Gen 2 K-Pop Idols: Y'all are sleeping on this!

K-Pop idol group TVXQ debuted officially in 2004, making this group 18 years old and the idols in this group all over 30. With time, comes trouble and controversy. The group experienced a pretty major split after their fourth Korean studio album Mirotic (which slapped, by the way), and things have felt different ever since. But even with only two members, TVXQ soldiered on and continued to make music. And with time, also comes experience, skill, and confidence.

I was never one to follow TVXQ members' solo endeavors (and I definitely didn't care to keep up with JYJ members after the 2010 split). However, I do now feel I was remiss to ignore Changmin and Yunho's solo works because the ones that have come out most recently have been really enjoyable. Yunho (U-Know)'s album, Noir, had a lot of songs on it that I genuinely enjoyed and there were really cinematic music videos accompanying the release. And Changmin's second mini-album, Devil, which came out last month totally shook me to my core.

Title track "Devil" is a full-bodied, gospel and r&b fusion masterpiece. Changmin has spent the last 18 years developing his voice, his style, his presence, and that shows in this song. It's a work that showcases his skills as a singer. He's not just some shallow K-Pop "visual" or a totally manufactured celebrity. First and foremost, he's a performer. But I perhaps enjoyed his promotional track "Maniac" even more.

"Maniac" embodies the sounds of bygone musical eras, pulling heavily from the 70s and 80s. The songs is upbeat and neurotic sounding, reminiscent of Abba's "Mama Mia," Queen's "Flash Gordon." I detect something in this song which makes me think of Huey Lewis and the News, and maybe even Meatloaf? Anyway, it's a unique take on the current trend in pop music to emulate a retro style. I think it's the best example. It's got operatic backing vocals, guitar riffs, and rock piano driving the song forward. I love it.

The music video is also really cool. Rather than focusing on dance performance, the music video tells a story of a man pursued by an obsessive wouldbe lover. As she chases him down, he finds that he enjoys the insanity even as he resists it. There are visual elements that are allusions to Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick movies, creating a totally old school thriller vibe. It's funny and dark all at the same time.

Why am I prattling on about this release, though? Well, because no one else really seems to be. Changmin is a 30+ year old K-Pop idol who is married, whose group has been falling in popularity ever since its explosive split over ten years ago. Changmin is cold product, even though being several years past debut make him an all-around more capable performer. These days, though, all anyone seems to care about is the "visual" and complicated choreography. And because Changmin is no longer the perfect, young, single idol, the crowds have moved on. His mini-album sales were abysmal even though he created some of the most technically interesting songs I've heard lately. As I said, I never cared about TVXQ members' solo works, but this one was so good, I was hooked. I don't care if Changmin is over 30. I don't care if he's married. I don't care if TVXQ is an old group. The songs slap. That should be all that matters.