[Album Review] TRY WITH US (3rd Mini Album) – TWS

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As promised in the Weekly KPOP Chart post posted earlier today, here is the next album review. The album subject is TWS’s 3rd mini album, TRY WITH US, which was released almost (2 days til the day) a year ago. Leading the 6-track mini-album is the title track, Countdown!.

TRY WITH US is a neat mini-album, overall, with playful and upbeat songs all throughout. Some are in a different style to what we are used to for TWS, while others were just the TWS that we know and love since plot twist (their debut) era.

Since TRY WITH US, TWS released their 4th mini album, PLAY HARD, led by the single OVERDRIVE. They will also be releasing their 5th mini album, NO TRAGEDY, at the end of the month, so keep your eyes out for that and my review of the title track. But until then, here are my thoughts on the songs on TRY WITH US.

1. Lucky To Be Loved – The opening track for the mini-album, Lucky To Be Loved, also served as the mini-album’s secondary promotional track. Lucky To Be Loved features a smooth beat and soft EDM instrumentation that gives it an R&B vibe. What comes out of it for the group is a much more mature sound than normal. I remember this track being quite catchy, despite it not being of TWS’s signature upbeat, energetic style. I put that down to the group’s earwormy melodies and vocals, as well as catchy repetition of the song’s title during the chorus. It does zip by quite quickly, but if this is the quality of what they put out, I am not against TWS coming back to us with songs like this. (9/10)

2. Countdown! (마음 따라 뛰는 건 멋지지 않아?) (Title Track) – Click here for my full review of Countdown!. (8/10)

3. Random Play – Youthful and cheerful is how I would describe Random Play. And as the song progresses, it brings in some cool, hefty and textural electric guitar to create a neat centrepiece for the track. The producers do a good job of keeping Random Play balanced, so it doesn’t get weighed down by the guitar work. Though with TWS’s vocals and the energy that they pull off time and time again, I don’t suppose that was too hard a job. I wish Random Play’s melodies were more fleshed out, as I don’t get much from that. (8/10)

4. Freestyle – Freestyle is both bold and playful. The instrumental is experimental in that it takes a few twists and turns, but it never loses sight of the bold, playful quality already mentioned. The members keep some of that through their vocals and rapping, though they both do get shouty towards the end. It becomes quite overstimulating by the end. I am also not sure of the baby sound effects (it felt distracting and out of place). But it is still a fun number for TWS. (7.5/10)

5. Now Playing (심야 영화) – I love how clean and refreshing the EDM instrumentation in Now Playing came off. It is definitely well-suited for the summery period that the mini-album was released ahead of. Combine that with the members’ harmonising vocals, laid-back vibes, catchy melodies, and beats, and you have a superior track from TWS to enjoy. It is one of the songs I had on repeat throughout 2025. (10/10)

6. GO BACK – GO BACK delves into that bright and super upbeat energy that TWS is known for. GO BACK does have a much more light-hearted vibe, and I also enjoy how interesting and energetic the instrumental is, particularly the funky undertones. The members channel the energy into their bold vocals and rapping, with the latter lending a hip-hop tinge when it does appear in the song. GO BACK serves as a strong ender for the TRY WITH US mini-album, wrapping it with a feel-good vibe in classic TWS fashion. (8/10)