rev.ɚ.i

exo's newest comeback is finally here~ 

despite everything, i was still really excited for this comeback. it's been a long time since we've returned to lore and had something that sounds nearly as good as this. i was worried sm was dungeoning exo with the past releases not hitting as hard-- and while i do still have my reservations (it's sm after all), this hasn't turned out too bad. 

without further ado, here are my first thoughts! i might return to them in the following weeks, changing things up as i familiarize myself with it more, but. eep!

• crown
• it's a mix between obsession and monster, i'm so in love. perfectly catchy chorus as always, n i love the pre-chorus too!!! they contrast each other perfectly. yeol has more vocal parts, which makes me so happy!!!!!!!!! and it was so amazing to hear lay's voice again. sehun's rap has my heart-- esp as my irl friend is sehun biased, so i KNOW she'll love it. also. two bridges????? i know that's technically not how it works, but my cod, IT'S AN ACTUAL FULL SONG. i'm glad it's the title track.
• admittedly not into the mv? all the ai leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and everything jumps n moves so fast i can't really get a grip on what's going on. it feels weirdly cheap because of both things, and i think exo deserves better than that............... the outfits and choreo are both so good, though. and i love the return to lore, but like. still. what the actual squid is going on--
• back it up
• unfortunately this isn't my sort of song. don't get me wrong, it's totally an exo song and fits them, but the chorus is too repetitive for me. i still love the bridge though, of course. the yeol & sehun duo rap also gives me life. i love hearing them rap together, eep. (exo-sc stay my fave subunit <3)
• crazy
• the verses make this one feels like a song from EX'ACT, but the chorus fits THE WAR more. i love the drumline behind the entire song, it really gives the song a casual feel-- like cruising along a highway beside the water at night.................... UNTIL IT SPEEDS UP!!!!!!!!!! it becomes a race, you and only one other person, pushing each other to the limit into the dawn. very nice.
• suffocate
• I'M SO INTO THIS. LOVELOVELOVE. it's so spacey and aquatic. feels perfect for a nightclub on the moon with dark secrets.......... smooth black floors with clear jewels embedded into it-- dark, losing yourself in the stars, yet if you look carefully there's sparkles and hints of you in the reflections. it also feels like a mix between EX'ACT and the Power add-ons. 
• moonlight shadows
• is every song on here reminiscent of EX'ACT? not complaining, but my mind keeps going to it. though, this one also feels a bit like a Tempo b-side. i know i'll hear this one in cafés and café mixes forevermore. it's calm and soft, but the wavy bassline keeps you grounded. it feels like visiting a coffee shop that can only be accessed through sharing secrets in the wee hours. or a speakeasy? that makes more sense. very charming.
• back pocket
• this song feels youthful and fun. it makes me feel like i'm watching the old version of color-coded kpop lyric videos. weirdly, it makes me think of peaches. if there was a machine that could turn songs into flavors, this would taste like peaches. white peaches specifically i think, the ones that are slightly more pink and have the sweetest smell.
• touch & go
• another soft and youthful song. this feels like walking around a shopping district with friends, exploring streets and picking up lots of snacks and drinks. this reminds me of a particular winter album they had, but i can't quite put my finger on it. it's between For Life and Sing For You, i think. 
• flatline
• this song is so lovely. it reminds me of watching the sunset during summer break, holding hands with someone as the sky is awash in purple and orange. it's wistful and nostalgic, perfect for road trips and escaping the world. all the guys' voices sound especially sweet in this one~
• i'm home
• seeing a winter song from exo after so long actually made me want to cry last month-- another good café-esque song. it's cozy, perfect for curling up with a good book and some hot cocoa. or maybe going on a winter drive, watching all the lights and seeing all the decorations in store. i'm particularly getting a scene of watching a book being wrapped, as you got it as a gift for a friend. that sort of feeling.
• didn't watch the mv though. might have to after this.

out of all the songs, i'm gonna have to say my fave (at least right now) is suffocate. my least fave is back it up, but that's not because it's a bad song, again. most of the album shall be going into my exo playlist~

if i had to give this entire album a color palette, i feel as if there's definitely a lot of white, espresso brown, pink peach, and scarlet. almost neapolitan-y, but more on the cold side (lolz). it feels like silk and diamonds, a casual voyage around the stars with friends and lots of laughter and reminiscing. 

i have to say, though, it feels so malicious on sm's end that we've gotten one of the best comebacks ever since 2018, while three members can't participate. how come this energy, this focus on exo's trademark sound wasn't here for DFTF or EXIST? i'm glad it's all returning to form, but i hope this isn't how things are going to be for the rest of the group's existence. i hope we get versions of these songs with all nine members one day.

sotd: back pocket by exo <3