Taemin - "ACE"

SHINEE's maknae Taemin has debuted as a soloist! Shawols know that he is the member who has consistently expressed the wish to go solo, and now he finally has. He has definitely made a name for himself outside of being 1/5th of SHINee. Although his solo style is very similar to SHINee's, there are some clear differences that set him apart.

The first song on the album, "Ace," was written by TVXQ's Changmin and features his vocals during the chorus. This title track's R&B style is not new to Taemin, as SHINee has had their fair share of singing this genre, but "Ace" features a jazzy bass line to which Taemin sings along flawlessly.

This track showcases his unfailing musicality along with "소나타 (Play Me)". Another slow track, it utilizes samples in the background to keep listeners from becoming disinterested. The parts that stand out the most, though, are the tempo changes after each of the main verses. Taemin's high vocal range is showcased during these parts and allows his fans to hear a softer side of him, compared to his power vocals in SHINee's performances. "괴도 (Danger)" is the second title track and is picks up the pace compared to the previous two tracks. The style of the track, along with Taemin's vocals, are eerily reminiscent to Michael Jackson's style; but as MJ is his idol, it makes sense. The best feature of "괴도 (Danger)" is during the hook when the instrumental becomes more simplistic and listeners can really hear his vocal ability.

"Experience" features the new hit style in SM: emphasizing the off beats throughout certain parts of the song. It definitely keeps listeners entertained, but there actually may be too much going on in "Experience." It even features a dubstep segment, which sounds a bit off when compared to the rest of the song. This style is continued in "Pretty Boy", featuring Kai of EXO. The incorporation of samples in this album is done very tastefully, but the harsh trumpets in this track take away from the intended effect. It was a good idea to include Kai on this track, as some listeners get bored with only singing and need a little rap to aid them in regaining interest. The last song on the album, "거절할게 (Wicked)" starts off with a sensual trombone line but quickly changes to an uptempo beat for the first verse. In the case of this song, the back-and-forth between tempos really works. It gives off both a jazzy and R&B feel at the same time.



Overall, ACE is a great effort by Taemin and sets a great stage for him to work with as he ventures on to more solo activities. 4.6/5