Just a heads up, i’m no music expert, so there’s not going to be a deep musical analysis here lol. This is solely based on my opinion and my music taste, so please don’t take it seriously; I just wanted to share my thoughts on it. 🙂 I hope anyone who comes across this post would give the album a listen, i’m sure you’d find a few songs or more you’d like. And ik I should let the songs marinate in my head for a few days before making a post about it, but I physically CANNOT WAIT TO TALK ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IT’S SUCH A MASTERPIECE!
1. Cross My Mind
First off, do you know how HARD it was to decide number 1 out of these top 3 tracks, CMM won by a small margin here, but this is such an incredibly hopeful sounding/run across the field track. When I first saw this in the tracklist I was like: “Ha, is this going to be Off My Mind’s sibling?” But it’s the complete opposite, and I’d never thought i’d hear another See You Tomorrow, but here we are… and i’m going to cry again. I mean, do you hear those string instruments in the background?!
2. Real From The Fake
Like the title track name, I don’t even need wings to ascend to this song because this had me immersed in a whole universe. How do you not feel stars and planets rush across your fingertips listening to this? No joke, I had real tears form because of how beautiful and atmospheric this sounds. I especially love the line: “Don’t believe in everything they put in your face.” Everybody go add this to your space playlist (and best b-sides of all time).
3. Pressure
This song’s so energising and post chorus is exceptionally catchy, instrumental reminds me of Unlimited. Everybody’s voices worked really well in this song and it’s highly motivating. I will wish to see this sung on the treadmill. “Pressure makes diamonds,” ik, because this song’s an absolute gem!
4. Too Easily
You know, can’t believe they still managed to slip in a summer song in and it’s such a vibe (well, ig you can count the MV of Without Wings with all the summer elements too). Even if a meteors falling in the background, i’m chilling with this track blasting on the radio in the evening. Ik I keep referencing to all their past songs in this review, but this feels as if Don’t Worry Be Happy is shot in the late afternoon. Pre-chorus build-up is peak also, Chani’s tone in that one was mesmerising.
5. One More Kiss
Very funky and dance-centric, the autotune in the “one more, one more” part in the post-chorus tweaked something in my brain, adding this to my club bangers playlist. Rap is going all out with this one, maybe biased but Youngbin’s ones always catches my ears (um, pretend that’s the saying). It’s very much like My Fantasia or if Shh was a better track (i’m sorry to all Shh likers).
6. Without Wings
Huh, just realised that the entire MV is based on the Intend ver. of the albums and usually the MV’s track based off of the first version. Like I was expecting the massive cage and wings shot but this ver. does kind of work with the smooth vibe of the song. Also those Chani solo dance shots goes hard. Anyway ngl, was hoping for another Bibora track. This might be the first TT from them that i’m not fully into but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. The more dark and sophisticated concepts suits them more anyways. Favorite part has got to be the post chorus because all i’m hearing in the “W W” part is just ‘win win for this album and their 10th anniversary.’
7. Mr. Bang Bang
Ohhhh so that’s what the Lighten version of the album was for. I mean, the party theme was definitely needed for the 10th anniversary celebration but wow I was trying to rack my brain in finding which songs would’ve fit this ‘party big’ theme. Anyway, incredibly fun and definitely getting old school vibe from this. Cheers to this!
8. Curtain Call
Driving with the city lights in view with this one, parts of the instrumental brings me back to Tear Drop with the xylophone sound? (sorry, closest instrument I can think of) The lyrics in this album might be my some of my favorites from them so far (despite not understanding 80% of the songs lol). “I could dream big enough.” Hoping this part didn’t signify the end, but a new beginning with them.
9. Best Mistake
Certainly interesting, chorus has a hypnotisting hook to it. And as I am typing this and listening to it for only the 2nd time, and wait, it’s actually pretty catchy. Sounds a bit all over the place and the singing/rapping’s not my favorite, but might grow on some people.
10. Do You Want Me
Apologies to any DYWM likers in advance because… noooooooooooooooo, not another Love Puzzle 2.0/About Love b-side! If you’re going to put another soft and sweet song for the album, why not another For Fantasy or Strings?? DYWM has the sound I legit dislike because there’s nothing I can remember from this song besides it being slow and completely background music. Don’t get me wrong, Love Puzzle and So Beautiful eventually grew on me, but this one? Yeah it’s not going to cross my mind again.
Conclusion: Definitely would’ve preferred Pressure or Cross My Mind to be the title track but honestly, still happy we got these tracks to listen to and Without Wings still a solid song itself, hoping SF9 enjoy themselves performing it because i’ll be looking forward to their stages! Although, disappointed in the majority of the tracks being under 3 min, felt like a few of the songs would’ve felt more complete had they been longer.
Not too big of a fan with the TT but still worth giving a few more listens too and i’m still really happy with the other tracks in the album so i’ll give this one a 7.5/10 overall. Not sure if this was intentional or not but I feel some of these songs are like a callback to their previous albums, there’s similar sounds and yet each one of them feels unique on their own (except that last track, but it’s not bad). Also want to say thank you, SF9 and the producers behind the tracks for giving us Fantasy’s an incredible 2nd full album for their 10th anniversary. 😀
Thanks to anyone for reading through all this, anyone else is free to agree or disagree by sharing thoughts/rankings for this album too!
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