There are a few K-Pop who have become so popular that they are almost synonymous with the Western World’s view of the genre. Groups like BlackPink and BTS have broken through in the Western music listening world in a way that no other K-Pop group has been able to; they are not only massive in Asia, but they are also chart-topping artists in the US. TWICE may not be quite as big as the groups mentioned above in non-Asian countries, but they are arguably the third most popular K-Pop group in the West. Through their success on TikTok and Instagram, TWICE has become a global phenomenon, captivating fans in Asia and appealing to music listeners worldwide. In addition to being extremely popular, this 9-member group(which consists of Jihyo, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Chaeyoung, and Dahyun, who are from Korea, Sana, Mina, Momo, who are from Japan, and Tzuyu, who is from Taiwan), is also one of the hardest-working and most prolific artists in K-Pop. Since debuting in 2015, TWICE has released 7 studio albums(4 being in Korean and 3 being in Japanese), 4 compilation albums, and 13 EPs. On top of this, Nayeon and Jihyo have put out solo projects, and Mina, Sana, and Momo put out a project under the name MISAMO. This is an incredible amount of output for 8 years; TWICE is constantly working on making new music for their devoted fans, which is one of the reasons they have stayed so relevant for almost a decade. After a big 2023 due to the aforementioned solo projects from Jihyo and MISAMO and the release of their EP Ready To Be(which was one of my favorite EPs from last year), TWICE has returned with another EP titled With You-th. With all of that being said, here is how I feel about this new project from TWICE. Please let me know in the comments below what your top songs are from With You-th, and also comment on how you feel about the EP as a whole.
TWICE starts With You-th with the lead single from the EP, titled ‘I GOT YOU.’ This is not only one of the best K-Pop songs of the year so far in my opinion, but it is one of the best tracks of the year in general. The track has such an addicting and warm sound; it is the kind of track that will put anyone in a good mood when they hear it. ‘I GOT YOU’ has a funky retro sound that feels very inspired by 1980s Pop music. It falls squarely into the old-school Synth-Pop trend that has been dominating charts over the last few years due to artists like Dua Lipa and The Weeknd making it so popular. As nice and cozy as this energetic instrumental is, the best thing about ‘I GOT YOU’ is the vocals. Every member of TWICE contributes something special to ‘I GOT YOU,’ and the liveliness of the vocals makes the song so easy to sing and dance along to. ‘I GOT YOU’ is a great opener for this EP, as it gets things going on such a fun note. ‘ONE SPARK’ is the second song in a row that is just great. Like ‘I GOT YOU,’ this is probably one of my favorite songs I have heard in 2024 to this point. ‘ONE SPARK’ feels a lot more modern than the track that precedes it. In fact, this song has some of the most unique and innovative production I have heard from TWICE. The melody for this track is driven by a fast-paced and vivacious guitar riff that is complemented by so many different interesting synths and sound effects that almost give the song a futuristic feeling. The beat for this track constantly switches up and cuts out; at some parts of the track, it has an audacious Dance-Pop music sound, and at other points, it takes on a Trap tempo. The vocals on ‘ONE SPARK’ are just as amusing as the instrumental. I especially like the brief talk/rap/chanting parts of the track, as they give ‘ONE SPARK’ a cool texture I appreciate. ‘ONE SPARK’ is another excellent song that starts this EP very strongly. ‘RUSH’ is a song that leans on a couple more very popular trends in Pop music right now. Through the constantly evolving beat, the song has elements of the Garage music sound that immediately makes me think of artists like PinkPantheress or NewJeans, but it also has elements of the Jersey Club sound loved recently by Lil Uzi Vert, Bad Bunny, and Nicki Minaj. The melody for this track has a sparkling and groovy tone that is reminiscent of Y2K Pop music. The vocal performances on ‘RUSH’ are just as great as they are on the first two tracks; the many ranges and tones of the vocals make this song so much more dynamic. Somehow, I may like ‘RUSH’ more than I like the first two tracks of the EP. TWICE could not have started this EP better than with these first three tracks.
In my opinion, TWICE slightly comes back to earth with the track ‘NEW NEW.’ This one is still very good, but it does not quite draw me in as much as the first three tracks do. This may be a matter of personal preference though, because I have seen online that this one is becoming a bit of a fan favorite so far. This track is driven by a shimmering and metallic synth-driven melody put on top of a fast-paced 2010s-esque Dance Pop beat. The instrumental in my opinion is alright, but the vocal performance is excellent. I would even say this is the best vocal performance on the EP so far. Everything about it is awesome, from the excellent range and high notes hit throughout the track to the rapping sections that give the song so much life. ‘NEW NEW’ is an anthemic track with a euphoric feeling, and it is easy to see why it is popping off in the way it is(even if I dig the first three tracks a bit more). ‘BLOOM’ is yet another track with a super fun sound that is pretty different from anything before it. This song has a funky R&B sort of melody that makes me think of the 1990s. I really like the groove of the bassline and guitar riff that drive this melody. The beat for this one feels retro as well, as it feels inspired by Y2K Synth-Pop music. As far as the vocals go, I would say ‘BLOOM’ is alright. The melody and beat unfortunately drown out the vocals a bit and take away TWICE’s ability to shine. ‘BLOOM’ is still very enjoyable, but it does not have the kind of powerful vocal performance one may expect from the group. TWICE closes out their new EP with the track ‘YOU GET ME.’ This is easily the softest and calmest song of the EP. If the first five tracks feel like the party, this one feels like the kickback or afterparty. The melody for this track is so intricate and warm. Similar to ‘I GOT YOU’ it has the essence of 1980s Dance Pop music. The drum pattern on this one is still technically upbeat, but it is definitely a lot more understated than the rest of the tracks on the EP. The vocals on this one are solid. It is not the most dynamic vocal performance of the record, but they do not take away from the track in any way. With ‘YOU GET ME,’ TWICE sends out With You-th on a grand and balmy note.
TWICE has been one of the most consistent K-Pop artists of the last decade, not only with the frequency of their releases but also with the quality of those releases. On With You-th, TWICE once again shows why they are one of the most beloved groups in K-Pop. There is not one single dud on this EP; even the songs that aren’t quite as great as the others are still very enjoyable. TWICE shows their range on this EP in a way that they are not typically known for. In the past, TWICE’s releases have been a bit more safe, with them usually not taking sonic risks. With You-th is different in that regard, with the groups expanding their horizons sonically and nailing it. With You-th is yet another riveting addition to TWICE’s discography, and it sets the bar high for all of their peers for the rest of 2024.
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