To preface, I have been a massive fan of TXT since debut and what I’m going say are just my own thoughts, musings and opinions. You can disagree, but please keep in mind that my complaints are just critiques, not hate. At the end of the day, it’s K-Pop and no one can dictate how you enjoy it. Apologies, because this is going to be a long one. I feel that TXTs releases in the last couple of years have lost the consistency and dynamic production that their work had pre 2022. This isn’t only applicable to TXT but can be said for other groups too: I feel the music now is largely concurrent with these dreadful trends in the current K-Pop sphere that opt for easy listening, built around success rather than creativity, subdued and boring production and extremely short track lengths, (those of which I genuinely believe are HYBEs fault for feeding into lol). I don’t believe any of TXTs recent music is even ‘bad’. I do love some of the songs they’ve released in recent times, but I cannot help but feel the quality and lack of development on these tracks has held them back. I think ‘Over the Moon’ could’ve been greater had the production been a little more exciting, and (I know we all feel this) had it been LONGER. The hook is super catchy, the song builds up and is practically begging to lead up to an explosive conclusion that never comes. I like the song, but I don’t blame people for calling it boring. ‘Deja vu’, on its own, I think is an incredible song that had a lot more potential. It’s personally one of my favourite TTs they’ve done since GBGB. However, if they had pushed back the tinny-sounding trap beats, uplifted the underlying synths and prioritised the emo rock elements, I really believe we could’ve had a song that would mirror ‘0X1= LOVESONG’ and it’s excellent, nostalgic and cathartic production. ‘Chasing that feeling’.. (I may get jumped for this?) it’s a fine and fun synth-pop song, however, it’s largely generic. It’s also smothered in that weird hybe overly processed sound which I’ve yet to put my finger on how to describe, and it is yet again, like most of their title tracks in the past few years, bridge-less. It could’ve been a lot more than it already is. Finally, and this might be a personal gripe but ‘Sugar Rush Ride’… makes me so sad because most of that song is literally fantastic. But that chorus.. that anti-drop. To this day I don’t know WHY they made that choice. I’ve learned to live with it, but with great difficulty. I literally agonise at the thought of its potential. If it’s your thing though, I envy you. I wish it was mine. Prior to SRR, I’d say I loved each and every single title track and album TXT came out with. No complaints about their discography past that point. My point is, these recent title tracks are good, some fantastic even, but they keep missing the mark. The songs are popular, sure, but I’m not sure that they’ve reached the same level of iconic impact which say ‘Run Away’, ‘Blue Hour’ or ‘0X1= Love Song’ had, which were their definitive career highlights. Mind you, they had these back to back too! B-sides are a completely different story now. For instance, their last comeback, and this might seem like strong language, but that album gave us a half baked, hollow lineup of truncated songs that felt as though they were meant for easy listening, streaming and tik-tok challenges. Largely generic and uninspired. Down to even the visual album concepts, which their creative team are usually spot on with! The comeback in general felt half-heartedly strung together. The songs are fine, they’re not BAD. I even really liked a couple of the songs (saved by the live performances I had seen. the members absolutely killed it) which I probably would’ve loved more had they been longer and more fleshed out. However this album was generally a massive blotch in their discography. I genuinely believe fans and TXT themselves deserved better. (apologies if you loved sanctuary though.) The Tomorrow minisode was better, I liked it, but again it felt as though something was missing. My favourite B-side that I really love and adore from it is ‘I’ll see you there tomorrow’ (which surprise surprise, is the longest track on that album! it also felt like such a distinctly TXT song). However, I do consider Tomorrow to be their most consistent album as of late, it just felt as though it was being held back from being even more. Freefall, I know that people loved it, and consider it one of their best albums however.. I would disagree with that sentiment. Everyone has different criteria for what they consider ‘the best.’ And even though there are a handful of great songs in that album, it doesn’t quite hit the marks of being the best TXT has had to offer. There seemed to be no cohesion, as I previously mentioned, the album felt stuffed with that ‘overly processed hybe quality’ and that commercial pop ‘Do it Like That’ collab felt completely unnecessary. Harmless fluff, but not a good addition to either parties discography. A clear and random attempt to push them into the western market, however way you feel about that. Compare these past 4 comebacks to TDC: Star? Eternity? Blue hour? Magic? Freeze? Thursday’s Child even? We got some of TXTs most creative, fun, innovative and dynamic music out of the first 3 years of their career, and that’s why it’s incredibly frustrating now because we know that TUBATU are masters of any concept/sounds given to them because they are such a talented, charismatic and fun group, so where is that same level of consistency in their discography that they had as an early group? I remember there being some complaints circulating about the Act: Promise pt 2 set list months ago, and the removal of their older songs. I genuinely think this is an example of a lot of MOAs generally gravitating more towards the former part of their discography. I suppose I felt a little pushed over the edge after seeing and hearing the previews of their upcoming Together album. Ridiculously, ‘Beautiful Strangers’ is even shorter than ‘Over the Moon.’ Disappointing, but not surprising. Only 2 tracks are over 3 minutes the rest of which barely reach the 3 minute mark. I was really relying on this album to change my mind, or hope for some changes. I like some of what im hearing but again… it’s lacking. I understand these are only previews and we haven’t heard the full songs yet, but seeing the track lengths… I’m not sure that they won’t repeat the same faults that sanctuary and tomorrow suffer from. Only time will tell, and I would love to be proven wrong.. it’s not impossible to have a fleshed out song under 3 minutes, but for that to be a consistent pattern in their discography?? It’s getting diabolical at this point. On top of this, coming out with solo songs and MVs is a great idea and opportunity for each member, but more time and creative vision should’ve been dedicated to each one as they each deserve. The only thing which has not changed and that you can’t take away from TXT is the consistency of their hard work, talent, charisma and showmanship. Whatever they’re working with, their output has never felt half-hearted, and that is the golden thread which I’ve held onto up until this point. If I didn’t like a concept or sound, it would be carried by the members themselves. I feel a lot of warmth, endearment and nostalgia towards the five of them. For this, they will always have my support. Had I felt indifference otherwise, I wouldn’t be here typing up this post. It just constantly feels as though their potentials and the quality of their comebacks are being undercut by the production of the songs. At one point, I had considered their discography to be absolutely flawless and golden, and personally resonant. That’s what I hold on to, they’ve done it many times before, and they’re even better performers now. So why can’t they do it again? The answer probably varies and is mostly down to the current trends within the K-Pop sphere, a change in vision, hybes laziness and greediness. Not really sure. What do you guys think? You can agree or disagree, it doesn’t really matter, however it is fact that their concept and musical identity has morphed completely in the last few years, it’s just a matter of how you feel about that change. Again, I reiterate, the recent music is fine. I like a lot of it (absolutely loved ‘Love language’! a super fun era and I missed their refreshing concepts so much). However, I believe as a group of their calibre, they deserve even greater, and it just always feels like there’s something missing. I hate feeling this way because I know how hard they work on these comebacks and how much effort/energy it takes for TXT and their team. Those boys have been constantly worked to the bone since debut, and that frustrates me to no end. I just wish that more MOAs felt this way so it can be raised as actual critiques for the label to reflect on. Longer title tracks with BRIDGES, more creative and dynamic production, complete and FLESHED OUT B-sides such as their earlier work, use the time in between to let them rest so that the comebacks are less frequent, but way stronger in quality. I get they are a group that love touring, but they don’t need to be doing it every single year. That time can be used for them rest and hone their craft/performances so that when they do go on these tours, they return replenished and with a stronger body of work. (As well as a bigger budget for their overseas tour but that’s another can of worms!) I know that whether or not things change moving forward, they’re going to be successful nonetheless because they’re a sincere group. However as someone who really prioritises the quality of a groups vision and discography, I hope that label stops making weird decisions with TXT that stunts the quality of their body of work. TSC: Together is shaping up to be another repeat of these same issues, and at this point I need people to really start complaining and asking for better. At least for the length of the tracks!! I understand wanting to nurture a positive atmosphere and reaction surrounding this comeback, but as fans who give our time and for some of us money into these groups, I think we are entitled to ask for better from that company. submitted by /u/lightfromadeadlamp [link] [comments]
