The Dream Chapter: Magic
The Dream Chapter: Magic is the debut studio album by South Korean boy band TXT. It was released on October 21, 2019 by Big Hit Entertainment. It serves as a follow-up to the band's debut extended play . The album contains eight songs, including the lead single, "9 and Three Quarters ". Musically, the album incorporates different genres including R&B, tropical house, acoustic pop and hip hop.
Commercially, the album debuted atop South Korea's Gaon Album Chart, becoming TXT's second chart-topping release of the year. It also charted on the US Billboard World Albums chart at number three. To promote the album, TXT appeared on several South Korean music programs.
Background and release
The Dream Chapter: Magic is the band's first studio album. It follows their debut EP released in March, 2019. On October 1, a teaser video was dropped on YouTube, announcing that the band will release their first full-length album on October 21. The first official concept trailer for the album was released on October 3. The trailer combines two-dimensional graphics using the group's dynamic performance and projection mapping to stir a mysterious atmosphere. Following the release of the concept trailer, two sets of concept photos-"Sanctuary" and "Arcadia" versions were released. The Sanctuary version of the concept photos was released on October 7, alongside a mood board showing the boys in school. The Arcadia version, released a day later portrayed a darker theme. Both the concept photo versions express the boys' dream of deviance. On October 11, the tracklist of the full album was released, along-with the album cover. On October 17, a second teaser video for the album was released on the group's official website revealing the lead single "9 and Three Quarters " and demonstrating some of the energetic performances of the members. On October 18, the band released a preview video of the album on their official website. On October 21, The Dream Chapter: Magic was released physically and digitally alongside a music video for the album's lead single "9 and Three Quarters ".Individual teasers for the members were released for the music video of the acoustic pop track "Magic Island" from November 13 to November 16. The official music video for "Magic Island" was released on November 17. Individual teasers for each of the members were released for the music video of the track "Angel or Devil". The official music video was released on November 28.
Composition
Musically, the album spans a variety of different music genres, including R&B, tropical house, acoustic pop and hip hop. The album opens with "a breathy, groovy jam" of "New Rules" that shifts "into its shout-along, anthemic chorus and turning into the trap-inflected hook". The album's lead single, "9 and Three Quarters " is a synth-pop track with new wave vibes, featuring a satisfying rock-pop chorus. The song is about finding strength in sacred moments shared among friends, alluding to Platform 9¾. "Can't We Just Leave the Monster Alive?" and "Magic Island" are electropop songs while "Roller Coaster" is a house-pop. "Popping Star" is a bubblegum pop. "Angel or Devil" is an exuberant bouncy hip hop track while "20cm" is an "R&B ballad".Music videos
A music video for the electro-rock single "9 and Three Quarters " was released on October 21. The video portrays them as high schoolers who are transported to a new world where they are allowed to embrace their magic and be themselves. The music video was directed and produced by OUI.A music video for "Magic Island" was released on November 17. The video features references to the past videos of "Nap of a Star" and "9 and Three Quarters ". The 14-minute long video is more along the lines of a short mini film where the five members of the group are seen as students having adventures together and getting mysteriously transported to a fantasy land. The music video was directed and produced by Digipedi.
A subsequent music video for "Angel or Devil" was released on November 28. The video explores the dichotomy of the song’s lyrics and title and emphasizes the high-energy choreography of the members while debating being "Angel or Devil.”
Promotion
According to a press release, The Dream Chapter: Magic will showcase “the second story of the boys chasing their dreams.”Pre-release
On October 3, the group dropped a concept trailer video. Featuring the group's colorful aesthetics, the members were seen to perform "gravity-defying" choreography. The members were seen playing shapes and perspectives, projections, and 3D graphics against the backdrop of a blank canvas. On October 17, the official teaser of the album's lead single "9 and Three Quarters " was released. The video begins with Taehyun standing in the middle of the hallway where many students come and go. Close-ups of the members staring at the camera with deep eyes appear in the middle of the video, creating a mysterious atmosphere. The members are also seen to perform dynamic choreography.Live performances
On October 21, TXT began promoting lead single "9 and Three Quarters ", "New Rules" and "Angel or Devil" on South Korean music shows. On the same day, they held a live showcase at the concert hall of Yonsei University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. On October 29, "9 and Three Quarters " won first place at SBS MTV's The Show.Critical reception
Billboard described the album as a "complex, varied soundscape inspired by the titular theme, with elements of groove, punk-pop, R&B, house, and a whole wide range of other genres littered throughout as the five -- Soobin, Yeonjun, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Huening Kai -- share more sides to themselves as one of this year's most sonically exciting rookie acts." Writing for MTV, Crystal Bell commended the "eclectic mix of genres" of the album, that "diversifies the group's sound without completely losing their signature energy and stylistic flourishes". The lead single "9 and Three Quarters " was ranked No. 2 on Dazeds list of the 20 best K-pop songs of 2019, with the magazine describing the song as "seamlessly woven and infused with a magnetic urgency" that has "the undercurrents – chunky, compressed drums and tight guitar riffs" which "are amplified to stadium rock levels, chasing the melody into a gloriously hooky, firework of a chorus where TXT’s vocals burst forth with a luminous mix of desperation and rebellion". Billboard included the song in its list of "The 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2019: Critics' Picks". "Magic Island" was included in MTV's list of "The Best K-pop B-sides of 2019".Commercial performance
The Dream Chapter: Magic debuted at No. 1 on Gaon Album Chart, surpassing 124,000 sales in its first week. This marked the group's second chart-topping album following The Dream Chapter: Star. The album debuted at No. 3 on Billboards World Albums Chart. The album also opened at No. 6 on the Heatseeker's Album Chart. A total of four tracks from the album entered the Billboard World Digital Songs chart with the lead single "9 and Three Quarters " debuting at No. 2. Additionally, "New Rules" opened at No. 16, "20cm" at No. 18 and "Angel or Devil" at No. 21.Track listing
The credits are adapted from the official album profile on Naver.Personnel
Credits adapted from AllMusic and Tidal.- Adora – digital editing, recording engineer, vocal arrangement, background vocals
- Lauren Aquilina – background vocals
- Jacob Attwooll- recording engineer, background vocals
- "Hitman" Bang – production
- TXT – primary vocals
- Caesar & Loui – recording engineer, background vocals
- El Capitxn – production, digital editing, recording engineer, keyboard, synthesizer, vocal arrangement
- Jon Castelli - mix engineer
- Hector Castillo - mix engineer, studio personnel
- Melanie Joy Fontana – background vocals
- Ingmar Carlsen – mixing assistance, studio personnel
- DJ Riggins – recording assistance, studio personnel
- Yang Ga - mix engineer, studio personnel
- Ghstloop – digital editing
- Jayrah Gibson – background vocals
- John Haynes - mix engineer, studio personnel
- Hi-Bye – background vocals
- Hiss Noise – digital editing, synthesizer, vocal arrangement
- Shae Jacobs – production, recording engineer, programming, background vocals, instruments
- Jaycen Joshua – mix engineer, studio personnel
- Nicole Kim – A&R
- Sam Klempner – production, bass, drums, recording engineer, keyboard, mix engineer, programming, synthesizer, background vocals, studio personnel
- Jordan Kyle – production, drums, recording engineer, guitar, keyboard, synthesizer
- Gia Lim – A&R
- Randy Merill – mastering engineer, studio personnel
- Pdogg – production, keyboard, synthesizer
- Revine - digital editing
- Jacob Richards - recording assistance, studio personnel
- Mike Seaberg - recording assistance, studio personnel
- Michel Lindgren Schulz – recording engineer
- Slow Rabbit – production, digital editing, recording engineer, keyboard, programming, synthesizer, vocal arrangement
- Soulman – background vocals
- Supreme Boi – production, digital editing, keyboard, synthesizer, vocal arrangement
- Peter Thomas – production, drums programming, recording engineer, guitar, piano, background vocals, whistle
- Jake Torrey – engineering, background vocals
- Wonderkid- production, digital editing, keyboard, synthesizer, vocal arrangement
- Shinkung- production
- X-Limit – background vocals
- Hiju Yang – A&R
- Jordan “DJ Swivel” Young – recording engineer, background vocals
- Tiffany Young – guitar
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Accolades
| Critic/Publication | List | Song | Rank | Ref. |
| Billboard | The 25 Best K-pop Songs of 2019 | "9 and Three Quarters " | 4 | |
| BuzzFeed | Best K-pop Music Videos of 2019 | "9 and Three Quarters " | 6 | |
| BuzzFeed | 30 Songs That Helped Define K-Pop in 2019 | "9 and Three Quarters " | 6 | |
| Dazed | The 20 best K-pop songs of 2019 | "9 and Three Quarters " | 2 | |
| KultScene | 50 Best K-pop Songs of 2019 | "9 and Three Quarters " | 21 | |
| South China Morning Post | The 10 best K-pop songs of 2019 | "9 and Three Quarters " | 9 | |
| MTV | The Best K-pop B-sides of 2019 | "Magic Island" | 9 |
| Song | Program | Date | |
| "9 and Three Quarters " | The Show | October 29, 2019 |