I am moving some things around today as I am feeling a little unwell. So instead of posting tomorrow’s album review tomorrow, I will be posting it today. Song reviews will be posted tomorrow, instead. And as you can tell from the title of this post, the album review is for NCT DREAM’s ISTJ, their 3rd studio album. This album dropped in July of this year. Featured on this album is the title track ISTJ, the pre-release track Broken Melodies and an additional 8 tracks. For my thoughts on the tracks of this album, keep on reading below!

1. ISTJ (Title Track) – Click here to read the full review for ISTJ. (8/10)

2. Broken Melodies (Pre-Release Track) – Click here to read the full review for Broken Melodies. (9/10)

3. Yoghurt Shake – Adding some sweetness and youthful energy to the album is the single Yoghurt Shake, the track in which NCT DREAM followed up promotions of ISTJ with. It is a bright pop track, almost bubble gum-like thanks to the light and delightful instrumentation and melodies. This very much could have been a track from their early days. But there is a hint of maturity in Yoghurt Shake that makes it fit in with NCT DREAM discography today. Also, Yoghurt Shake also puts the vocalists in the forefront, with their vocals and harmonies being the main selling point of the track. (8/10)

4. Skateboard – EDM and hip-hop takes over in Skateboard. I really like the upbeat energy that this track exudes. I also like the 2000s flair the track brings. The hip-hop aspect of Skateboard, which comes through the beats and the members’ delivery, was very pronounced and the EDM was energetic but not overwhelming, which makes Skateboard so easy to get into. My pick for favourite track on this album. (10/10)

5. Blue Wave (파랑) – Blue Wave serves as the sequel to the single Dive Into You (which was featured on the group’s first studio album, Hot Sauce). It is also referenced during the outro of this track. Blue Wave is a very tropical sounding single, thanks to the pan flutes in the background that adds a level of freshness to the track. I really execution of the fast-paced lyrics/melodies in the pre-chorus, and the harmonies during the chorus of this track. A fun and pleasant track. (8/10) 

6. Poison (모래성) – The sensual track video for Poison that was released in the lead up to the release of ISTJ shows a completely different side to the group, miles away from where they started off with. And those sensual vibes come through the entire R&B song. I like the groovy bass in the background, along with the body-wave vibe the chorus exudes. I also like the flirty rapping and the smooth vocals that feature in Poison. Whether this release alludes to even more mature sounds/concepts in the future is still to be seen, but I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing the group venture down this path at least once in the future. (9/10)   

7. SOS – The group takes us down a more experimental direction with SOS. The track itself features hip-hop beats and the EDM creates suspense. The booming bass in SOS also gives the track a dynamic flair. I really like the very breathy whisper that kicks off the chorus. The rappers really have a strong hold in this track and nail their parts. I wish the vocalists had more presence in the track, as it felt like they were missing from SOS for the most part. (7.5/10)  

8. Pretzel (♡) – Pretzel’ssynth line was very bold – it sounded very crunchy, but also spongy and dragged out a tiny bit. It makes for a very interesting backing to the track. Elsewhere in Pretzel, the members stay very much in hip-hop territory, which I think all members (vocalists and rappers alike) do an amazing job in embodying in this track. The bridge was also very delectable, just like the references to the baked good in the lyrics were. (9/10)

9. Starry Night (제자리 걸음) – We enter mellow territory towards the end of the album, with the first of the last two tracks taking on a R&B pop sound. Starry Night also features bossa nova influences, which contributes to a softer direction in the verses and bridge. But Starry Night also features pop leaning choruses that takes things in a slightly bolder approach. Together, the two meld together quite cohesively to create a nice vocal-centric track. (8/10)

10.  Like We Just Met – Written by all of the members, Like We Just Met features more of an acoustic R&B sound. The instrumentation was beautiful, from the acoustic guitar that starts and end the track to the orchestral peak. In addition to that, you can hear the sincerity behind the members, their vocals and lyrics. The all-in chorus was very fitting, especially following Jisung’s vocals (which is a moment I find myself returning to constantly). It is hard to fault song a like this. (10/10)

Overall Album Rating – 8.7/10