EXO Chanyeol’s ‘Black Out’ Album Review: A Harmonious Blend Of Genres

From being an experienced idol with twelve years in the industry to having a rookie mindset is not easy. But EXO’s Chanyeol proved otherwise through his solo debut, ‘Black Out’, released on August 28, 2024. The album contains six tracks, including the title track, ‘Black Out’. Chanyeol has also lent his hand to writing lyrics for two of the B-side tracks, ‘I’m On Your Side Too’ and ‘Clover’. Let’s take a deep dive into this album.

Chanyeol dreamt of being a singer before he became the rapper of EXO. But his solo album allows him to explore his range as a singer and emphasizes Chanyeol the vocalist. As a baritone, his voice has a soothing effect which can be heard in his solo releases ‘SSFW’, and ‘Tomorrow’ as well as the OST ‘Stay With Me’.

Chanyeol’s first mini-album, ‘Black Out’ marks the beginning of a new chapter in the K-pop idol’s career. The album contains six tracks, released along with a music video for the title track ‘Black Out’ as well as the B-side track ‘Back Again.’ The album ranked no. 1 in a total of 51 countries on the first day of its release, including India among others. The other tracks in the album include ‘Hasta La Vista’, ‘Ease Up’, ‘I’m On Your Side too’ and ‘Clover’. Chanyeol describes this album as a “beginning” and explains that the album contains the music that he always wanted to make.

The song ‘‘Black Out’’ is described as a “pop-rock track with a fast tempo, minimal acoustic guitar, and a lyrical synth melody”. The lyrics express the chaotic yet lonely state of mind after a breakup and compare the whole experience to a ‘Black Out’. The lyrics particularly ‘Broken Traffic Lights’, ‘No Sign of Response’, and ‘I’m falling into a deep abyss’ express the emotions the song wants to convey.

The music video has a gloomy atmosphere and some elements go on par with the song itself. A heartbroken Chanyeol sits on the back seat of a double-decker bus listening to music on a tape. While people around him enjoy the city’s nightlife, Chanyeol doesn’t seem fazed by it. The colors and the visuals are somber yet picturesque. The video also has a retro feel to it that is strikingly beautiful.

‘Hasta La Vista’ is the brighter version of ‘Black Out‘. The song talks about a better future and the possibility of meeting again. It’s described as an electro-emo-pop song. Our bodies move to the rhythm since the song is instantly uplifting. ‘Ease up’ has a groovy rhythm to it, and is described as an alternative pop song. It has a very laid-back and relaxing feel to it. The song too talks about spending a comfortable day with your loved one.

‘Back Again’ is an alternative hip hop song with old-school hip hop. The song has rapper Chanyeol coming into play, as he sings about his fantasy of becoming a hero and fighting villains only to come back to reality right before a thrilling end.  The music video has a whole action movie in play, where Chanyeol is being chased and beaten only to come back stronger.

엑소 찬열, 첫 솔로 앨범 통해 多 장르 음악 도전 눈길!
올드스쿨 힙합과 록의 에너제틱한 만남 ‘Back Again’ 9월 6일 MV 공개!
감성 극대화 ‘Hasta La Vista’ + 그루비 무드 ‘Ease Up’ 수록!https://t.co/OrmRmAJHli#CHANYEOL #찬열#EXO #엑소 #weareoneEXO#BlackOut #CHANYEOL_BlackOut pic.twitter.com/aGcLRwKLi9

— EXO (@weareoneEXO) August 21, 2024

‘I’m on your side too’ might become a fan favorite with lyrics penned by Chanyeol himself keeping EXO-Ls in mind. The title itself has a comforting touch to it. It’s a punk rock song with a sentimental mood. ‘Clover’ is a song dedicated to our furry companions. It’s a pop song with lo-fi beats and piano notes. The inspiration for this song is Chanyeol’s furry buddies named after two revered figures in Western music.

Though the overall vibe of the album is laid-back, the songs are harmonious with its general theme. The various genres are very distinct from one another and quite easy to listen to in different settings. The songs are carefully chosen to be suitable for live performances as well. Chanyeol’s unique vocals add a different tune to the whole album which is also quite raw and expressive.

We soon wish to see Chanyeol release a full-length album as well. Meanwhile, fans can continue watching Chanyeol in his latest appearance in the newly released drama ‘The Frog’ on Netflix. He is also set to perform live on his tour ‘City-scape’ where he will be performing in 10 cities in Asia for the rest of the year. Fans can expect to see the choreographies for the B-side tracks of ‘Black Out’ as well.

Check out the music video of ‘Black Out’ here

Written by – Kshitija K

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