[Album Review] ETERNAL (5th Mini-Album) – TAEMIN (SHINee)

5 days ago 13

As promised, here is the next post – just coming in at the very end of the day, where I am. Anyhow, this next post is the album review for TAEMIN’s 5th mini-album, ETERNAL, which was released in August 2024. A total of 7 songs are featured on this mini-album, including the singles Sexy In The Air and Horizon. The mini-album serves as his first mini-album following his departure from SM Entertainment (but he continues to be attached to SHINee, as evident through his participation in the recently released Poet | Artist) and commemorates the tenth anniversary since his solo debut. The mini-album also follows Guilty from the year before.

Overall, ETERNAL is another strong mini-album from TAEMIN. I mentioned something below as part of my thoughts on one of the songs, but I think it’s a statement that can be applied to the entire album. Put simply, this mini-album showcases TAEMIN’s artistic sense through his diverse range of sound profiles and the aesthetics presented in each track. More on this down below.

1. G.O.A.T – The mini-album starts off with a hip-hop track with some classy instrumentation. The piano and R&B vibes in this track make G.O.A.T feel sophisticated, while the EDM elicits a strong feeling that the accompanying performance would be a killer. TAEMIN has a strong command, and he really shows it off by making the opening single really captivating. (9/10)

2. Sexy In The Air (Title Track) – Click here for the full review for Sexy In The Air. (8/10)

3. Horizon – Horizon is the mini-album’s secondary single. I had initial plans to review it separately (as it does have its own music video – see below). However, if I remember correctly, the music video was briefly taken down, and I never checked if it had been re-uploaded until today. Anyhow, Horizon is a bold single with its punchy synth-pop instrumentation. The bass gives the song extra depth, and the chorus really hits with a strong burst of energy. TAEMIN absolutely shines here, and I liked how he makes the hooks feel so impactful and memorable. (10/10)

4. The Unknown Sea – Midway into the album, TAEMIN treats us to a ballad that speaks to the excitement and nervousness of the unknown. What makes The Unknown Sea more memorable from the onset compared to other ballads is that this song has bite to it, both in a vocal and instrumental sense. TAEMIN puts heft and emotions behind his vocals, which allows him to sound stunning and captivating in The Unknown Sea. The instrumentation is beautifully sparse, and I like how it builds as the song progresses. (8.5/10)

5. Crush – Crush sees TAEMIN venture into retro and electro-pop. TAEMIN also brings some funk to the mix through his vocals, giving the track some MJ flair. The “Na Na Na” is very catchy, and I enjoyed the textures in the background. Everything in this track had me coming back for more. (10/10)

6. Deja vu – Deja vu has this grandness to it that leaves me in awe. The classical side of the instrumental is captivating, while the basic trap beats and the background vocals in the bridge just give Deja vu a modern side to it. Both come together to truly show TAEMIN’s artistic style, though I wish the producers had explored more of that modern side in the background. He has consistently shown his strong vocals throughout this mini-album, but the way he carries himself throughout Deja vu feels elegant and just doesn’t disappoint at any moment. (9/10)

7. Say Less – TAEMIN closes out the mini-album with another non-traditional ballad. Say Less differs from traditional ballads through the presence of synths in its instrumentation. I enjoyed the atmospheric vibe that comes off Say Less’ backing, as well as his ethereal vocals (and accompanying processing) in this track. (8/10)