Even when Bigbang were at their commercial peak, solo efforts by the members were just as important and oftentimes even more popular. In particular, G-Dragon and Taeyang ruled the zeitgeist with their respective hits, and even a decade (or more) later that nostalgia comes rushing back as soon as I hear their voices. Taeyang has a new album out today, led by the supercharged synthwave of Live Fast Die Slow.
Trend-wise, a new synthwave track feels four or five years too late to be cool, but I’ve loved the genre since way before Blinding Lights re-popularized it so I’m happy to hear K-pop dabble in the sound every once and awhile. This is especially true if a song is willing to lace its synth textures with a bounding dance beat. Much of Taeyang’s solo work tackles more restrained R&B or emotional balladry, so it’s nice to hear him on a high-BPM track again.
I’m not sure this is the best showcase for Taeyang’s distinct charms, but the song is a ton of fun. The chorus moves from a clipped rhythm to a shouted hook that brings some rock intensity to the song. This latter segment lasts a little long for me, but I guess Taeyang must throw a bone toward younger audiences who crave a chant-heavy execution. I’m more partial to the song’s melodic moments, but more than anything it’s Taeyang’s star power that fuels Live Fast Die Slow.
| Hooks | 8 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
Grade: B
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
I enjoyed this song, and I liked the fact that Taeyang made a comeback on his birthday.
LikeLike
A midtier song powered by superior charisma and a spritely pace that is a good 10% than is usually prudent. (0.95x sounds more normal)
LikeLike
This will pair well with Hwasa’s So Cute.
LikeLike
I’m not feeling it.. He’s adapting to newer sounds, his RnB voice is somewhat there, but the song lacks the vocal power and curves that I miss in his older songs, especially since his D2E album it’s not hitting the same anymore or am I just getting old? It just feels so synthetic, too polished, lacks soul… Too commercial, plus I don’t quite like the chorus and the shouting, and the way the sound switches to like synthpop to pop rock. The synthpop sound is way too 6 years ago anyway, it would be better if he released this earlier than Vibe (ft. Jimin) and Shoong! (ft. Lisa). I am a better fan of his White Night releases especially THAT intro and Wake Me Up ofc.
Even GD’s Ubermensch feels mid, but T.O.P’s Top Spot is gold, Daesung’s Hando Chogua is catchy af
I expected not too much after Vibe and I’m still disappointed, how can you waste that wonderful voice for a mid title track?
LikeLike
TAEYANG IS BACK, BABY, and boy am I excited! I’m going to be doing another album review, so let’s dive into the tracks and see which ones hold up the most.
1. Bad
Analysis: I don’t really like this genre, and I don’t know why he was rapping in the beginning. Also, I thought him talking about being a “bad boy” was funny because he just doesn’t give me bad boy vibes. The switch-up toward the end had potential but definitely should have been longer. I did love the jazz/old-school feeling it had, though.
2. Live Fast Die Slow
Analysis: Alright, this track is like a mix of The Weeknd and The Kid LAROI. Taeyang surprisingly doesn’t sound too great over this type of track. It felt a little weak, and I was hoping he would give us more vocals to showcase his unique voice. The shouting during the chorus was a bummer because he could have used that part to throw in some riffs and runs; it felt like a missed opportunity. I liked the instrumental break toward the end, but seriously, the song just ended right after that. Why are songs so short these days? Overall, it’s a decent title track from Taeyang, but definitely not his best.
3. Would You
Analysis: Woochan was the absolute standout here—I love his tone on this track. Otherwise, this was a pretty “meh” track; nothing stood out and it stayed at the exact same pace the entire time. It’s not really something I would return to
4. Movie
Analysis: Why is this song so short, and why does Taeyang sound like a nasal baby? THIS SONG HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL! I love the chill vibes of this track, but the ad-libs were a little distracting. Please, guys, make the song longer! The potential is right there!
5. Open Up
Analysis: It sounds like a video game soundtrack. I thought some of the English lyrics were cringey, and the chorus was a little underwhelming. The Kid LAROI’s verse didn’t really add or do anything for the song. It was mid, I guess.
6. Love Like This
Analysis: Bruh, I keep preferring Jaehyun over this style and throughout the album (maybe because I am still waiting for him to come back from the military). Bruh, is Taeyang rapping, or is that somebody else? I can’t tell, but the rapping is just distracting to me. I want the focus to be entirely on his vocals. Still, it’s decent and fits the vibe of the album.
7. Yes
Analysis: The chorus was way too simplistic. Instrumental breaks are usually a treat, but after his rap, the instrumental started to get annoying. The fact that I don’t have much to say is kind of a bad thing, but also a good thing. Can he stop the rapping, bro?
8. Now
Analysis: The instrumental is just too distracting, and the beat-drop chorus was underwhelming. The pre-chorus felt way too forceful and didn’t build up properly.
9. G.O.A.T.
Analysis: I was expecting a trap/rap track, but I’m glad it is more chill and slow-paced. I hear d4vd’s style in this (bro ended his career. i feel wrong for mentioning his name). The slow, “by the beach” vibe ain’t bad, but too many of the other tracks also give off that exact same feeling, so this one sort of blends in a bad way. It doesn’t try anything new or add any variation, which just feels like a missed opportunity. The beat also got weird after his second chorus.
10. 4U
Analysis: The “4U” part was off-putting, and there wasn’t really a part of the song that I loved. The instrumental was a nice treat, however; it felt ethereal, like I was traveling through space at night.Final Album Rating and Thoughts
Conclusion: I just discovered Taeyang a couple of months ago, and I still think his voice is really unique and awesome. However, this album was disappointing as it felt like “beige pop and synthwave” and didn’t really have any variety. All the tracks had similar vibes, and nothing really stood out. I wanted him to go pure funk/neo soul to showcase his charms and the strength of his voice.
If you guys know any good songs or albums by Taeyang, please let me know in the comments, because this project failed to showcase the uniqueness of his voice. I’m not really sure how to feel about him now.
LikeLike