REVIEW: TXT – The Star Chapter: TOGETHER

Another better-late-than-never article. I don’t know why or how, but The Star Chapter: TOGETHER gets better with every listen. I’m still trying to figure out why I didn’t have the same reaction to it as I did with The Star Chapter: SANCTUARY (the one with “Over The Moon”). I think it comes down to the songs I really love—I go back to A LOT—and the ones I’m meh on, I could go without hearing again the rest of my life and be good with it. Like, that’s what it boils down to. And it only took me over a year to figure it out, lol.

I will say “Over The Moon” clears “Beautiful Strangers”, but “Beautiful Strangers” is a sleeper for me, like how “Deja Vu” was. Now I would take a bullet for her. But back to TOGETHER. I forgot that these album titles are wildly inconsistent with capitalizations, so I use Together and TOGETHER interchangably, I’m talking about the same album (The Star Chapter: TOGETHER). So let’s get started in the order of appearance!

Upside Down Kiss

I think most MOAs think of this video when it comes to UDK, but since the Spotify performance video is newer, let’s have that one embedded into the article. The styling in this performance video is giving &TEAM “Lunatic“. Anyway, I think, and maybe unpopular opinion, because TOGETHER is supposed to be the ending of TXT’s lore, seven years in the making, but I think “Upside Down Kiss” should have been the title track 😶.

Perhaps it’s just because we (MOAs) love it so much, and it was easily one of the highlights during their most recent tour (ACT TOMORROW). There’s something about the first couple of seconds of the intro that is so hype. You can’t help but yell in excitement for what’s to come. Then start immediately dancing.

I won’t go too in depth credit-wise in this article, but I noticed on the Wiki that there are a lot of writers we see for countless SM Entertainment songs like 153 Joobas, Jamfactory, January 8th, Danke, etc. I’ll mostly bring up the members when talking about writing and producing.

Beautiful Strangers

Such a beautiful and dramatic song. Taehyun’s voice here is easily one of my favorite vocal performances. It is a short song. I think that’s a small complaint about this album and the last couple over the last year (Korean release-wise). But it doesn’t feel like it just ends suddenly like “Over The Moon”. Not a top 10 fave TXT title track, but a comfortable middle. B tier if I were ranking it in a tier list.

Ghost Girl

It’s the haunting, eerie, alternative vibe for me. Yeonjun’s voice on this song is something I feel like we don’t hear from him often (until “Coma” and No Labels). It’s a bit gruff (in a great way). I was concerned seeing Yungblud in the credits when we first saw the album list. But I remember Yeonjun went to his concert. And Yeonjun looked fantastic in those photos the two took together. And the solo ones too, of course. It looked like he had fun at the show. And “Ghost Girl” is fantastic, so I guess Yungblud gets to stay… for now.

I’m delighted to see Yeonjun has writing credits on this one. I was just talking about how excited I am about his solo music going forward. Knowing now what No Labels Part 1 sounds like, “Ghost Girl” was the perfect lead-up/teaser for us.

Sunday Driver

I’ve said this before, but I love when we get to hear Soobin’s voice and we can bask in his lower register. It’s so soothing. The unserious Sag jumped out in this music video.

I sincerely appreciate the differences in each video for the members and being able to see their personalities and tastes shine. “Sunday Driver” also really just hits in the car. It was meant for road trips.

Dance With You

I’m so sorry, but it’s difficult for me to not be thirsty about Kai and “Dance With You”. I felt myself astroplane during this live performance. It was so good. The addition of dancers was perfect. I loved the chair dance, and the styling was on point.

10s across the board. So different from what I would have expected from a Kai solo. I would have thought we were getting the rock/alternative song from him. Not him in his Justin Timberlake “Senorita” era. Not that I’m complaining at all. Let’s get more of it, actually. But maybe that’s me missing “Sugar Rush Ride” era Kai.

Take My Half

I think I’ve said on here before that I like “Take My Half” slightly more than “Panic”. Not by much. They’re very similar sound-wise and in tempo. Vocal delivery-wise, “Take My Half” has more notes being held longer, so I think that’s probably the more difficult song for him to sing out of the two. I really need an album where it’s just Gyu and guitars. Gimme five or ten more songs like this all in one place, please, HYBE 🙏🏾.

I was so excited to see this one live too. I say that for all their solos, but I couldn’t help but be so incredibly excited for the next solo immediately after we saw one at the concert, lol. It made me realize I really love TXT individually and as a group. Give me a solo album for all the members. We need it. The industry needs it. Beomgyu is the only member on this album with both writing and producer credits. Slay 💅🏾.

Bird of Night

Ah yes, my favorite of the solo songs on TOGETHER. I need the Taehyun R&B album BADLY. * Taeyong voice in Baby Don’t Like It * I love it, love it, love it, love it, love it too. I always forget how much I love Taehyun’s voice until it’s something like “Bird of Night” his adlibs in “Beautiful Strangers” or “Opening Sequence”…just every time he hits the mic on “Opening Sequence,” omgggg. What a legend. And shout out to him for having writing credits on it as well.

Song of the Stars

I love love love an alternative, indie, guitars-and-vocals TXT song. “Blue Spring” is a fave of mine but “Song of the Stars” gives her a run for her money. I was certain I was going to burst into tears during this song live; surprisingly, I held it together and vibed (sung and swayed with my MOA bong). I hope this one stays on the setlist forever. It’s a wonderful song, and it’s even better live.

Alright! And those are my thoughts on The Star Chapter: TOGETHER. So that means I’m almost caught up on all the TXT albums I want to talk about this year on here. I gotta talk about Starkissed at some point. Maybe I’ll get to it this year 🤞🏾.

What are y’alls thoughts on The Star Chapter: TOGETHER? Let me know on
 Twitter, Bluesky, or Instagram. See ya next post!

Take care,

Ash💫