Tohoshinki (DBSK) - T

T, the third Japanese album from Tohoshinki/DBSK was out in January 2008. Widely awaited by the fans, both Japanese and Korean, this album won second place on the Oricon chart in Japan on its first selling day! It also won the first place on the stranger album chart in Korea. Available in three versions, we are here going to focus on the one that includes 2CDs + 2DVDs. A perfect combination to please the fans that won't be able to rest until they discover all the bonuses.

Let's start with the 1st CD, which actually is the main CD. It includes the 13 tracks of the album as well as one bonus song.

First it's a newbie TRICK that starts the album. A perfect accomplishment for rap and strong rhythm fans. At first you can only hear footsteps...then it's a sudden scream and a gun shot. Tohoshinki put aside the ballads and are now using electro sounds, and a hook "Break a trick" that you will catch easily. Playing bass at a maximum high, the electro sounds give a more futuristic aspect to the song, emphasized by the low voice of U-Know Yunho. In the middle of the track, however, you're surprised to recognize a remix of one of Mickael Jackson's songs. Probably an hommage, that will be appreciated or disliked by the artist's fans. Nevertheless, it gives strengh to the song even if it breaks away from the style of the second track entitled NO?.

Slower, NO? could easily be classified as electro without the upbeat tempo. Max Changmin starts off, quickly followed by each member's voice which blend together bringing a special sensual aspect to the song.

Then, the principal single of this album: Purple Line. This song actually reached first place on the Oricon Chart and didn't budge for a few weeks in a row. Out in Japan on the 16th of January 2008, this 16th single is selling very well (more 25,000 CDs) on its first day. A success, well deserved, that is going to grow. It's the husky voice of Micky Yuchun that is striking at the beginning. A few words in English: "It looks like, Purple Line, gotta introduce myself", and off we go. The song is hard with a powerful rhythm, followed by the vocal leader Hero Jejung. We are blown away and the hook stays in our heads. This is a totally new style for the band, with the use of special voice effects that makes us listen to it with caution. You could even be spotted head banging till the end of the song, where the hook is the strongest. One of the principal qualities of that song (that you can find in a lot of the band's tracks) is the complete change of rhythm in the middle of it. Breaking at the same time what could have been repetitive. Here, the track is punctuated by U-Know Yunho's rap (a trick that they often use). A peculiar song, to which you will get addicted easily. Produced by Lee Soo Man himself, Purple Line clearly helped the band stepping out from its boy band image. And even if they're still considered as "strangers" in Japan, they were able to gain more and more popularity with this song. Purple Line is, without a doubt, a complete success.

Nevertheless, we still can't get enough, and want to listen to the rest, that's when their 14th Japanese single Forever Love comes in. The atmosphere changes completely, moving to a slower tempo. We're quickly carried away by Xiah Junsu's voice, and this is the best track to show off each members voice particularity. The introduction is barely instrumental, starting with only a little piano. It seems that Tohoshinki are divided into two groups: "voices" and "chorus". Again, it's Hero Jejung that starts off, using a chrystal and slightly high pitch voice for the hook. The more the song moves on, the more their voices get higher and higher, giving us a sense of strength. The violins and rhythms get stronger, and it's Xiah Junsu's turn to demonstrate his talent. Forever Love will easily sweep you off your feet.

But let's get back to earth, and to a more ecstatic and joyful ambiance. Watch out, it's time for Summer Dream! After having spent some time on the Japanese TV screens during the summer of 2008, Summer Dream is the easiest song to remember. With its catchy hook and lyrics as well as its childish choreography, you can't not fall in love with it. This single was highly anticipated, moreover a purchased single meant a ticket for the Summer Touch, a meet and greet between the band and their fans. Nevertheless, the pop and fresh style of the song gives you the irresistible craving to smile while you're listening to it. A perfect track for your perfect summer. However, everything has an end, and the innocent feeling disappears quickly when Ride On begins.

Between pop and R'n'B, Ride On stands out. The rhythm is quite slow, but it's far from being a slow song. The voices are almost seductive and we're again blown away by this change of style. Continuing, it's now time for track number 7, the most surprising and accomplished one. DARKNESS EYES envelops us with its darkish, almost supernatural style. Violins and electronic riffs for the introduction leave us speechless just in time for U-Know Yunho to start singing, in perfect harmony with the melody. The distinct characteristic of DARKNESS EYES is its ability to bury us in a special place. We could almost imagine a peculiar story as Xiah Junsu sings the chorus with his crystal voice. The leader is once again rapping but this time he's whispering it, emphasizing the idea of mystery. Let's not forget about the instruments, used to create a languorous rhythm. The only regrettable aspect would be the fact that no video were made for this song.

The next track Lovin'you brings us back to the ballad type with the immortal theme of impossible love. The main voice is clearly Hero Jejung's. The other members follow but are used more as back up singers. There is one thing you notice while listening to this album, they always use piano accompaniment for the ballads. The song is very nice to listen to.

Then it's time for Rainbow. This song reminds us of NO? with its similar rhythm and the pleasant voices. However there's a slight change of pace in the middle that differentiates this track from the other. Moreover, this song sets the scene for the next one: SHINE. A pop, funny and lively song that will stay in your head for the rest of the day. Its starts with a "One, Two, Three..." and continuing with a Mickael Jackson type of scream, before finally we hear Hero Jejung's voice. Micky Yuchun and U-Know Yunho handle the rap sections. SHINE is punctuated by a few electonic effects and cut in the middle by an instrumental bridge (that will certainly be used as a solo dance part during a live session). You can hear a more powerful bass line during that part which gives a rock edge to the track. Even if you don't fall in love with the track, you like it enough to want to listen to it another time around.

Finally, it's the famous LAST ANGEL, the same one that Tohoshinki sang with the well known Japanese singer Koda Kumi. Here it's the guys version only, and it strikes us as odd in the beginning. Something seems to be missing, but the fact that Hero Jejung, Xiah Junsu and Max Changmin are doing the high voice helps, as do the electronised voices of Micky Yuchun and U-Know Yunho.

To stick with the happy feeling, here comes CLAP!, a song that you really want to have in concert with its "clap your hands, clap your hands, clap your hands together!". The pop rhythm and directly public focused lyrics "Te wo agete! Motto agete!"(Put your hands up! Higher!) will get you on your feet and moving. The happy melody filled with good energy will also make you want to jump and dance nonstop. This track is a mix of everything: going from pop to rap, with a little bit of rock in the high voices style. You'll definitely have fun listening to it and it feels good.

However, even if CLAP! could have been the perfect ending for this album, the next song called Love In the Ice throws you into a complete different atmosphere where melancholy and nostalgia rule. Highly noticeable from the very beginning, Love In The Ice could either make you cry or give you strength for the rest of your day. Throughout the song, the voices become increasingly powerful, and the two main voices of Hero Jejung and Xiah Junsu succeed in conveying a wide range of emotions. With its perfect vocal performance and flight of lyricism, the last chorus is breathtaking, proving once again the band's talent.

The 14th and last track, that will finally end this marvelous album, is Together. Made for the Japanese anime Cinnamon, and known as the Tohoshinki/DBSK 15th single, the track is rather special. Funny for some, and lively for others, this song was firstly created for a young audience. However, the track is still appealing to all kinds of people.

And that's it for the first CD, lets talk about the second one that includes 5 songs. Starting with Song For You, a light and joyful song, where their voices follow one another in the introduction. Punctuated with a little bit of drum, the best part remains the hook where the vocal leader Hero Jejung is using his high and crystal voice. Then it's Xiah Junsu's turn to pick it up and turn it even higher so that Max Changmin can follow. The hook is entirely divided between those three voices, which makes it a very pleasant song to listen to.

Day Moon ~Harudal~ created for a Korean drama called AIR CITY (with Choi Ji Woo), starts off with a thunder/rain sound, creating a rather calm atmosphere before the instruments kick in. Along with violins and guitars, the Tohoshinki voices come in making the song more soft. This song is nothing like a ballad, but it's not a quick pace song either, so we're quite startled by it (but in a good way!).

The next one is Beautiful Life, rerecorded in Japanese and coming from their first Korean album Rising Sun. The beginning is simple and the lyrics are almost spelled out, however the Japanese fans will be delighted to hear that version. To stick with the Japanese version of their Korean songs, here comes You're My Miracle, a track pulled from their Korean album O. This song was a hit in Korea, and for those used to the original version, it might catch you off guard at first. However, there is a slight difference in the tones of their voices, as if they felt more confident singing it. The catchy rhythm will carry you away quickly, making you appreciate both versions.

Finally, the last track of this second CD is the beautiful one composed by Micky Yuchun entitled Kiss shita mama sayonara. We immediately get lost in the first piano notes and the slightly raucous and husky voice of Yuchun. The piano is the main instrument in this song that adds a languorous almost sad vibe to it, before the voices of Hero Jejung and U-Know Yunho can be heard, Instantly followed by Xiah Junsu's. This track will captivate you from the start, as Micky Yuchun knows how to strike the sensitive chord. Moreover, it's a special one, knowing he composed it entirely in Japanese! As the song moves on, the voices get stronger and the piano seems to get tougher, until the youngest member of the band, Max Changmin holds the key. The hook will then start again but this time adding a chorus effect to it. The voices are getting higher, and the violin accompaniment will sweep you off your feet, if it wasn't already the case earlier. It would be hard to not fall in love with this song.

Last but not least, let's talk about the first DVD that contains 5 videos: Lovin'you, Summer Dream, SHINE, Forever Love and Together.

You have the choice, but if I could give you some advice, start with Summer Dream. It's a very lively song. Or you might want to try SHINE with its joyful and a bit 'out there' style. On the other DVD, you'll be delighted to discover 3 live performances: One from the Soul Power Tokyo Summit 2007 TOHOSHINKI, one from their second tour entitled LIVE TOUR ~Five In The Black~ Special and finally one from the PREMIUM MINI LIVE@YOKOHAMA BLITZ 2007.9.23.. In this last one, you'll discover a special mini-live that Tohoshinki/DBSK did to promote their solos: Maze by Hero Jejung, Crazy Life by U-Know Yunho, My Girlfriend by Micky Yuchun, Two Hearts by Max Changmin and finally, Rainy Night composed by Micky Yuchun and sung by Xiah Junsu.

This album is a total success and it appealed to the public widely, proven by the fact that the tour T was sold out very quickly! The next Tohoshinky/DBSK album will be out soon enough but will they be able to surprise us again? Surely!