The Kraze

View Original

The Boyz Return with Jolly Comeback THE BOYZ 2ND ALBUM [PHANTASY] Pt. 1 Christmas In August

Calling all THE B! The Boyz are back and have wowed us with their new comeback “LIP GLOSS.” The Boyz is an 11-member group under IST Entertainment that has been releasing music since the year 2017. The 11 members are Sangyeon, Jacob, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Kevin, New, Q, Ju Haknyeon, Sunwoo, and Eric. Hearing from them again is a joy and watching the teaser photos and videos drop got me and many listeners super excited for what was to come. This mini-album includes six-party style dance tracks that has us all on our feet. What makes this mini-album different from their previous releases is that there aren’t any ballads. It’s back-to-back dance tracks that get your heart pumping. It is something new that I wasn’t used to from them—but I really enjoy it. 

Tracklist: 

  1. “LIP GLOSS” 

  2. “Passion Fruit” 

  3. “Lighthouse” 

  4. “Fantasize” 

  5. “Fire Eyes” 

  6. “Fairy Tale”

Title Track: “LIP GLOSS” 

Did anyone else want to join the party at the end? The video looks so fun and made me want to party along with them. The music video is six minutes long and showcases the members fully. The first part of the video shows the members competing to see who is going to date her, and that makes me laugh. It is super silly and lighthearted. The second part of the video replays the bridge and final chorus but this time it showed us the choreography. My questions on what the choreography would look like were answered; it reminded me of the “THRILL RIDE” with the in-line dance moves and ripple effects. The movements are hard-hitting and exciting. It’s a sight to see. 

The song itself again reminds me of “THRILL RIDE” with upbeat tempo, summer feeling, and catchy lyrics. I found myself throughout the day just singing “Lip Gloss, lip gloss (hey) I wanna taste your lip gloss.” It’s just so memorable. The rap has to be my favorite part because of the way they ride the beat. It is smooth and impactful at the same time, which is one of my favorite qualities about The Boyz and their talent.

The B-Sides 

“Passion Fruit” is an electro-pop dance track that had me nodding my head along to the beat the moment it started. It merged perfectly going from the title track to this track. The harmonizing in the bridge of the song that led to the final chorus had me stand up out of my chair. The Boyz are amazing vocalists so when I heard that I levitated. At the end, there is an abrupt final line that finishes the song. It will definitely leave you searching for more. 

“Lighthouse” shows how The Boyz can pull off any genre of music. This animated track is very joyous and chipper. The build-up at the pre-chorus would hype up any listener. They definitely had their party ending in this song. I can only imagine the choreography for this song. I know it’s going to be spectacular to watch. 

This might be one of the few songs on this album that isn’t as hard-hitting as the previous songs. “Fantasize” is a rock/pop track that reminds me a lot of the Jonas Brothers. The cheerful backing track, smooth vocals, and bright vibe of the song radiates early 2000s music to me. This is for sure one of my favorites on the mini-album that will be on replay for a long time. 

There’s something about “Fire Eyes” that makes me think that this could have been a fantastic title track. It’s upbeat, unforgettable, and fun. It’s an entertaining song that gives you a good feeling. This is another one of my favorites on the album. I can’t wait to hear this song live, and bask in the overall happy feeling that this song radiates. 

The last song on the album is “Fairy Tale,” and it’s a really good ending track. In the lyrics, they talk about how if there aren’t any fairy tales for adults they can make their own. They also talk about how in their dreams they only think about their partner. It’s a cute song to close out this jammed pack, hard-hitting mini-album that left us with a smile on our faces. 

As a THE B it’s hard to give them a rating because I fold like a chair when it comes to their releases. This album was what I can only describe as fun. Each song is upbeat and carries its own message. The title track is that summer anthem that we were waiting for. THE BOYZ 2ND ALBUM [PHANTASY] Pt. 1 Christmas In August is a great mini-album and leaves us super excited for the stages and future projects from The Boyz. 

“LIP GLOSS” Title Track Score: 9/10

“LIP GLOSS” Music Video Score: 8/10

THE BOYZ 2ND ALBUM [PHANTASY] Pt. 1 Christmas In August Score: 9/10

Total Score: 8.7/10