Here are my credentials (again): yeah…none. I think the amount of TXT songs I know can be counted on one hand, and besides one, they’re all singles. But like with BTS, I’ve been a K-pop fan for four years and I figured that it was about time I make an effort to give them a try. It’s funny; I feel like with every girl group I cover I’m like “well obviously it was July 2017 because Joy had red hair” and with every boy group I’m like “um…are there seven or eight of them again?” But who knows, maybe I’ll be surprised. Let’s get into it!

(Edit 6/1/24): “Are there seven or eight of them” lmao. I wrote this almost a year ago and…well, [spoiler alert], guess who’s seeing TXT in concert in 10 hours? This idiot. Also, there’s five of them. (Check out my concert review here)

Editor’s Note, 5/2/25: This review was originally written on November 20th, 2023; though it’s been thoroughly updated since then, it’s on my list for a redo.

(Part One)

Ep #5: The Name Chapter; Temptation

Sugar Rush Ride is, thankfully, a return to the synthy, ethereal, upbeat sound that has become TXT’s signature for its verses and pre-choruses, but for some reason opts for a very simple whistling hook and an incredibly jarring anti-drop chorus instead of resolving its great build-up. The bridge, likewise, feels harsh in what’s otherwise a calm song, and honestly, I find this song more disappointing than I would if it used a style I hate throughout, because I really enjoy the greater part of it…but I just can’t get past that chorus.

From The Name Chapter: Temptation, there’s three b-sides I want to talk about. Devil By The Window is a fully English song, which normally I would complain about, as I often do. But this one’s actually really good; it’s tense, attention-grabbing, and has a very taut arrangement. Also, this is probably me reading too much into it, but the chorus is giving me such queer energy (“I met the devil by the window, traded my life, temptation touched my tongue, spread the wings of desire. He’s whispering ‘give up, don’t you put up a fight.’”). But…c’mon guys, maybe I’ve missed something, but last time I checked straight people don’t get seduced by random devils of the same gender standing near their window, but hey, how should I know?

Besides that, I also liked the acoustic guitar in the pop-rock Farewell, Neverland and the chill vocals here as they sing goodbye both to a childhood lover and to childhood as a whole. Tinnitus (Wanna Be A Rock) pleasantly surprised me with its Afro-pop influences, because it’s not a common pairing in k-pop and I was surprised by how well it works here. Also, apparently some of the members wrote both of these, so kudos!

Single #1: Do It Like That

Do It Like That is an English-language collaboration with the Jonas Brothers, and between its very mainstream pop sound, the English, and its beat, I admit that it gave me war flashbacks to Dynamite. Here is where I invoke my disclaimer of: Dynamite is not a bad song (see my way-too-long BTS review for a whole two paragraphs of thoughts on that), but k-pop doesn’t need to try and replicate it. I know that this is totally down to my own bias, because Do It Like That isn’t a bad song either, but I won’t be returning to whatever concerningly white void they filmed this in anytime soon.

Single #2: Back For More

Back For More is another English-language collaboration, this time with Brazilian singer Anitta. I was preparing myself for another paragraph of disclaimers and having to do some overly dramatic sighing, but actually, I liked this! It feels like any other TXT single with its disco influences and catchy beat, just in another language, as it should be. I also appreciate that they collaborated with a Latin pop star, who sings in both English and her own language too, which made it feel less like a cop-out. The first time I heard this one, it was the shortened version that they performed at the VMAs, but the longer version with the bridge really elevates the song and I’m glad I watched it. It’s not my favorite but I’m not going to throw a tantrum if it comes on.

Album #2: The Name Chapter; Freefall

I was feeling optimistic from the first verse of Chasing That Feeling, although after being burned by Sugar Rush Ride, I was still a bit wary. But, thankfully, Chasing That Feeling does what it predecessors didn’t do: it delivers, with those head-bopping synths, citypop influences, and electronic background. I admit that I wish it had a bit more of a climax and went against the grain, but it’s hard to not be won ever when a song’s chorus starts by saying “I’ve turned my back on heaven” and telling fate “come on and kiss me”.

The Name Chapter: Freefall is another full length album, so I have a lot of highlights. I loved the exploration of a harsher version of rock mixed with metal in the teen angst driven Growing Pain, which their voices were surprisingly suited to. I also enjoyed the vulnerability and slowing rising vocals in Deep Down’s pre-chorus, the acceptance that “life is not a fairytale” but is still worth living in Happily Ever After, and the moody Skipping Stones, which tells the listener not to be too hard on themselves, because what they’re going through will pass. I think that Skipping Stones was also written by the members themselves.

EP #6: Minisode; Tomorrow

Deja Vu is is firmly in the moody electro category, though is thankfully a little less melodramatic than LOSER LOVER. I really like the buildup in the pre-chorus, although, having been burned by Sugar Rush Ride, I was wary of another anti-drop. But thankfully, it doesn’t have one. This song, despite being so new, has already earned its place in their top half of title tracks for me, especially with the electric guitars kicking in just before the final chorus. It’s bringing the drama without being unaware. I really hope they return to this sound again.

From the EP, Minisode 3: Tomorrow, while I enjoyed the fritzy energy of electronic I’ll See You There Tomorrow, and the (at first) more toned down acoustic guitar of Quarter Life before it blossoms into a louder beat, my hidden gem was definitely the anthemic Miracle, whose driving beat and great sense of power in its guitars reminded me of my favorite Dear Sputnik.

EP #7: The Star Chapter; Sanctuary

Over The Moon is TXT’s first release in their new chapter, and also their first since I saw them in concert. More laid-back than their usual mix of EDM and rock-pop, it instead makes use of R & B to spotlight their vocals. It’s ethereal and atmospheric, and though the chorus doesn’t lean as far into its sense of catharsis as I wish it did, that’s not really the point of it. It’s a beautiful song, managing to expand TXT’s sound in a way that’s both unexpected yet stays true to their roots; a maturing, not an abandoning. Though Over The Moon may not be a song I’d listen to much on my own, I still like it.

From the EP, I enjoyed the light pulsing synths of Heaven and the great vocals and blend of rock-pop in Higher Than Heaven, which is closest to the TXT I know. My hidden gem was Not Gonna Run Away, which is driven by a percussive guitar and pops of brass, and I hope makes an appearance in future concerts.

Single #3: Love Language

Love Language starts out breezy and light, with a haziness that’s perfect for the late Spring early summer time when it came out. Maybe it’s just me and my inability to consume media without relating it to one of ten queer movies, but it reminded me a lot of the aesthetic of Call Me By Your Name, which is set in Lombardy, Italy. As for the song itself, it’s fairly sparse, albeit not in a bad way. It’s meant to drift in and out of the ears, not just stick there a la Chasing That Feeling, to be a backing track while we watch TXT gallivant around a Spanish village drenched in sunlight and go “awww”. And hey, it worked on me; I don’t really have any complaints. I may not go search it out, but I’m not going to object to listening again.

Album #3: The Star Chapter; Together

I have to say that my first thought when I heard the title “Beautiful Strangers” was the Halsey song of (almost) the same name, one of the first things I learned on piano. But instead of a vulnerable, acoustic ballad, Beautiful Strangers is an atmospheric, late-night synth pop track, with verses so light they feel as though they might flow away. I was a bit worried that the chorus would be a repeat of Love Language in that they wouldn’t break any new ground in the song, just being a continuation of the verse. But I was wrong! Here the chorus is the star (pun very much intended). I love when a song continues to build on itself, and while this one doesn’t quite reach the heights of Deja Vu or Chasing That Feeling, it’s a worthy addition to their discography.

From the album, I enjoyed the laid-back, Sunday Driver (that can only be described as “groovy”), the rock-synth Take My Half (easily my hidden gem), and the nostalgic LP closer Song Of The Stars with its chanty hook. Mostly, I wasn’t as big a fan of its overall sound, but that’s more personal feeling than it not being “good”.

Verdict: TL;DR

So, I’m glad I did this, much more than I expected! I confess that I did expect something similar to BTS, which is probably unfair given the fact that besides having the same company, they have nothing to do with each other. Calm down, I’m not laminating my stan card just yet. I’m not a MoA, but I think that I could probably consider myself at least a casual fan after this. We’ll see how it goes. Maybe the next comeback will absolutely blow me away.

(Edit [6/1/2024]: guess who’s now a MoA and is seeing them in concert in approximately twelve hours?)

My Top 5 songs are Lovesong, Run Away, Thursday’s Child Has Far To Go, Dear Sputnik, and Maze In The Mirror, with Skipping Stones and Miracle as honorable mentions. TXT gets an 8.75 out of 10 from me, which, again, is a surprise for both of us! But certainly a happy one. I do love synth, rock pop, and disco, and I’m so excited by the fact that they’ve already written a bunch of songs. Here’s hoping that they keep getting better and they end up getting as much creative freedom as some entirely self-produced groups. I look forward to seeing where they go next!

We’ll be covering a girl group next time, and I’m pretty excited for it! Tschüss!