TOMORROW X TOGETHER are back with not just new music, but a new image. The quintet has just dropped their highly anticipated new mini-album minisode 2: Thursday’s Child. Following the release of last year’s full-length The Chaos Chapter: FIGHT OR ESCAPE, the group taps more into the rock influences they utilized on that previous release.
While they originally debuted with a more cute and playful image back in 2019, TXT has become known for their youthful, exuberate, and emo-inspired side, which is on full display in minisode 1: Blue Hour. With Thursday’s Child, the boys decide to push that softness away for a moment and embrace darker concepts. The first track “Opening Sequence” is a moody hip-hop plea for a past love to come back. It’s a strong opener and is a natural transition for the group into more mature concepts. The song builds nicely, with the bridge introducing those rock elements that escalate in the next track and the album’s lead single “Good Boy Gone Bad.”
As evident from the song title, “Good Boy Gone Bad” sees TXT fully embracing the classic “bad boy” concept. Backed by heavy beats and guitar riffs, the members show off their confidence and charisma. Their performances drip with swagger and plenty of edge. Taehyun and Beomgyu in particular showcase how much their vocals have improved in technique and versatility. One shame is the mixing of Taehyun’s fantastic high note in the last chorus of the song. It’s barely noticeable and it would have been a great addition to the closing if listeners could hear it. While the song is a fun and catchy release, it lacks the “TXT touch” so to speak. While the song is overall executed well, it’s a track that could be released by any other group.
The mood of the album takes a notable turn with the next song “Trust Fund Baby.” An emotional ballad, the track brings listeners back to what they expect from TXT; unique delivery and unique metaphorical lyrics. The song explores the uncertainties and fears of life one faces in life. It’s an interesting and introspective track, one where the members express how they still face great challenges despite being global stars.
Next up is “Lonely Boy (The tattoo on my ring finger)” which goes back to the darker concept of the first two tracks. It’s a simple track that actually only features members Yeonjun and Huening Kai. Yeonjun shows off his rap skills while Huening Kai showcases his smooth and gentle vocals. There is a fantastic touch put on Yeonjun’s in the second verse, where there is a great little vibrato in his voice at the end of two lines. It’s an excellent touch that adds more flavor to the track.
The album’s closing track “Thursday’s Child Has Far To Go,” whose title is a reference to the nursery rhyme Monday’s Child, is TXT doing what TXT does best. With an upbeat pop track with poetic lyrics. The song explores the unique place where the group finds themselves: not quite at the beginning of their careers, and nowhere near the end. Much like the placement of the day Thursday, neither at the beginning of the week nor quite the weekend, it’s a time where the future is open to plenty of possibilities. It’s a great closing track, one that sees the group performing with their strengths and giving hope and anticipation for their future.
Overall, the album is a solid release, though not the group’s strongest work. While TXT shows that they can take on a more darker and sinister sound, it’s songs like “Thursday’s Child” and to an extent “Trust Fund Baby” where listeners hear what has made TXT stand out. It’s that genuineness that draws people to them and it’s nice to see that they didn’t completely abandon that sound on this record. With that said, TXT is showing an evolution in their sound, and it’ll be interesting to see how they refine it and make it their own.
Featured Image: BigHit Music
