Popular K-pop boy band TXT,Tomorrow x Together, has once again astounded me with a flawless album: “The Star Chapter: Sanctuary”. This album showcases how diverse TXT’s songs truly are, and how each album is a different music genre. The Star Chapter: Sanctuary comprises three romantic, dreamy songs, two electric songs, and one rock song.
Heaven:
Rating: 8.5/10
Paired with harmony Yeonjun and Beomgyu at the start of the first verse, the angelic beats immediately put my mind at ease. TXT’s voices blend seamlessly with the comforting beat in the background, with subtle high-pitched vocals adding more depth. The highlight of this song is the chorus. Every time I listen to this song, I am shocked to hear Soobin and Yeonjun’s airy high notes one after another, and it makes me feel like I am in a dream. The soothing rap sounds as if the members are talking to their fans. Also, I enjoy the adorable lyrics about how love makes one feel like “heaven.”
Over the Moon:
Rating: 9/10
The intro really takes me out in the best way possible. The dreamy audio reminds me of lo-fi music and the harmony is the perfect start to the song. A catchy beat follows and turns the entire song’s vibe around, something that I wasn’t expecting. Their voices alternate every few words, making me want to dance. Again, the chorus makes me fall in love. The lyrics “Over the moon, over the stars” are sung in the most perfect falsetto by Soobin and Taehyun and can make TXT the male version of Ariana Grande (her whistle notes are phenomenal). The song has a minor pitch to it too, making it sound suspenseful.
Danger:
Rating: 6/10
This song starts off strong, shocking me with low, electric beats fitting for a mafia boss or an F1 driver. However, the suspenseful voices don’t last long because the vibe is soon replaced by one more elegant one; the song continues alternating between these two feelings which leave me confused. The short rap is the highlight, but this song lacks something to make it more memorable. The lyrics are really random and repetitive, with the word “danger” appearing over and over. Don’t get me wrong, the song is catchy, and repetitions can add to that element, but I’m slightly disappointed.
Resist (Not Gonna Run Away):
Rating: 10/10
This is one of my favorite songs on this album. From the very start, the members’ voices can be heard clearly in astonishing and beautiful high riffs. The lyrics “I can resist” make me think of Ariana Grande again, and the melody is one of the most addicting I’ve heard in this album. The perfect blend of English and Korean adds to the quick, catchy beat. The minor tone of this song is completely different from the other dreamy concepts and the nasal tone is a blessing to my ears. The song stood out as dynamic and electric, something that I would listen to on repeat. My only complaint is that the song is only two minutes long.
Forty One Winks:
Rating: 5/10
Unfortunately, this song feels static and flat. Yes, there are catchy portions — such as the verse before the chorus that involves low riffs — but the melody doesn’t sit with me. The voices blend too much with the actual audio, making me feel like the song isn’t going anywhere. The lyrics also don’t make much sense, as they are talking about how winking is “your and mine language.”
Higher Than Heaven:
Rating: 10/10
This song is astonishingly good. From the very start, my jaw dropped at the rock beats with perfectly timed pauses in between. I was not expecting a rock song in a dreamy album, and the melody at the start of the song reminded me of “All I Want For Christmas Is You” by Mariah Carey. TXT adds their own mix to the song though, keeping it nostalgic and reminding me of a sweet, summer day. The verses are sung as if the members are smiling while singing, and the chorus is upbeat with a happy melody and a twinge of sadness. The chorus also includes the rock beats from the introduction and the members’ voices ascend higher until a perfect transition into rap occurs. The song ends with a soaring high note and a perfect blend of nostalgia and overflowing joy.
Overall, I will be listening to this on repeat and highly recommend this album.
