Review: TXT - LO$ER=L♡VER

In 2019, I and many others were worried that TXT would be nothing other than a cash-in and build for HYBE (then Big Hit) and that they'd forever chase after BTS. 2 years later, and I can gladly proclaim I was wrong. In fact, for the last two years, TXT have arguably been more consistent musically and conceptually than BTS. From emotional ballads such as Magic Island and Nap of a Star, to pop beats such as Your Light, Everlasting Shine, No Rules, to rock anthems such as Ghosting and 0X1=Lovesong (I Know I Love You)

Let us take a minute to talk about Lovesong and No Rules. While Dear Sputnik was quickly forgotten by me, these two songs from TXT's latest album have become some of my favorites already. I Know I Love You, in particular, has becoming a defining single of modern teenage rebellion. Now, for the repackaged album, Loser=Lover attempts to continue this story of the relationship between freedom and youth.

Before I talk about the actual song, I need to address two things. The first are the f-bombs sprinkled through the song. I know many really enjoy them, but I am not one of them. TXT's target demographic are teens, and while the swearing works conceptually, I feel that it was not needed. For people like me, who personally do not like swearing, our musical options are slowly but surely shrinking. Thus, for my sanity, I am reviewing it with a clean version I found online.

The second thing is the MV. The Music Video is brilliant. It perfectly captures the rebellious nature of youth, with heavy dramatization. In a way, it is what BTS' Run wanted to be visually. The angst here is clear, from Kais troubled relation with his boss to the car going off the cliff, the MV captures the drama that youth brings.

Musically, Loser=Lover is more resetrained than many other TXT songs. It plays off the angsty rock of I Know I Love You, but never explodes with peaks and valleys like the latter song did. Instead, it chooses to subtly build the drama, without never bulling togethr for any musical peaks.

The pre-chorus is a particularly highlight. The percussion from I Know I Love You returns, with vocal processing creating a feeling of increasing tension. In contrast, the chorus pulls back for a slow and melodic hook. The chorus is actually quite incredible, capturing the dull mundanity that often marrs youth and their lives. The vocals are strong, with each member providing something different.

If there is one real issue with Loser=Lover, it are the questionable lyrics. I talked about the swearing before, but the issue extends beyond this. Conceptually, the lyrics are strong, but TXT's gen-z phrasing, for the first time yet, comes off as forced rather than natural. In previous songs, the trendy phrases and English lines added to the theme, but "Lover with a dollar sign, is a loser" fails to capture the rebellious and anti-monetary spirit of the song.

Nonetheless, Loser=Lover is a solid addition into TXT's exploration of youth. Questionable lyrics aside, it adds to a burgeoning and strong discography.

Rating: 8.5/10