[Album & MV Review] Taemin - 'Press It'

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TAEMIN - 'PRESS IT'

Track List:
1. Drip Drop
2. Press Your Number
3. Soldier
4. Already
5. Guess Who
6. One By One
7. Mystery Lover
8. Sexuality
9. Until Today
10. Hypnosis

We haven't seen an album from SHINee's Taemin since his debut album 'Ace' a couple years ago. Now he's going to 'Press It' with a full album, 10 new tracks to delight the ears. Not only is this his first full album but also this is his first outing as a lyricist: he wrote the lyrics to his title track, and we get to hear him cross genres on his newest LP.

The album kicks off with "Drip Drop," a sort of funk song with techno stylings. The tempo seesaws back and forth from fast and frantic to easy and inviting. Taemin's tenor changes; at one moment he's mysterious and flirty, the next he's frantic and aggressive. If you're curious about the title, some lyrics ought to help you out:

"Cloudy weather is fine if you're there with me

Grey clouds become a comfy shade

Your raindrops become my sea"

The Bruno Mars-produced "Press Your Number" is a smooth dance pop piece, and it starts slow, but picks up during the chorus. There are some killer time-changes in here that showcase his vocals nicely. The lyrics, authored by Taemin himself, show a man in pain; he dials her number, but feels her growing more distant day by day. He tortures himself with memories of her, and there's some evocative imagery there.

"Soldier" is a song that really shows his range, a ballad that goes from quiet and heartfelt to loud and anguished. It starts out with a lonely piano and soon builds to full-on orchestra and chorus. The lyrics don't say it explicitly, but you almost get the sense of a breakup from the tune. He wants to show up and protect her.

The fourth track, "Already," is a gift from Jonghyun and a smooth and polished soft rock number, that gets a little more energy after the first verse. It starts out with some space age synths and soon gives way to tinkling piano and delicately strummed guitar. He does heartache well, and it suffuses his vocals. Its about a breakup, how maintains he's fine, but I get the feeling he's not.

"Guess Who" starts out creepy, with wind, footsteps, gun sounds, and a scream. Definitely trespassing into VIXX territory. The lyrics are creepy, too, fitting the intro nicely. His tenor seems as if he's lustful and dangerous, and the chorus is somewhat hissed. He seems to be painting himself as a killer:

"Guess who I am (Guess who)
Shoot for my heart
Who's on the dance floor
(Scream for me)"

"One By One" begins with a tortured guitar riff, which is quickly subsumed by smooth washes. He follows the basic melody of the riff as he sings, but more and more things are layered like overdubs and the guitar is nearly drowned out. When the chorus subsides, the riff resurfaces. I love how that works -- it's just genius. The lyrics are him explaining he and the girl are the only ones for each other.

I was a little unsettled by the music box riffs on "Mystery Lover", and upon repeated plays it still gives me chills, and not in a good way. This would be a good frame for a song about a vampire or murderer or some such. He reaches deep for the vocals on this one. The song itself is about an encounter with a woman he hasn't met yet, and how exciting it will be when they're together.

With deep bass and lengthy synth washes that turn to blasts then pulses, this seductive "Sexuality" oozes sensual feelz. It has an aura of mystery around it that pulls you in, and his voice invites you. I'll give you three guesses as to what this song is about.

"Until Today" is an R&B number that channels Michael Jackson and Prince, and yet is still undeniably Taemin. But there's some melodies and instrumentation here that just reminds me of the 80's, particularly when he lapses into falsetto. It's a heartfelt song about a breakup:�"Just until today like this, Baby, I'll drink without saying anything all day."

"Hypnosis" is your bog-standard ballad. It starts out slow, on a piano, and then gradually he has to shout to be heard to be heard over all the instrumentation. One lyric summarizes what this song is about: "I hypnotize myself so I can forget you."

I love how some of the songs start out one way, and then quickly take another direction. It's a musical sleight of hand that distracts and delights. If you can keep my interest, then that's half the battle right there. And he has my attention, both as a singer and now a songwriter as well. This album's already #1, so I don't think I have to convince anyone else. If you're a Taemin fan, a SHINee fan, or just like lush, soothing compositions, you owe it to yourself to check this out.

MV REVIEW
There are four music videos here. Four! Either SM really believes in Taemin, or is really promoting him -- one of the two. To avoid making this more of a TL/DR than it is already, I'll give you my general impressions, rather than something insanely detailed.

TAEMIN - Press Your Number Music Video

This is an intense MV, and has something we're not used to seeing, the soft-featured Taemin wielding a gun. It's a bizarre contrast, as he becomes little more than a thug, till a car crash reverses his circumstances and he becomes the guy on the wrong end of the gun. The dance sequences are all top-notch, and there are some great visuals. There's only so much you can do with a basic heist video, but this wasn't bad at all.

TAEMIN - Press Your Number Performance Video Ver.1

This was also intense, but for a very different reason. Here Taemin busts out his best dance moves, spending some of his time in a puddle, and showing off his obvious physical charms. The dancing was completely on point. The only thing I could have done without was the constant crotch grabbing/rubbing. I think he was 'pressing it' a bit too much.

TAEMIN - Press Your Number Performance Video Ver.2

He has exactly the same moves as Version 1, but in very different surroundings. Here Taemin is in the house of a chaebol who apparently uses a museum curator as an interior decorator. Very ornate pieces adorn the room, polished to high shine. The SHINee member is dashing in his ruffled shirt and suit, with decidedly modern cuts. So basically choose your preference when choosing which to watch -- street or mansion.

TAEMIN - Drip Drop_Performance Video

In case you're not tired of seeing Taemin dance, he kills it again with an entirely new set of fancy footwork, and shakes it up by adding background dancers as well. The dancers are dressed a bit like thugs, while Taemin's more or less dressed normally. The backdrop is Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park in Los Angeles County, California, so he switches up the scenery too. As usual, he rocks whatever he wears.

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