bones” and “Set Me Free,” and they may just be the best tracks on the mini-album. “Bones” introduces a new sound to the mini-album, bringing in a slight old western movie vibe with the acoustic guitar, though it does still have a quicker tempo than the other tracks. LOCK UP closes with “Set Me Free,” the track written, composed, and arranged by Hongki. The song starts off with a bang before settling back into a softer verse and exploding at the choruses, but honestly speaking, I wish it had kept that edge throughout the entire track.
LOCK UP is a great listen and proof that two years means nothing when it comes to FTISLAND’s chemistry and talent, but with all of the tracks keeping the same general tempo, LOCK UP just feels like it’s missing something. As somebody who got into the group because of songs like “Take Me Now” and “Fade Out,” it would’ve been nice to hear them do something heavier again, especially since ZAPPING steered away from anything too heavy as well. Even without the heaviness, LOCK UP is a great return for Korea’s first idol band, and I’m just happy to even have this release to listen to.