TAEMIN has proved once again why he has earned the nickname of “the idol of idols.” No one is doing it like him! The singer has returned with his fourth mini album Guilty, his first solo release since 2021. Since this was a project I was really anticipating, I figured it would be great to take a moment and review exactly why listening to Guilty feels so good.
Let’s start with the title track “Guilty.” Right away, listeners are met with a very dramatic sound led by a 30 member string ensemble and synths. The overall feel of the song is very warm and steamy, as the lyrics find him telling a story of trapping someone with his love with little to no means of escape. One can envision themselves walking into a masquerade at a huge ballroom, where he might just pop out and call your name, demanding you come forward. I promise I’m not trying to start a fanfic here, but for those familiar with TAEMIN’s music, you definitely know this is the mood when it comes to his title tracks. It’s just *so him.*
Making the listener feel like they’re in a movie is a very large part of what makes TAEMIN’s music stand out. In his Guilty Countdown Live, he mentioned that his sound (and SHINee’s sound, for that matter) is pretty much “a genre itself.” He also said, “It would have been good to show a new genre, but I wanted to show TAEMIN’s unique color.”
Next up in the EP is “The Rizzness.” The song starts with a rather silly, bouncy feel, but the melodies make a shift the moment the electric guitar makes its entrance. “The Rizzness” is a song where TAEMIN pretty much asserts his power, and how he can make someone fall head over heels for him in an instant.
“She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not” is my personal favorite from the EP. Maybe it’s the swirling sound of the guitar, which makes me feel like my ears are being reeled in for the sad pop anthem that awaits. TAEMIN finds himself peeling flower petals here as he asks himself about a love that seems to be fading away.
“Not Over You” and “Night Away” swoop in with a cooler feel. As the title implies, “Not Over You” finds TAEMIN longing for a special someone, expressing the pain he feels knowing they’re not within arms reach. “Night Away” flips the script a little, and revolves around TAEMIN having a special moment with a lover.
Guilty ends with “Blue,” another song that “feels so TAEMIN,” if you know what I mean. It’s the perfect example of his “genre.” Leave it to this man to create a cohesive EP that can be enjoyed anywhere.
Listen to Guilty below!
