Our favorite Maknae is back under his new company and with his fifth mini album Eternal and title song Sexy In The Air.
Hello and welcome to two Shawols practicing Taeminism. This blog post will be heavily biased however, the fact that SHINee and Taemin always deserve to have a high bar set for them since they break it every time, can you really call us biased when they are just that talented? Anyway, before I start singing Taemin’s praise can I just say how much I miss SHINee as a group? I am so happy they are all thriving now and some under new companies but guys, guuuuys where is the group comeback. Okay anyway, it has been long enough since a Taemin comeback so let me enjoy it in its full glory. Let’s review.
Sexy In The Air is probably the most Taemin title to ever be titled. No one could make me be excited about a song that has sexy in its name if it wasn’t for Taemin. The concept photos for this comeback have been an absolute feast on the eyes and I just knew Taemin would absolutely be carrying my August playlist on his back. Sexy In The Air feels pretty new for Taemin but at the same time it feels very quintessential Taemin. We have the sexy alluring mood of the song, his insane vocals with that recognizable tone and some groove. Sexy In The Air feels a lot darker and a bit more hip-hop orientated but still the chorus is catchy, gets stuck in your head and offers enough melody. Taemin’s charisma and skills as a performer truly carry this song. I absolutely love the bridge and how it switches things up a bit it also does not stand out too much and blends very well into the song. Taemin things.
How do I get started on this mini album because it is absolutely filled with goodies. I have to agree with Una again Horizon is that bitch! Sorry for the profanity but it is true. This song is just so good and feels like the most Taemin song ever. Another song that stood out to me while I was listening through the album at work was Deja vu oh what a song! What a mood this song sets and how much it fits Taemin’s persona. I just caught myself pressing replay the moment the song was over. Other songs Ibreally liked were Crush and Say Less but honestly the entire mini is so good and just showed us yet again what a master of his art Taemin is and how well he knows what music fits him. An artist!
Did I mention how cool the music video for Sexy in the air is! I love this gender destroying godfearing man!
His majesty is back. Sometimes I feel like reviewing Taemin’s releases is just us singing praises about everything he does and honestly, we regret nothing. If you’ve been following our blog, I’m sure you know SHINee is our favourite group and we really enjoy everything they do both as a group and as soloists. Taemin’s artistry over the past decade has been nothing short of amazing and truly shifted something within the k-pop scene. It’s no wonder Taemin has easily become a role model to many and influenced the style of the k-pop soloist scene since his own solo debut. He always comes through with classic pop and r&b influences and brings his performance to another level. I’m intrigued to hear what this new title will sound like considering it’s under his new company as well. Let’s review!
Sexy In The Air is very interesting melody-wise. It tackles two different styles, a more groovy one during the first part of the song, and a more r&b-inspired one during the second. The verses are more than solid, offering us a great melody to warm up to the catchy, yet laid-back chorus and that addicting hook. Considering the song’s named Sexy In The Air, Taemin definitely brings an incredibly sensual and mysterious atmosphere to the performance itself. I didn’t expect the song to shift a bit during that second part but it works really well? I’d even say I might be enjoying that r&b style and sound during the second half even more – Taemin suits this kind of concept and melody so much and you can tell he’s really putting his all into his performance and delivery of the song. The choreography is, as expected, fantastic and I’m sure this will be such an interesting song to see and hear live considering the styling is also top-notch this era. Sexy In The Air brings something sensual, dark, and alluring to the table and we expect nothing less from Taemin at this point.
Now, if there’s a soloist who literally never misses with his b-sides, it’s definitely Taemin. He’s an album artist and I feel like you really get to feel his artistry and his sound when you dig deeper into his discography because he often hides some of the best songs as b-sides. This new album is not different – it offers so many great songs that I’m sure I’ll overplay the following months. There are some more sensual tracks on the album, but also some retro-inspired tracks that really surprised me positively! Yes, I’m talking about the fantastic Horizon which might just be my favourite song from this new album. I’ve grown to expect retro perfection from KEY, but Taemin said hold my beer and decided to deliver absolute quality with this b-side. It’s upbeat, and catchy, with a fantastic chorus and an instrumental that really gets you moving. Say Less is another stand-out track from the album that you definitely need to check out. It’s so nostalgic, and smooth and has such a unique type of energy and melody that reminds me of a siren song – fitting for Taemin. This man keeps positively surprising me even after of over a decade of following SHINee and that says so much about how much he likes to be versatile in his music.
A solid title but what an album! One of 2024’s best with b-sides worthy of title tracks without a doubt.