By the title we can already guess what this CD is about. It really is a 1 track that is just over an hour long that combines old and new, Korean and Japanese tracks together. DBSK have come far with their music and with this CD they take you on a journey through their history.
For people who don't know them, it might be a good way to do so, as all the genres and types of music this group has tried out are included and you get to experience their whole repetoire. For fans it's also nice to listen to. Old memories clash with newer ones when Hug is followed by Choosey Lover and, without changing the CDs in the player, you can listen to your most favourite tracks sung in both languages.
On first listen no real order sounds out, though it is divided in different parts. The first block, around 6 minutes long, starts off with Step by Step and is followed by Summer Dream and Sky. Those three are light hearted pop songs and catchy, so the listeners' attention is immediately grabbed. It's already noticeable how good one song flows into the next one without a real break.
Continuing along; a short, more dusky, dance part starts. The way you are was their second single in Korea, back in 2004, with which they secured their place in the music world not only as a group with good singing but also with great dancing. In comparison to that, the next song ZION is again a Japanese track and seems more mature in both singing and melody than The way you are. Junsu's smooth voice and the mysterious, jazzy feeling channel the non stop-track into a different direction.
Two sweet slower songs appear. Song For You is warm and memorable. The strong vocals of the five members are accompanied by chimes, guitars and a lively beat. Hug on the other hand focuses on the vocals and acapella abilities, the beat doesn't change much so no wonder they gained so much attention with this song as debut single. Indisputably their most famous song, most likely because it really gets into the listeners ear pretty easily and the sweet meaning of the lyrics is transported well by the soft voices.
The next change is, as mentioned before, really unique. Hug is connected with a few strong beats to the lively upbeat Choosey Lover and so we are again in the middle of the dance tracks. Choosey Lover is a flirty song and a sexy invitation to dance, that even non-Japanese speakers understand because of the easy English chorus. Going almost unnoticed, the distinctive intro beat of O - Jung.Ban.Hub sneaks up to initiate the powerful title track of their 3rd Korean album. But that force is calmed down again pretty soon with Somebody to love, one of their first Japanese dance songs back in 2005, which they also performed at their first A-Nation performed.
But the upbeat and dance block still doesn't end. Japanese and Korean tracks take turns and next we hear Phantom one of their faster songs from their O-Jung.Ban.Hub album. What makes this song nice to listen to is the softer verses and the strong chorus, which highlight the effective rap by Yoochun and Yunho. Stay with me Tonight was their first Japanese single and between 2 Korean songs, it's noticeable how their music changes depending in which country they are. While Stay with me Tonight is definitely more pop influenced, the next track Rising Sun, which is one of their biggest successes in their career up to date, definitely has more influences from the dance genre and is again stronger, not only in the beat but also in their vocals.
We're approaching the end of the dance segment when High Time comes up. Again popish and Japanese but with an interesting oriental sounding drumming insertion that seems as if it doesn't fit into the bouncy song. But that is exactly what this makes it so interesting. As the last dance track, we can hear Miss You. The synthesizer in the background mixed with the fast beat and the charming voices of the 5 members are nice to listen to and encourage you to dance, still the slight atrabilious feeling of this song doesn't get lost and the transition with chimes to the last block is flawless.
The ending part, which goes on for almost 18 minutes, is dedicated to DBSK ballads. First is Begin, for a long time described by fans as one of the most touching song from this band. Accompanied by a piano and strings, the full emotions that are put into this song get into one's heart. But with Love In The Ice, DBSK surpassed themselves and the intensity grows slowly with it until it reaches an impressive and overwhelming climax where Junsu takes over as the lead and the others join his singing in perfect, heartbreaking harmonization.
The last 3 songs are also ballads, but not the lachrymatory kind of. Asu wa kuru kara is bright and sweet and transmits a more positive feeling, while Lovin' You carries the lamenting bit.
The closing of this extremely long voyage is crowned by Thanks To. This song fits here just perfectly, on the one hand as the track started with a pretty recent Japanese song, the last one hast to as counterpart an older, Korean one. But also simply the title of the songs goes with the end. It's a thank you to those who listened to this CD, a thank you to their fans and a thank you for simply everyone who supports the group.
All in all one can say, that it's fun to take your time and listen to the TVXQ non-stop mix Vol.1 as you'll find yourself enjoying older songs that were probably forgotten already or discover new ones. The choice of songs mixed together is very good, not only the famous and obvious DBSK songs were used, and so we expect them, to take us on a journey through their music world soon again.
