REVIEW | TXT’s “Run Away” is a Fall Must-Listen

I was not a huge fan of TXT’s “Crown”, which come out earlier this year. On first listen, I thought it was quite nice but ultimately nothing special. Consequently, I wasn’t in a big hurry to check out their new release, “Run Away”… I must say, though, that I should have listened to it earlier. Where “Crown” failed to capture me with a recognizable hook, “Run Away” is pure pop perfection.

Release date: October 21, 2019

Total runtime: 00:05:16

Recommended for: Those who like boy groups that follow a younger, more bubblegum-poppy sound. There are quite a few similarities between TXT and NCT Dream in terms of image. Anyone who likes Dream’s overall look and feel would love TXT.

NOT Recommended for: Anyone looking for BTS 2.0 or a repeat of BTS’ hip-hop based concepts. Those who do not enjoy brighter boy group concepts (*judging you though*).

TRACK REVIEW – “Run Away”

I was confused at first because there is this really weird intro that is all slow, and then it just ends abruptly. Okay….

The song starts on a high note (figuratively speaking). The verses are earworm-y, which I don’t usually expect in K-Pop songs. There’s some autotune involved, but it’s not that noticeable, and when it is, it serves as a nice addition to the vocals. The ‘bibidibobidi’ part is a bit off, maybe because of the fast pace at which it is sung. I was a bit worried when the second half rolled around, and I thought we were about to get an unnecessary rap break. Thankfully, that did not happen. There is that standard trap break there, but it’s kept fresh by the members singing over it, subverting my expectations.

The chorus is absolutely stellar. It is rare to find a pre-chorus that is just as hype as the main event itself, but “Run Away” has a great build-up with an incredible payoff. The harmonies throughout are pretty nice, but they get even better as the second half rolls around. The only ‘bad’ thing: this is the type of track that would really shine with a strong vocalist. As far as I can tell, TXT doesn’t have one, and so the song doesn’t reach its full potential. They just debuted though, so I won’t hold that against them (and there’s always room for improvement).

I don’t really have much to say about the MV. It has some really nice effects in the second half (I’m talking about the swimming pool sequence). Other than that, there’s nothing that stands out. I suppose it’s a stylistic choice to have a rather bare music video, but it did get boring after a while, and there was no value in sitting through the whole thing. “Crown” had a more intriguing music video, although this is the better track of the two.

This was a great comeback. Despite being rookies, TXT has already established a working identity, and their releases are keeping in line with it. I may not become a fan of the group by the end of it all, but I can tell that those who do will find them a worthy investment.