You’ll Have “No Problem” Listening To BAEKHYUN’s New Album Essence of Reverie
Photo: INB100
With his last full album released in 2020, BAEKHYUN has returned with another full-length R&B album that truly has us on the edge of our seats. Essence of Reverie is an upbeat, groovy album with seven songs that had me clicking favorites left and right.
Essence of Reverie Tracklist:
“Chocolate”
“Elevator” (Title Track)
“Lemonade”
“Love Comes Back”
“No Problem”
“Black Dreams”
“Late Night Calls”
The album starts with the pre-release “Chocolate,” and let me tell you, this track is incredible. It was released on May 15 and has been on repeat ever since. With a mixture of hip-hop and R&B, this track is groovy and captures the retro vibe it was going for. This pre-release gave us a look at what to expect from the album and set the tone for the entire vibe. Something that stood out to me is the fact that he raps on this track. It is so entertaining and honestly brought a smile to my face. It’s such a fun track and has become an instant favorite of mine!
The next song, “Elevator,” is the album's title track. Sounding like the long-lost sister of his older track, “Candy,” this upbeat track makes you want to dance. “Elevator” will get you up on your feet when it starts. A mixture of R&B and pop, the song has a lively beat and R&B elements, like the slow tempo. The trap beat merges perfectly with BAEKHYUN’s strong vocals, which is a mixture that we are used to when it comes to his tracks. At the end of the song, BAEKHYUN performs effortless runs and belts that will have your jaw on the floor. It’s a fun song that will have you excited to hear the rest.
The music video is very artistic. The way it incorporates a spooky concept into the video is so unique. The green coloring, the smoke, and the elf character add so much life to the music video and keep you captivated. Something else that stood out in the video is how the sets change. One set is of him in an elevator, then it’s him on a video set, then it’s him on a movie set. It’s interesting to see him use so many concepts in one video. It adds to the fun concept overall.
@baekhyun_inb100 𝕌𝕡 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕕𝕠𝕨𝕟 𝕚𝕟 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𓏲 ࣪₊♡𓂃 #백현 #BAEKHYUN #EssenceofReverie #Elevator ♬ Elevator - BAEKHYUN
Songs like “Lemonade” and “Black Dreams” are the album's most upbeat, animated songs. There is a groovy beat with a mixture of R&B and trap music in these songs. “Lemonade” has a retro vibe to the song. BAEKHYUN’s vocals are smooth, fitting the more sensual sound of the track. “Black Dreams” is another very danceable track. I can see this track being a favorite of many. With the word “dreams” in the title, you won’t be falling asleep to this track—you’ll be wide awake and ready to sing along from beginning to end.
To all of my ballad girlies out there, we are in luck. This album has three ballads that will make you feel like you're floating. “Love Comes Back,” “No Problem,” and “Late Night Calls” are all ballads on the album. Each song is different from the next. “Love Comes Back” has a ‘90s R&B sound that will have you swaying your hips to the beat. His vocals are deep and sensual, giving us this funk vocal tone. “No Problem” brings back that R&B and pop mixture we love hearing from BAEKHYUN. This track feels more new age R&B with an upbeat sound. The song to finish the album is the beautiful ballad “Late Night Calls.” With the strums of a guitar, the acoustic sound of the song makes you sway and feel like you are on a cloud. With graceful vocals, BAEKHYUN sings smoothly like he’s on a late-night call. It’s a breathtaking way to end the album.
Essence of Reverie is an amazing album and it truly shows the versatility of BAEKHYUN. He’s such a talented artist, and it’s so exciting to see him back. So, check out Essence of Reverie and tell us which song you love the most.
“Elevator” TITLE TRACK SCORE: 9.8/10
“Elevator” MUSIC VIDEO SCORE: 9.5/10
Essence of Reverie ALBUM SCORE: 10/10
Total Score: 9.7/10
Edited by Sandy Ou