[Review] Taeyeon - I EP

Today I'm gonna try something different, something new. Let's try to talk about an album. And what better album to discuss than Taeyeon's very own solo debut mini. It'll probably be a quick rough jumble of words as I try this out but we'll see how this goes. This is a solo debut that has been sought after for at least 4 years now. Taeyeon is Girls' Generation's prized vocalist so suffice to say, the expectations for this debut were high. Upon release, "I" delivered. Containing 5 songs, the album has already been doing extremely well on the charts, but more time is needed to see if Taeyeon has the staying power to keep dominating October.

1. I (feat. Verbal Jint)

The title track "I" brings us lively vocals along with an equally lively instrumental. Right at the beginning, Taeyeon stuns with a lovely run of "sky" which will show up plenty more times in the chorus. Just as quickly, we're whisked away to Verbal Jint's feature on the track. This established veteran drops a quick rap that packs a bit of punch in terms of narrative. Also helping the track along is an active instrumental. There's about 12 seconds of break before the bridge, which is mainly for the purposes of the music video but you get to hear more of the instrumental during that window. The final chorus is where Taeyeon truly shines, mixing high notes and adlibs, with background vocals before ending the song on a clean low note.

Aesthetically speaking, the MV for "I" is a work of art. The setting is New Zealand, which is simply breathtaking. Every shot is scenic and would've been impossible to replicate in Korea. I didn't expect Verbal Jint to show up for a cameo but was pleasantly surprised. His appearance is short and punctual, just like his rap. Taeyeon takes the role of a waitress who yearns for more in life, eventually quitting her job (and stealing her boss' car might I add) to pursue her dreams. There's plenty of highlights in the video, like the delightful hair porn moment at 3:08, and many beautiful shots of Taeyeon and just as many if not more of New Zealand's nature. That Taeyeon vs. Taeyeon Taengception at the end, though.

2. U R

"U R" is the 2nd on the list and the other "giant" of the album, as it competed heavily with "I" for a while. This is more of the classic Taeyeon ballad that we're used to hearing from her various OST work. Constantly supported by beautiful strings, Taeyeon's singing is much more full and compared to some of the other songs she sounds the most comfortable here, moreso during the chorus. Each verse also highlights Taeyeon's lower register which was arguably the weakest part of her voice. The prechorus is short but gets the development into the chorus right, while on the opposite side, Taeyeon's voice climbs and drops appropriately with the final chorus and the ending.

3. Gemini

R&B vibes reach out to you immediately at the start of "Gemini" and remain in the background for the rest of the song. The overall tempo and emotion of the song is toned down which makes for a relaxing listen. The chorus is more intricate than the one in "U R," both due to the faster pace and fancier high notes, which Taeyeon again achieved gracefully. Harmonization work (more Taengception) in the last chorus is divine and the final seconds may be the smoothest of the album. If you wanted something a few steps faster than "U R," "Gemini" has you.

4. Stress

My goodness, I love "Stress." We may have just had 2 slower songs but "Stress" is a quick and welcome change of pace. Changing gears now we're treated to a pop rock number heavily driven by the drums that's kept in check by Taeyeon's flighty vocals. While she does a fantastic job keeping up with the song, she's definitely reaching more for some of those notes, especially during the chorus. Still, "Stress" appeals very successfully at my pop rock roots in Kpop, and even Taeyeon strain isn't enough to break my appreciation of this song.

5. Farewell

"Farewell" is the appropriately titled conclusion to the mini. I won't be talking about the "I" instrumental, as fun as that might turn out. It's got some more piano incorporation than the other ballads but still has plenty of emphatic strings. Having said that though, it's the 3rd ballad / slow song and fails to go somewhere or impress like "U R" and "Gemini," plus the ending is rather weak. "Farewell" is a little lacking when push comes to shove.

It's safe to say that the tracklist for "I" was carefully and beautifully put together. Despite not having a really heavy song like "Devil's Cry," the mini has enough variety to be engaging with every listen. Taeyeon's English is also excellent in each track. Every word is pronounced clearly and correctly, with only the end of "beauty" a little awkward. Don't let the weak link of "Farewell" fool you, this mini album is very strong and the continuing success is just more proof of that. If anything, the huge success of "I" puts pressure on Tiffany, who is also preparing a solo debut

[ Overall: 92 / 100 ]