Song Review:: TNX: For Real?: For Real?

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  • Release date: 2025 March 26
  • Album tracklist: For Real?, Perfect Danger, What If, At The Moment, By My Side
  • Album runtime: 16 minutes

The album didn't come out until after ASC and then the car accidents messed up my schedule and so here I am finally getting to it. The name seemed familiar but I couldn't remember the group, so I did my usual sniffing just to double check and add to my mental folders, and the results I got were really validating for my memory. They used to be called The New Six! They're Psy's kids! Also, the maknae turns twenty this year, so we are good to go on that end. And they were funny on ASC, what with their near constant "We didn't ask the company for permission. Oh well."

The song has a strong, driving beat and the type of energy that you find in pop-rock. It's familiar enough that I'm trying to figure out precisely what I'm reminded of here. Blink-182 maybe? Barenaked Ladies? Green Day? Jimmy Eat World? It definitely wouldn't be out of place if I heard it in 10 Things I Hate About You, which was one of the movies which formed my personality when I was younger. But I really like the spot where it slows down and softens to give the vocals a spot of quiet before exploding back into action, then just at the very end of the song, the phone beeping that you can just hear hiding behind the other instrumentals is something I really like. If you want a song that highlights the guitar, it's this one. It sounds so familiar.

Much like with the instrumentals, the vocals fit in perfectly with the aforementioned bands. This is pop-punk or pop-rock at its finest, and I'm absolutely delighted to be getting a song of these colors in this era of the milquetoast elevator music.  Vocally, this doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, nor is it particularly big-belted, but it feels like precisely what it is without any extra frills or buckles or gimmicks. 

Functionally, this is much more of a performance video than a music video. There's very little if any of a storyline, and too much choreography for it to be a vibes and visuals music video. But that choreography. Wow. Clearly the rent is due because not only is that some big choreography to match with the big sound, but they go at it so hard. 



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