#ALSO THE THROWBACKS TO THE PREVIOUS ALBUMS

[solplease]

txt dropped the logo today and ive been losing it since

[thekidsare-not-alright]

I don't need to say anything, the real ones know

[burningcomputerpersona]

I'm spending a year out of my comfort zone I don't think I've ever been comfortable in my life Or my own skin So I spent a decade painting myself blue Running from any hint of the truth: I'm far too old to complain about dying alone When I've been the way I've been

[sweetiepoison]

Famous Baby blurb

(The Leafs Game)

A/n: I’m actually really struggling writing the next part so a throwback! Italics indicate a flashback

“Try going up one note” You suggest standing across from Justin at the piano.

Your friend asked you to come over to help out with some new music he was working on. You also were trying to write an album of your own and figured the afternoon spent working would help you as well. Justin sang the previous verse over again but higher like you suggested.

“Yeah I like that.” He commented going straight into the next verse. You hummed along joining in on certain verses creating a harmony.

“How would you feel about this song being the first I release off the new album?” Your jaw dropped at Justin’s question.

“For real?” You gasped. Justin’s return to music had been long anticipated by both fans and the media alike. And for him to want the song you collaborated on to be his intro back into the music industry was appreciated.

“Of course!” Justin exclaimed scooting back from the piano. “(y/n), you are one of the biggest names in the industry right now if not the biggest” he said putting an emphasis on the word the.

You were like a little sister to Justin, originally signing onto the same label when you were 16 and starting your career. Justin knew what it was like to be so young and in the spotlight so he looked out for you. Despite you switching labels and Justin taking a step back from music, you remained close. There was no one else he trusted more to debut his new album with.

“You’re still Justin Bieber.” You reminded him. “You don’t need my name attached for this to be successful.”

You continued practicing until the afternoon slowly turned into the evening and Hailey came downstairs with a leafs jersey on and an extra in her hands.

“Cult meeting tonight?” You asked as she handed the jersey to Justin.

“Yeah, do you want to come?” She offered.

You laughed at the thought, “Hell no.”

“C’mon, (y/n) please.”

“Come support our friend with us.” They both wore the same pouty expression.

“Auston is not my friend.”

“But we are,” Justin cut in before you could go on a rant. “And would you rather hang out with your friends or stay in by yourself tonight?”

“I’m fine with staying in.”

“C’mon everyone’s going, and it’ll be a fun night and we can go out after-“

“Fine.” You give in. “But I’m not wearing a jersey.”

—

It wasn’t enough for you to just not wear a maple leafs jersey. You knew one thing would piss off Auston even more. So once you all settled into your seats you grabbed your best friends hand and dragged her down to the gift shop.

“You don’t even like hockey.” She reminded you as you searched through the jerseys. “Why waste money on something you’re never gonna wear again?”

“Because, Auston will hate it.”

“And why do you care what he thinks?”

“I don’t.” You immediately snapped. “But I definitely don’t want him to think I came willingly. Plus we’re from here so why not support the hometown team.” You shrugged continuing your search.

Once you finally settled on a jersey you liked you didn’t wait for a bag and instead immediately pulled it on over your shirt. The jersey may have been petty, but you knew it would get the job done and that’s what mattered.

Justin groaned and rolled his eyes once he saw you return to your seat, “I’m not even gonna say anything.”

“Good choice.” You said sitting down next to Shawn with a satisfied smirk, actually looking forward to the start of the game.

“The arena is packed tonight. And we are not short of celebrity guests. Up in the stands we have Justin and Hailey Bieber, Shawn Mendes, and (y/f/n) (y/l/n)” The crowd cheered loudly following the announcement and the excitement only grew as your section was featured on the Jumbotron. You waved and smiled for the camera.

“It looks like there’s a rivalry going on up there.” The other announcer commented on the oppsoing jerseys you were wearing. You adjusted in your seat making it very known that you had a Kings jersey on.

“I would love to hear the trash talking that’s going on up there between Justin and (y/n)”

—

Once again the crowd went wild as Auston scored a goal. The group around you excitedly jumped up cheering along with others. You remained stoic looking down at your phone to check the time.

“At least pretend to be happy.” Justin leaned down to whisper his back facing the ice. “The cameras are on us.”

“Excitement for Auston is just something I can’t fake.” You finalized with a shrug of your shoulders, but the pleading look on Justin’s face was too hard to ignore. So you forced a smile throwing in a few claps.

“I’ll take it.” Justin said satisfied.

Once everyone calmed down you went back to your phone showing Shawn pictures from the vacation your family took recently. You were so absorbed in telling various stories from the trip you didn’t notice the time out that was called.

Shawn’s song, Fallin’ All in You began playing. You absentmindedly hummed along and looked up to see the Jumbotron started back up and this time with the kiss cam.

The camera suddenly panned on your section and was featuring Justin and Hailey. All of your friends instantly began cheering the couple on. And when they gave in and the crowd erupted.

Your excitement was fleeting though as the camera moved off of them and onto you and Shawn.

“Oh God.” You mumbled with a smile on your face trying to cover up any discomfort you were feeling.

You thought your immediate hesitation would be enough of an indication that you didn’t want to kiss your ex, but they persisted refusing to move the camera.

“They aren’t going to move on till we kiss.” Shawn whispered.

“Fine.” You conceded leaning back and looking over at him. “You make the first move.”

“Like our first kiss all over again.” He laughed before leaning over and kissing you. It was gentle and sweet, but had the whole arena booming with excitement.

You immediately covered your face laughing along with him as the camera stayed on you two to get the aftermath. Shawn kept his arm wrapped around your shoulders and kissed the side of your head. “Give it a second they’ll move on…And we’re good.”

You were relieved when you looked up and it wasn’t your face you were seeing on the screen. The breakup took place seven years ago and you stayed true to your word remaining friends after the split.

While there were no longer romantic feelings, Shawn was a comforting piece of your foundation. He not only maintained a good relationship with you, but your family as well. You knew he would be a part of your life for the rest of your life.

“Good job guys, no matter what happens with this game, that’s all anyone’s going to be talking about.” Justin reached over to fist bump Shawn.

“So we need to know are you guys back together.” Your best friend held out her water bottle as a fake microphone to you.

“Yeah, that kiss seemed pretty intimate.” Your other friend, Mason joined in also holding out a water bottle.

“Shut up.” You giggled pushing the water bottle away. “If any of you say we’re together I will end you.”

“Not the threats.” Mason joked, “I’m for sure telling TMZ that when they call me.”

Following the kiss cam the intensity seemed to go up for both teams, especially for one player in particular.

Auston wasn’t sure why seeing you on the kiss cam annoyed him so much, but it did. Everyone was supposed to be here to watch a hockey game and you turned it into a joke.

“Fuck.” He angrily slammed his stick against the boards breaking it before taking a seat on the bench.

“Dude, take a breather.” Mitch encouraged sitting down next to him.

“I’m fine.” Auston insisted taking a long swig from his water bottle.

“You sure because you’ve seemed tense?”

“Yeah I just want to win.” Mitch knew that wasn’t the reason, but he also knew not to push so he let it go.

Following your kiss he began playing harder. His hits were more forceful, his trash talking more heated, and his need to score at an all time. The intensity in the arena extended beyond the ice. As the game drew closer to ending fans of both teams started getting more aggressive.

“Matthews sucks. Anytime anyone gets near him he’s crying and acting like a little bitch.” A man sitting in front of you screamed at the glass. You had watched him down four beers already and become progressively drunk as the game went on.

“He’s talented, but selfish with the puck and a show off. The talent won’t last forever.” His friend next to him chimed in. They were both wearing Kings jerseys similar to the one you had on.

The way they were talking about Auston didn’t sit right with you. Any other day you would agree and probably even say those things yourself, but today was not that day.

You may have not known much about hockey, but you knew Auston was good (you would never admit that to him). And two middle aged men saying otherwise annoyed you.

“(Y/n), don’t.” Your best friend wrapped her hand around your wrist. You looked down now noticing that your hands were clenched and tapping against your leg.

“I’m not going to do anything.” You reassured her, trying to take deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth.

“Are you sure? Because you have this crazy look in your eye and your extremely stiff right now.”

“I’m fine.” You seethed through clenched teeth.

“He’s overrated and overpaid.”

You took it upon yourself to tap on one of the men’s shoulder. As they turned around you cleared your throat and plastered on a tight smile. “Don’t you think this is the type of conversation you can have in your car on the ride home or maybe not even at all?”

“I can talk about whatever and whoever I want, when I want to.” The man on the right replied his beer sloshing around in his glass.

“You are two grown men talking about another grown man, be realistic.” You bit back, your attempt at being nice slowly fading away.

“You’re right we are grown men and allowed to have whatever opinion we want.” The second man replied raising his voice.

“Yeah maybe just don’t have it so loudly.” You suggested shrugging your shoulders and leaning back in your seat.

“You don’t know anything about hockey.”

“I know that right now the leafs are beating the kings.”

“Games not over yet.”

“And Matthews has scored two of their four goals.”

Despite your best attempts to keep the conversation cordial. The raised voices started gaining the attention of others around you. You knew a disagreement was one thing, but a full blown fight wouldn’t be a good look for you. As far as the public were concerned you weren’t the type of girl to be aggressive. And you would have maintained that look had one of the men not stood up so he was towering over you.

“He sucks the same way you probably get on your knees every night and suck his dick.” Any thought of being passive for your public image was out the window as you also stood not backing down.

“Excuse me.”

“You heard me.”

“No say it again I want you to hear yourself and how stupid you sound.” Image be damned. You didn’t want someone talking about Auston like that and you definitely weren’t going to allow them to talk about you like that.

“You’re nothing more than one of his sluts.” He threw his arms in the air, but before anything further could happen security was closing in on you quickly. You realized you hadn’t only caught the attention of the people around you but the whole arena as you looked up and could see yourself on the Jumbotron.

“And you’re a pathetic excuse of a human being. People pay to watch him, you’re running your mouth for free.” You had the final say as security pulled him away kicking both man out of the game. The crowd cheered watching them get escorted out, still fighting with anyone they could.

Watching them leave, however didn’t make you feel any better. You quickly picked up your bag and began climbing up the stairs before anyone could stop you. You were embarrassed that someone spoke to you like that especially in front of a crowd. You ran into the nearest bathroom locking yourself in a stall. You cursed yourself for letting your anger get the best of you. You knew this was going to be everywhere in a matter of hours. The string of texts coming into your phone from your publicist let you know that word already got to her.

“Fuck.” You groaned letting your head fall against the stall wall.

“(Y/n)?” You knew your best friend would find you. She stopped in front of the stall you were in, “I know you’re in there. I can see your feet.”

You groaned stomping your foot on the ground,“Go away.” There was no way you were opening the door.

“A security guard came over to us, Auston’s asking to see you.”

“No.” You flat out refused.

“Please.” You didn’t need to open the door to know she was biting down on her lip, a nervous habit she picked up from you. “He’s refusing to go back on the ice until he talks to you and they kinda need him.”

“Oh my god, he’s so dramatic.” You exclaimed opening the door. You usually were against giving into tantrums, but this needed to be resolved.

You begrudgingly followed security as they took you down to the tunnel where Auston was waiting.

“Are you crazy?” Auston screamed as soon as he saw you walking towards him.

Auston was confused as both teams were forced back to their benches in the middle of the game. Nothing happened on the ice to justify this, but as the crowd started to get loud and the Jumbotron featured the stands he realized it wasn’t because of what was happening on the ice, but rather off of it.

He watched as two people stood toe to toe yelling back and forth, neither backing down. But once he looked closer he realized he recognized the people around the two and then realized one of the people standing was you.

“So fucking stupid.” He mumbled, anger starting to flare up in his eyes. He continued to watch until the man raised his arm and that’s when Auston started moving before he could think. He didn’t get very far though, before multiple people were holding him back.

“Get off me.” He growled fighting against Mo, John, and Willy.

“You’re not going over there, this isn’t our arena and those aren’t our fans.” John kept his arms on Auston’s shoulders.

He continued watching as security closed in on the altercation separating you two, “fuck this.” He snapped breaking free from the hold on himself and moving towards the tunnel. “Someone get her down here.”

“Are you?” You shot back, “your holding up a whole game for this!” You motioned your hand between the two of you.

“I wouldn’t have to if you would’ve just sat down and stayed quiet!” He was pissed and didn’t care about who could possibly hear him.

“Oh yeah because I wanted a grown man yelling in my face.” You sarcastically let out, your voice going up an octave as you also got louder.

You watched as Auston shook his head and ran his hands through his hair. He had a concentrated look on his face, a look you’d seen before. This was the look Auston wore when he was trying to figure something out. But unlike before, the look didn’t go away, he was still frustrated.

“What the hell were you thinking?” He huffed pacing back and forth.

“I wasn’t, I was defending you!” You flung your arms in the air voice strained. “And based on how you’re treating me right now, I shouldn’t have.”

“I don’t need you to defend me.” Auston didn’t hold back, “people say shit all the time. You included.”

“But they weren’t me and no one besides me should say those things about you.” Your pulse was racing and it took a generous amount of self control to bring your voice back down to a reasonable level.

It felt like an eternity of silence before Auston finally replied, his voice much softer and more worn out, “You could’ve gotten hurt.”

“But I didn’t.” You watched as he leaned against the the wall hunched over. You realized that this was effecting him more than you. You were worried about your image, but Auston was worried about you. If anything would’ve happened to you, he would’ve never forgave himself. That’s not because he had any feelings for you, but because his parents raised him right (or at least that’s what he told himself when he flew off the ice and down the tunnel demanding to see you.)

“Hey, Auston.” You timidly touched his cheek forcing him to look at you. “I’m fine. Okay?” You searched his eyes for any confirmation that your words were getting through. “Plus I didn’t totally disagree with them, they did call you a little bitch.” The smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth and the deep chuckle confirmed that he was fine.

“A little bitch, huh? Not very original.”

“They also called me a dumb bitch so we have that in common.” You shrugged taking a step back.

Auston was amused, “Who would’ve thought that would be what we have in common.”

You smiled crossing your arms over your chest. You both took a second to really look at each other. You may have disliked each other, but you shared common ground when it came to dealing with hate. Auston didn’t deserve it any more than you did.

“This color looks terrible on you by the way.” Auston broke the silence lightly tugging at the jersey you wore.

“Really? You looked down at your outfit, “I think it’s sleek and flattering.”

“You’d look better in blue.” Auston stood to his full height.

“Win this game and I might consider it.” You offered side stepping to allow him to get closer to the entrance.

“Really?”

“No.” You shook your head, “but I do actually need you to win now. That fight can’t be for nothing.”

“This next goals for you, then.” He smirked.

“Don’t miss it like the last one.” You teased.

“Don’t get into anymore fights.” He retorted walking away and you watched as he returned from where he came.

[tomorrowxtogether]

TXT Debut a Sparkling New Chapter — and Reveal Which Previous Era Their New Album Is a Throwback to (Exclusive)

PEOPLE spoke to Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun and Hueningkai about making "The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY"

Tomorrow x Together's latest release is an evolution and a nostalgia play all at once.

The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY (out Monday, Nov. 4), is officially the start of a new era for the K-pop group's five members — Soobin, 23, Yeonjun, 25, Beomgyu, 23, Taehyun, 22, Hueningkai, 22 — who spoke to PEOPLE ahead of its release.

They're moving out of "The Name Chapter" — two albums that reveled in the freedom and occasional chaos of youthful indiscretions — and into "The Star Chapter." Represented by a bright, shining logo rebrand, it carries messages about finding true love and lasting happiness.

“To some extent, I think it really reflects us growing up,” says Hueningkai.

"In our past installments, it was more of those magical moments, like ‘Run away together with me,’ or something that could be a little bit less responsible," adds Taehyun. "But this time around, it's romantic, but in a sense that it's grounded and more realistic.”

Sonically, SANCTUARY has a sweetness that recalls some of the group’s earliest releases.

"I think you're spot on about talking about how you thought of The Dream Chapter when listening to this album," Huengingkai confirmed while discussing their influences with PEOPLE in October. "It's something new, but it's something that also provokes nostalgia as well," he adds.

The lead single, "Over the Moon," is dreamy pop but includes some very grown-up themes with lyrics about living under one roof and planning for the future. Other tracks, like "Danger" tip into funky Bruno Mars-like territory, or in the case of "Forty One Winks," more upbeat R&B.

While there's no real rock or pop punk moments (something they've leaned into with great success in the past with songs like "LO$ER=LO♡ER"), "Higher than Heaven" does have a romping pop-rock bent.

The album's sound isn't just a reflection of the group's shifting tastes. “We have this big narrative that overarches every installment in our musical journey," Hueningkai explains.

Their discography, and the larger lore of the group, incorporates a sprawling fictional backstory that can feel intimidatingly complex for the casual fan. But the themes — the pains of growing up, the reality of facing adulthood, and the heartbreak that so often goes along with it — are universal enough that they come through easily in their earworm singles.

While TXT has shared in the past that their music is often informed by personal experience, they often keep a distance from speaking about their own relationships, instead telling the song's stories of crushes or lost loves as the tales of a “boy” (representing all and none of them) directed at “you,” an embodiment of their fans.

Explaining the meaning of their latest album, for example, Beomgyu says, “It’s a chapter where the boy finally recovers his name and remembers the promise he made with you. And they finally reunite in this album. So it's the rejoicing that they all feel with this reunion.” 

All five members wrote lyrics and music on SANCTUARY, something they've been increasingly passionate about over the six years since their debut.

Taehyun admits to doing most of his writing in the car and on planes, amid their busy schedules. They still find space for collaboration though. "We tend to work separately on lyrics, but when we get stuck, we ask for help from the other members," says Soobin.

Seemingly non-stop promotions can be draining, but they're candid about how they keep their minds and bodies healthy. "Sleeping well is the best thing you can do for yourself," says Beomgyu. Adds Soobin, "We eat a lot of supplements, too, and try to work out a lot so that we can stay healthy and keep up our stamina."

That work ethic has gained them a mountain of accolades in relatively short career.

In 2023, they headlined Lollapalooza in Chicago, then performed at the VMAS in New York, where they also took home the award for Push Performance. Their last album debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, making them only the second K-pop group to enter the chart 10 times, with the only other being their label mates BTS.

Asked if that sort of accomplishment is exciting or intimidating, Yeonjun explains, "We feel both. We feel both elated, and also we feel a sense of responsibility. And I think both are needed, because only when we feel that responsibility can we grow as artists and evolve as artists. So because so many people are giving us love and support, It's our duty to grow and evolve, and show new sides of ourselves as artists."

Adds Taehyun, "We are eternally grateful to Global MOA who always provide us with a lot of love and support. And with this album and the albums going forward, we're going to pay back to them by providing really good music and performances."

The Star Chapter: Sanctuary is available to stream now.

[kickmag]

Throwback: Phyllis Hyman-Living Inside Your Love

Somewhere In My Lifetime is Phyllis Hyman's third studio album and first for Arista Records. Six of the songs were on her previous album, Sing A Song, which was on the Buddah label. Skip Scarborough, who had written songs for Earth, Wind, & Fire, among others, co-wrote "Living Inside Your Love" with Renee Taylor, which is one of the songs that appeared on both albums. Scarborough also produced and arranged Somewhere In My Lifetime. Her core fans and R&B audiences were awed by her voice, despite critics believing that the material hindered her abilities. Black radio played "Living Inside Your Love" at night, usually during Quiet Storm programming segments. The song was one of many album cuts by Hyman that still built her legend, in addition to signature songs like "You Know How To Love Me" and "What You Won't Do For Love." Hyman's 10th and last studio album, Forever With You, was released in 1998, three years after her death. 

[twopoppies]

I think it’s very naive to think Harry doesn’t write for hits. He very much does. Just because he writes also for his personal enjoyment and taste doesn’t mean he’s not crafting things with an eye to marketing and tiktok type culture. AIW has distinct sound sections that multiple artists have said labels want for promo. I think his albums end up being a mix of marketable and artistic. His better songs, in my opinion, tend to be his artistic ones. Fine Line the album leaned a bit more artistic, Harry’s House leaned way more marketable. Very throwback to popular 70s sounds to me so very accessible to broad audiences. But he’s not out here doing like experimental lute music. He’s very solid pop, which while forging his own overall sound (and I agree getting better and better with writing), is heavily borrowing from previous stuff as well. All, yes, to be marketable and sell.

I agree with you, to an extent. I think he wants to have music that sells well, that plays on the radio, that become hits. And something being marketable doesn’t automatically make something shitty. IMO, he does a great job of making music that is artistic, beautiful, moving and still very marketable. Besides, as with every industry, for every AIW you make, you get to have a Little Freak or grapejuice. It’s a balancing game and he knows how to play it well.

[a-s-levynn]

Lately i've been thinking about a short conversation i had with someone before one of the rituals back in august. And we were talking about favourite songs and albums with this guy and he said he likes the first two albums better because those are more cohersive thematically and TMBTE does not feel like that. I wasn't quite agreeing with him because i felt like there is a definitive theme for the latest, at least in my head it does.

Sundowning was the descent, the chaos of what is happening, the fragmentation of the old self; TPWBYT was the searching, the feeling around in the darkness after shattering to the bottom, the finding of the remains of the self; and TMBTE is the understanding, the way to find how the remaining pieces fit together in a different way, the true path to something new if you will.

His argument was that musically and even thematically the songs are a bit too erratic to feel like a whole. For me that is exactly what makes it feel cohersive. Because in my head it is the point in the story when the mess of understanding of what came before finally hits.

And that creates these highs and lows. That is why there are a lot of throwbacks to and reiterations of previous songs and themes because every time there is a traumatic or lifechanging thing in one's life, after a certain amount of time and constant thinking and dissecting leads to a new perspective and a new understanding.

You understand your role in the big picture, you can see it clearer, what have you done wrong and what is it that you can let go of finally. What were the insignificant parts or the opposite actually. Where were the time you could have been a little nicer to yourself and how all this damaged you. What is all that you lost along the way. But also what is you can move towards from this point.

This is what the big theme of TMBTE is. The growth that comes with finally looking back on what was happening and seeing it for what it was, with all the ugly and the beautiful and confusing and the aches and gone and the pain and the hopes and everything it created and destroyed but inevitably lead to.

[samthecookielord]

💞💗💘💘 tell me about your best friend

DOUBLE QUESTION THROWBACK ROUND: contestants will answer a question from an old tourney in addition to this question.

1 says: "hm well i think [REDACTED] is like everyone's best friend! he's so very very kind and uplifting at the workplace!! i just can't imagine what life here would be like without him!!"

2 says: "OH MY STARS OH MY STARS THEY'RE THE COOLEST PERSON IN THE WORLD!!! All their stories are always so neat and amazing and they're always there for me when I'm feeling down or when I just gotta ramble about something!!! They mean everything in the world to me!!! Both them and [REDACTED]!!! Um- hah, don't mind me."

1 says: "📈📊🎀🌱📈📊"

2 says: " :O 💫🌠🌃✨⭐🌟🌠🌠💫☄️☄️🌌🌌🌠🌈🌠💌🍉🍨🍨"

(tourney)

Previous answers:

1 said (R1:M4) - Q: "HOW DIVORCED ARE YOU" - A: "hmmmm im not sure! allow me one moment to consult my graphs and then i will get back to you on that!! ... it appears the answer is 0.01% divorced!"

1 said (R2:M2) - Q: "Hey so. Let's say hypothetically you weren't real, and suddenly god came down from the heavens to just. Tell you that you're like, a work of fiction or something. How would you react to that information? Let's say you were also given definitive divine proof that it's definitely true. How would you react to that information?" - A: "oh! hm! that would be... a bit worrying! assuming you are talking about [REDACTED/Morizora]? oh but i don't think he would ever wake up just to worry people like that...! a-and even then, i have a job to do!! i can't make charts and buttons if i'm too busy fretting over small stuff!! so i'll just keep on keeping on!!"

1 said (R3:M1) - Q: "what's the weirdest question you've been asked?" - A: "Sometimes people ask me why I wear such a huge bowtie!! 'It's too big for you' they say!!! 'You look so goofy' they say!!! Well to that, I say, nothing wrong with it in MY eyes!!! It is a LOVELY bowtie and it does NOT break company policy in any way, shape, or form!!! So I believe I should be allowed to wear it! Um... ahem... apologies for the rant!! I promise I am not normally this angry about topics!!"

-

2 said (R1:M8) - Q: "do you play an instrument. Or sing. Or whatevercer" - A: "OHHH OH OH OH I like to sing! Well, uh, not regularly, but I've recorded covers of songs I really liked sometimes before! :D LIKE [REDACTED] AND [REDACTED]- OHHH AND [REDACTED] IS A GOOD ONE TOO- okay at this point I might as well name the whole album, eheh..."

2 said (R2:M4) - Q: "would you do a blind date tournament with your oc's?" - A: ":O!!!!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY THAT ENTAILS BUT IT SOUNDS FUN!!!!! Oh my god this is just like the plot of [REDACTED]... AND I SHOULD TOTALLY GET [REDACTED]'S CHARACTERS IN ON THIS TOO..."

2 said (R3:M2) - Q: "You're walking in the woods. there's no one around and your phone is dead. out of the corner of your eye you spot him. Shia LaBeouf." - A: "PFFFFT- HE'S FOLLOWING YOU ABOUT 30 FEET BACK. HE GETS DOWN ON ALL FOURS AND BREAKS INTO A SPRINT. HE'S GAINING ON Y-"

[fantastickkay]

Album Review of the Week: The Association - Insight Out (1967)

The Association's third album saw a turn towards more commercial viability than their previous releases. They had a new member (Larry Ramos), a new producer (Bones Howe) and even relinquished much of the instrumental work to session musicians in favor of attaining a radio friendly sound. This certainly worked on me, as it is the only Association record I own (besides their greatest hits) - and it does contain some massive standouts in their discography.

Wasn't It A Bit Like Now indulges in the vaudeville throwback sound that was popular at the time. To me, this often creates a clunky sound that can be somewhat fun but not something I would want to put on very often. (ex: The Monkees' Cuddly Toy executes and modernizes the sound very well). Almost 2 minutes in, there is a brief silence and then we get into a pop/garage bridge that morphs back into vaudeville and then ends with a very garage outro - makes for an interesting track, that's for sure!

On A Quiet Night is a ballad that sounds very of the time, a little baroque pop. The lyrics are imaginative and poetic but the sound doesn't really bring anything new to the table.

Bring out the harpsichord! We Love Us leans even more into baroque pop with some dreamy harmonies and cheesy lovey dovey sunshine pop lyrics. As one-note as this song is in general, I do love me some harpsichord so that is a win for me.

When Love Comes To Me is quite similar to the last track, sans harpsichord (though it contains the mid 60s obligatory flute solo) so it falls more into the sunshine pop category. Sounds nice, but nothing too exciting.

Windy was one of my favorite songs when I was really, really into 60s music. My biggest complaint now is that the vocals are mixed too low so it is difficult to fully enjoy it while straining to hear everything. Maybe I have a weird remaster, but I found it was true both with my vinyl and the version I bought on iTunes in an effort to be rid of the issue. However, the lyrics, melody and harmony are stunning and I love how bouncy and happy it is!

Reputation brings the edge with a rockier sound and grittier vocals.

Never My Love is one of their most famous songs. It is so completely romantic, I love how soft and smooth the vocals are and the instrumentation is gorgeous. The perfect song for a romantic moment! I also love the chorus that talks about how it is silly to fear that the relationship will end because of how obviously devoted they are.

Happiness Is brings it back to the sunshine pop sound, I think I even hear a little ukulele in there. I am not as much of a fan of the vocals on this one, the key seems a little high for those involved.

Sometime is a huge pivot as far as vocal style, definitely leaning in the vaudeville vibe there. Other than that, nothing too remarkable.

Wantin' Ain't Gettin' starts out with a crazy sitar intro that really reminds us what time we are living in here! This album has been such a crazy mixture of popular music styles of the time. The harmonies don't seem synced very well which makes the melody sound muddy and hard to follow.

Requiem For the Masses is a genius album closer, although it is a giant departure from anything we have heard so far. The lyrics use the imagery of a bull fighter that dies in a fight far from home as a metaphor for fallen soldiers in Vietnam. It is a layered, storied, textured, all around gorgeous song.

Aside from the singles (Windy, Never My Love, Requiem For the Masses) this album seems to have sold its soul in an attempt to gain commercial notoriety. The deep tracks are a crazy mash-up of several distinct sounds of the time (baroque and sunshine pop, Eastern influence) without any real uniqueness to its vocals or melody to make them a standout among the crowd. The singles are absolutely fantastic, however, so I am not going to toss this album in the donation bin any time soon!

[louisupdates]

Louis Tomlinson at Kemba Live! in Columbus, OH

June 8, 2023 Maddy Meade

Eager fans started lining up at Kemba Live! before 9:30 AM for Louis Tomlinson’s Faith In The Future Tour in Columbus, Ohio.

The line of fans ended up stretching hundreds of people deep and looping around the corner of the street. Shortly after the doors opened, the pit area was completely packed with fans.

Opening act, Snarls, kicked the night off and was met with a warm welcome from fans. The Columbus-based indie rock band exudes cool kid energy and fans were definitely vibing. The band consists of Chlo White, Riley Hall, Mick Martinez, and Max Martinez. Snarls hit songs include “Walk in the Woods,” “Marbles,” and “Fixed Gear.”

Taking the stage next was the indie rock band The Academic from Ireland. Fans enthusiastically greeted The Academic to the stage with their handcrafted “I love The Academic” signs. The band is comprised of brothers Matthew and Stephen Murtagh, Craig Fitzgerald, and Dean Gavin. The Academic played several of their most popular songs including “Different,”“Mixtape 2003,” “Bear Claws,” and “Don’t Take It Personally.” The Academic did a phenomenal job of having fans dancing on their feet and ready for the highly anticipated Tomlinson to take the stage next.

Louis Tomlinson started his monumental career in 2010 in what would be one of the biggest boy bands in the world, One Direction. Needless to say, Kemba Live! was packed full of original Louis Tomlinson fans who have supported him since the beginning. His fans were sporting current merchandise but were also sure to bring out their original One Direction merchandise for the occasion. They had One Direction merchandise ranging from blankets to One Direction-branded Converse.

Tomlinson started his set off on a huge dynamic note with his song, “The Greatest” which was accompanied by pyrotechnics. He had an impressive stage setup that included multiple large-screen displays that showed live video coverage of the stage. It was apparent that fans share a special connection with Tomlinson and relate to his music on a personal level. “The Greatest” is the opening track to Tomlinson’s second album, Faith In The Future, and sets the tone for the remainder of the album. This album exudes an element of confidence that stems from being able to make the kind of music an artist wishes to make. It largely departs from Tomlinson’s previous pop music and, instead, leans toward indie rock. The setlist for this tour felt largely authentic to Tomlinson.

Of course, Tomlinson paid tribute to his former band by playing popular One Direction songs “Night Changes” and “Where Do Broken Hearts Go.” Fans were incredibly supportive, singing along through the entirety of the concert but it’s hard to ignore the energy fans gave to the throwback One Direction songs. Tomlinson also played his hits “Bigger Than Me,” “Written All Over Your Face,” and “Out of My System,” and wrapped up the encore with “Silver Tongues.” Tomlinson did an impressive job interacting with fans throughout the duration of the concert. At multiple points of the show, he would hop off of the stage and join fans at the barricade.

The Faith In The Future North American tour continues on throughout June and wraps on July 7th in Austin, TX. Some dates are already sold-out so be sure to get your tickets soon to secure your place.

[spade-riddles]

Submission: I was scrolling through The L Chat Taylor thread and came across this:

I then hopped over to Reddit where there was a recent post discussing this older one, asking if it had ever been solved. A commenter suggested the OP search the sub for CIB to view previous potential CIB answers.

CIB = Coney Island Baby

I did that myself and found a post from two years ago (so from before the CIB/disco dancing post). The post talks about a possible relation between Taylor's Coney Island song and a song by another artist, Lou Reed's Coney Island Baby. That post went on to abbreviate the song as "CIB" which to me seems like it would be the obvious connection for the SpecialistAmbition77 post.

Now this may be confirmation bias, but if this SA77 poster was legit, then I think disco dancing would be the Met Gala where Karlie and Taylor danced to September. Which was later shown to be significant when Taylor recorded a cover of the same song later.

And when I saw that CIB might mean Coney Island Baby, that also seemed familiar. Not only does the song match up pretty well to the general theme of Midnights, but the name Coney Island Baby reminded me of this Tea Time message:

Now I know Tea Time was never 100% determined to have been legitimate. But they did clue us in about the Kurt Kloss/Dorthea connection. And when I was hunting down the Tea Time Isla message, I also found this one:

Interesting that this throwback message came exactly a year before Midnights dropped. Interesting that they specifically said "who says TEA TIME nowadays" and then a year to the day later Anti-hero would be dropped.

Now today we have this from Vulture, highlighting Primrose Hill again:

To be honest, I'm still not sure what Primrose Hill is about other than that it may have proved Tea Time's authenticity. But look at this from Reed's Coney Island Baby:

This whole song parallels Midnights quite nicely. But what really caught my eye was that princess lived on the HILL and loved the song's narrator even though she knew they were wrong. In the context of the song, I believe "wrong" is referring to the non-straight nature of the relationship. But it also reminds me of Anti-hero and even The Great War (and how Karlie never stopped loving Taylor even when she was in the wrong). Was it Karlie who stayed on Primrose HILL with Taylor? And now they share their Coney Island Baby, aptly named Isla? We still don't know enough to definitively prove that, but it is all an interesting thought.

Also, this about the song from Genius is pretty interesting:

Something else that I found interesting is that Lou Reed's Coney Island Baby album was released in 1975. Could this have inspired Taylor to make Midnights have a 70's look? And she recently performed with The 1975, but that was probably more due to the Kissgate connection than a CIB album one.

Anyway, there's no way of knowing if SA77 was legit or a troll. But the possible connections between SA77, Coney Island Baby, the Tea Time throwback message one year before Midnights/Anti-hero, and now Primrose Hill popping up again all seemed too suspicious to let pass without noting it.

P. S.: I went down this rabit hole in the early morning of 3/22. Later that day, People magazine mentioned Toe would be traveling with Taylor when he was free.

When I started this rabbit hole, I thought it was the girls dropping hints on other platforms about their true story and their own CIB. But after the People and Vulture articles, I feel like there's a strong chance that it's Karlie who resides on Primrose Hill with Taylor. Should we see Taylor travel back and forth to London throughout this stunt, should we see those who doubt praise Toe against all reason, I believe we should keep in mind that it could also be Karlie who Taylor comes home to on Primrose Hill.

[black-arcana]

ALBUM REVIEW: Worlds Collide Tour – Live In Amsterdam – Within Temptation

WITHIN TEMPTATION embark on a symphonic odyssey live in Amsterdam with a new visual and audio experience recorded at their posthumous 2022 Worlds Collide Tour. The show, rescheduled no less than four times from the beginning of the pandemic, marked the homecoming of the Dutch gothic rockers, who co-headlined the sold-out tour with alternative behemoths EVANESCENCE. Released alongside a 64-page hardcover artbook, the live recording chronicles the band’s most iconic releases of the last three decades, drawn from their eight studio albums. 

The stage is set with steampunk paraphernalia, including a supersized mechanical head whose eyes ominously glows within the gloom. The blackened recording of Winston Churchill’s first broadcast as prime minister, with echoes of the Nazi’s seemingly-unstoppable occupation of France in 1940, swells into a symphonic explosion of string instruments. Our Solemn Hour the opening song is commanding and gripping, providing powerful agency for those in the crowd and watching at home. 

The show continues full steam ahead with Faster, which is energising, but perhaps a little too early in the show as it is arguably their biggest hit with the most Spotify listens. Paradise (What About Us?) hits harder with live vocals from the crowd. Vocalist Sharon den Adel breaks to reflect on the “crazy things happening in the world right now” pushing into Stand Your Ground. Adel is then lifted into the air, with blazing phoenix wings, for the beginning of Angels. Standout moment. 

EVANESCENCE‘s Amy Lee joins the band on stage to conquer The Reckoning. The vocalists match and compliment their vast ranges with cascading choruses, and a powerful moment is captured as Adel and Lee lock hands as the song finishes. Adel hits notes with stunning accuracy, letting her voice shine in every song. Musically the recording is tight, but sonically begins to veer during Supernova, as the poppy riffs seem almost out of place in a show with such ferocity. Dedicated to Adel‘s late father, this track is held up by its emotion, but the Runescape synths don’t produce enough power to match the rest of the set. 

The set then follows with some of the industrial outfit’s newer tracks, including Don’t Pray For Me, which at the time of recording came from their not-yet-released but anticipated album Wireless. The song is an impressive display of the band’s capabilities, but the pre-recorded voiceover is jarring in a live setting. Adel is hoisted into the air again for All I Need, which contrasts wonderfully against the intense power of the previous sets. The ballad gives the set the much needed breathing room it needs, before the band leaves to begin the encore. Adel thanks the crowd before Ice Queen begins to play, a throwback that goes down spectacularly with the crowd singing back to the band. They finish with Mother Earth, an uplifting ending that provides the endnote a set of that scale needs. 

The live album is sonically mixed well, and compliments the playing on stage. Visually it’s spectacular both in the design of the stage but also the lighting that really packs a punch. Industrial riffs melt into the cool synths, as the band commands at times the impressive pyrotechnics. Most importantly, the crowd empowers the band, reacting to their every move with devil horns like a glue that holds the recording together. Tight drums set the standard of the sound in the Ziggo Dome with tenacity, and ultimately WITHIN TEMPTATION prove that they can provide a powerful experience for anyone watching.

Rating: 7/10

[findafight]

here is the spotify link to Robin and Steve's Epic Platonic Soulmate Mixtape (vol.1) I'm going to say they made this version in the early spring of 1985. fic link

track list and explanations under the cut!!

Side A--the queer side

Total Eclipse of the Heart by Bonnie Tyler: I'm gonna take a wild guess and say y'all know why this is here

Rainbow Connection by Kermit: also self explanatory. and a bop. AND about rainbows. what more could you want?

Bangkok/One Night in Bangkok by Murray Head (Original Chess Recording version): 1) a banger. 2) from a whole musical written by the Bs of ABBA 3) Steve likes to listen to musical while vacuuming his pool :) 4) queer vibes. "the queens we use would not excite you" "i get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine" also to note they DID probably shave off the first minute of instrumental, but not all of it. I used this version and not the radio edit because in my heart of hearts I believe Steve picked up the Chess concept album in the fall of 1984, vibed with it, (I've answered an ask about stobin and the musical chess where I talk more) and that's the version he has.

Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy by Queen: tbh always sounded gay to me, and it's such a fun song, I think they'd vibe with it and agreed it's a silly little nod to steve's previous rep.

Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard by Paul Simon: GAY GAY VERY GAY SONG "it's against the law...what their mama saw/it was against the law" HMM also it's catchy and has so much potential to be an angsty queer ballad too. (also Robin's dad is 100% a Simon and Garfunkle stan that's just. a fact to me.)

I'm Coiming Out by Diana Ross: iconic song claimed by the gays. for the obvious reasons. bit on the nose but this is for THEM.

Sunshine (Go Away Today) by Jonathan Edwards: About not letting someone control your life. It's catchy and heartfelt, dreams about the future. Steve's Vecna Song for me.

You Can't Hurry Love by The Supremes: stobin are losers in the love department, and it's a great and hopeful song about not rushing into things. The Supremes Version because Robin is influenced by her former Hippie parents, and Steve by his Aunt Evelyn and her love of 50's and 60's music. They have appreciation for the Oldie Goldies.

Lady Marmalade by LaBelle: Disco baby. I also feel this was a song for us queer folk. maybe because I'm queer and I like it. it's great, and robin loves hearing women sing about having sex.

Holding Out for a Hero by Bonnie Tyler: throwback to the first song on the mixtape Steve gave Robin at the very beginning! now with the Upside Down between them it means more too. it's also SO FUN to belt in the car. frantic and with a good beat. I don't think I need to justify this one haha

Believe it or Not (theme from Greatest American Hero) by Joey Scarbury: Robin LOVES this stupid show about a cringe fail teacher with his cringe fail life getting a super suit from aliens and then losing the instruction manual. It just feels like a show she'd like even though it's so silly. The theme song is actually great tho. I think it'd really tickle the part of Robin that feels overly average and a bit trapped in Hawkins, but feels those confines lessen when she's with Steve and getting to feel like there's more out there for her. Personally, I first heard it on cassette of top 100 tv themes (along with MASH, Law and Order, Hawaii Five-oh, Andy Griffith etc) sitting in a booster seat in the front seat of my family's motor home on a long summer road trip in the early 2000's, as my dad drove and told me what show each song was from. (Steve buddy I understand your dream so much ok. There's nothing quite like being a kid and going on a roadtrip with your family. magical.)

Side B--The Besties side

You're My Best Friend by Queen: Love song for your best friend me thinks yes :)

Stuck With You by Huey Lewis and the News: the only anachronistic song on the playlist, but I couldn't NOT put it on. lavender marriage stobin REAL. They're stuck with each other :) also look at Steve. He is a guy who listens to Huey Lewis. We know this. He heard this song a year before it came out and was like robin :') it's us....I'm stuck with you...I'm so Happy about it :))

Stoned Soul Picnic by The 5th Dimension: Robin's parents are former hippies. This song is fantastic. Pure vibes. Steve and Robin are going to get rescue cats that are bonded together and name them Sassafras and Moonshine for this song.

Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles: Bop and a half. Sing along song.

Both Sides Now by Judy Collins: 1)gorgeous song originally by Joni Mitchel but this version is a bit faster 2) Robin's former Hippie parents influencing her taste strike AGAIN 3) she tries to convince Steve it's about being "queer like him" and he doesn't buy it but "I've looked at love from both sides now/.../I really don't know love at all" and "Oh, but now old friends they're acting strange/ And they shake their heads and they tell me that I've changed/ Well something's lost, but something's gained" hit different for him

Only the Good Die Young by Billy Joel: I chose this billy joel song because it's 1) catchy as all hell 2) about having sex 3) mentions dying and stobin are like We didn't die!! hell yeah! Steve's a pianist and tbh he loves billy joel. who doesn't. it was between this one and piano man i guess, tho i love many Billy Joel songs that are "deeper cuts" ha. and "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints/the sinners are much more fun" line is like. what are they gonna do. not be an emotional queer teen about it?

Raspberry Beret by Prince: it's catchy, and whilst originally I had put La La Love You By Don McLean here, I like this one better. Robin is definitely a Prince fan. and a beret fan. happy coincidink. and its a fun song! about loosing your virginity to a hot girl in a barn!

Indiana Wants Me by R. Dean Taylor: okay originally I'll admit I put this on the masterplaylist because. obviously post-s4 Eddie running away angst song even if it's more folk-rock than metal. I think Steve and Robin would listen to it and really vibe with wanting to go home but not being able to. even if it's not literally. also they live in Indiana and like. you've gotta respect a song about where you live. ALSO the cop sounds in it. so good.

Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen: a song? about being disillusioned with the American dream after seeing the institutional failures of the government??? very Steve. the whole album is great, and I know I've reblogged a post about Steve and the album (My Hometown hits different). It's angry, frustrated, passionate. Being queer in a small town where the government covers up it's human experimentation and alternate dimensions probably makes you feel a lot of things. All with the veneer of Americana.

Where Do You Go To (My Lovely) by Peter Starstedt: purely self indulgent of me. I adore this song. I think Steve heard it, and thought of Robin. The remembering, the deep knowledge of another person, the longing. When he told Robin that it's a song he always associates with her she tears up a bit, because it's so tender and loving, and a bit silly. Like. Steve knows she'll be amazing and can't comprehend anyone not seeing it. It's sooo tender.

Thank You for Being a Friend by Andrew Gold: Golden Girls didn't air their first episode until fall 1985, and obviously when it does Stobin are loyal viewers, (Steve is in love with Bea Arthur. as is right) but this song came out in the 70's. It's fun and cute and catchy! They love each other and are so, incomprehensibly grateful that they found each other.

[murumokirby360]

My Family's 2000s Digital Camera (Sony Cybershot DSC-T70) [feat. my Paper Dolls]

DeviantART version → [CLICK ME!]

Hello, April! 🧩🎗️/☀️ I was going make another topic about my PC upgrade, but I have SO MANY things to do, like running a small business from my parents, and my upcoming 🥳 birthday 🎁 this May, with only 6 days remaining.

• Instead, I'll continue my memorable moments, with another camera from my parent's shelves; this is the Sony Cybershot digital camera; Model no. DSC-T70. 📸🙂 This digital cam was launched in mid-2007, with touchable panel screen of 3.0 inch ➕, an 8.1 Megapixels with 3x optical zoom by Carl Zeiss ➕, a full HD of 1080p ➕, and a 860mAh removable battery could last up to 5.5 hours 🟰. Unfortunately, I have some downsides when using this cybershot, like they chose their proprietary "Memory Stick" over the universal "SD Card" for storing photos ➖, inserting a 3rd battery detects counterfeit causing unable to used (sometimes)➖, and the occasion of vibrating the camera when I turn on the power button ➖. Plus, the latter didn't last long compared to today's digital cam if they're still produced today because the Smartphones are already FAR superior with their ridiculous megapixel lens. 📸➡📱 But, that doesn't stop us from using it owing to its portability and the decent 8.1 megapixels inside the Sony cybershot cam.

• And you know, I have some fun memories from using this cam, from my 2012 High School graduation (before I proceeded to vocational college, and ended in 2014 graduation), to food from different places, and even between malls, on Oct 24th, 2016 [CLICK ME! #1] and Nov 27th, 2016 [CLICK ME! #2] respectively. , I still have these on my album for the latter, which was my last shot before I switched to a more compact form of the smartphones above. Also, I do remember buying a 3rd party battery for the DSC-T70 in case that solo battery wasn't enough. And now the battery is dead so is the original counterpart making the cybershot completely useless. 😥

• It now serves as a memorable item that refuses to be thrown away and sold to camera collectors/enthusiasts. Speaking of memorable, my paper dolls remember our Sony digicam! Isn't that nice? Don't worry, we'll never forget you! 🥰📸🤗

BTW: I'm still working on my 4th "PC Upgrade" with editing, cutting, and resizing the vids before typing my records, and posting it. It'll be done in either June or May if possible. 🎞️✂️✍️🖥️

Well, that's all for now! 😊

If you haven't seen my related camera throwbacks, and my previous topic, then I'll provide some links down below. ↓ 😉

• Another 90s Camera: Olympus Camedia C-2000 Z [Jan 29th, 2024]

• My Family’s Old Film Camera (from the 90s) [Aug 29th, 2023]

Previous:

• My BRAND NEW SMARTPHONE BY Tecno Mobile [Mar 30th, 2024]

Tagged: @lordromulus90, @bryan360, @shadowredfeline, @leapant, @rafacaz4lisam2k4, @paektu, @alexander1301

[tomorrowxtogether]

Tomorrow X Together are rebels with a cause in first-look photos for Minisode 3: Tomorrow

From rebellious rockers to fairytale princes, there’s no concept that Tomorrow X Together can’t pull off. 

The K-Pop group (pronounced ‘Tomorrow By Together,’ or TXT for short) is officially back with its sixth mini-album Minisode 3: Tomorrow, and to celebrate, Entertainment Weekly is exclusively revealing five never-before-seen concept photos that highlight Soobin, Huening Kai, Taehyun, Beomgyu, and Yeonjun’s versatile style. 

The snapshots are part of the group’s "Ethereal" and "Romantic" photo concepts for the album, each of which, Taehyun tells EW, “distinctly encompasses a unique story and emotion that we wanted to deliver visually through Minisode 3: Tomorrow.”

They’re also completely different from one another aesthetically. The "Romantic" photoshoot draws upon Snow White-inspired imagery with the quintet's dreamy outfits, while their "Ethereal" snapshots turn TXT into modern-day rock stars — complete with their own winged guitars, amps, and big rig. Minisode 3: Tomorrow's final two concepts — "Light" and "Promise" — further expand upon the group's artistry as they're seen outfitted in ballet slippers, angel wings, and crowns.

“We wanted to [experiment] with a diverse range of fashion styles,” Yeonjun says. “I think, at this point in time, one of our greatest strengths as a band is our versatility, not only in music and performances but also in aesthetics, which we always aim to absorb and make our own.” 

And yes, in case you were wondering, those winged guitars were seriously hefty. “During the 'Ethereal' version concept shoot, I was surprised by the weight of the guitar!” Beomgyu recalls. “It was quite cold on set, and I thought it was so cute how we would huddle around the heater during breaks, which added a heartwarming touch to the experience.”

TXT fans, called MOA (short for 'moments of alwaysness'), will also spot that the concepts directly relate to the group's past albums. “The props like the truck and guitars are reminiscent of our previous releases ‘0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)’ and ‘LO$ER=LO♡ER,’” Taehyun says. “I hope MOA enjoy the throwback!”

That connection can also be heard on Minisode 3: Tomorrow. Leader Soobin says the group is “connecting the dots from our previous releases" with the record, especially on their title track, “Deja Vu.” He adds, "Including lyrics such as ‘I ran away countless times,’ and ‘be my eternity,’ from ‘Run Away’ [from their 2019 album The Dream Chapter: Magic] added a nostalgic touch that I think our fans will enjoy rediscovering."

While TXT is honoring its past, the album still has its own story to tell. One of EW’s concept photos (below) features the group sitting on a truck that reads, “We made a promise when we were young. That’s the reason I have to live for tomorrow.” 

“The phrase hints at the underlying story of Minisode 3: Tomorrow,” Soobin explains. “It means that we will remember our past promises and embark on a journey to find 'you' to charge forward and face a hopeful 'tomorrow' together.”

Beomgyu describes the seven-track album as a “treasure trove of diverse sounds” that “represent the stories of today's generation.” Throughout their careers, TXT has never been afraid of openly and honestly discussing the physical and mental hardships that come with adolescence and, now, young adulthood — the 23-year-old’s favorite track on the album, “Quarter Life,” is actually about navigating a quarter-life crisis.

“Taehyun, Huening Kai, and I participated in the lyric writing to express the inner thoughts that we have at this point in our lives,” Beomgyu says about the song. “I love the track's mood and melody, too!” 

In fact, four of Minisode 3: Tomorrow's tracks were penned in part by the members of TXT. Yeonjun — who co-wrote “I’ll See You There Tomorrow,” “The Killa (I Belong To You),” and “Miracle” — says that the album’s lyrics “have greater depth and uniqueness” this time around because they’re framed through the members' worldview. 

“We have collectively been improving in our lyric writing, and I think it shines through in this album,” he says. “As we aim to give voice to the common experiences of our generation, we tried to focus on applying our own stories in the lyrics.”

And, just like in their "Ethereal" concept photos, TXT will soon find themselves hopping aboard a tour bus and hitting the road when their upcoming Act: Promise tour kicks off stateside next month. The 11-date concert series will see the members perform across the country, including two nights at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

“We are visiting even more cities across the U.S. this time around, so I'm thrilled to meet and interact with more MOA!” Huening Kai says. “Our fans will be able to see some brand new performances of tracks from our new album, so I hope they can look forward to it. Just like our album's opener, ‘I'll See You There.’”

Minisode 3: Tomorrow is available now.