[Album Review] STUNNER (2nd Mini Album) – TEN (NCT)

TEN released his 2nd mini-album, STUNNER, led by the title track of the same name, just over a year ago. It is now time for its album review. STUNNER features a total of 7 songs, including the already-mentioned same-name title track, an English version of the title track, the pre-release BAMBOLA (which I haven’t reviewed yet, as of this post), and 4 side tracks. It is a very strong showing of TEN’s abilities, with each song being stunning in its own way. Continue on with the rest of the post to see my thoughts on each individual song, and let me know in the comments if you agree.

1. STUNNER (Title Track) – Click here for my full review of STUNNER. (8.5/10)

2. Enough For Me – Enough For Me is a smooth R&B pop track that sees TEN pitch himself boldly to his lover. TEN sounds super charismatic in this song, and I imagine this is exactly what the performance for Enough For Me will embody. The beat for this track is amazing (has me grooving along), while the lyrics are delivered in a manner that is extremely catchy and memorable. The slight dramatic turn at the bridge was very cool and enough flair to make Enough For Me a highlight. (10/10)

3. BAMBOLA (Pre-Release Track) – So, I completely missed the release of BAMBOLA last year. Not sure why, but I didn’t register its release for a very long while. Anyhow, BAMBOLA is a cool experimental dance track, featuring fast-paced synth work that comes off as edgy, very textured, and alluring at the same time. Each time I listen to BAMBOLA, I can’t help but be captivated by the unique, abstract vibe the song brings. TEN sounds great throughout the track and stands his ground over the background, but the instrumentation is the main attraction. I am still not sure if that is a great thing to say, but I am still into the track overall. (9.5/10)

4. Sweet As Sin – Sweet As Sin brings back the R&B genre, but mixes it with the hip-hop genre to create a completely different, bold yet sensual, atmosphere that would translate perfectly into quite a performance piece. I really liked the heft from the beats, and TEN sounds just as charismatic here as he did in the first track, but in a darker light. His ad-libs in the final chorus are very gratifying, and the preceding instrumental break was a highlight of the song. (9/10)

5. Waves – Next up is the atmospheric Waves, which brings together Afrobeats and reggaeton. I love how soft the beats are, which is why I described the song as atmospheric. Laid-back and chill also come to mind. TEN sounds really nice throughout the song, as well, complementing the aforementioned laid-back and chill vibes. (8/10)

6. Butterfly – The mini-album mellows out further with Butterfly, a ballad featuring beautiful piano work, dreamy synths and soaring strings, alongside TEN’s delicate and emotional vocals. I would have never expected this from TEN, but Butterfly is a beautiful song. An English version of Butterfly is available on YouTube. (8/10)