The Dreaming is the second all-English album release by Monsta X, following last year’s All About Luv. This new album showcases the South Korean pop group’s versatility and is full of uptempo songs about heartbreak and revival.

The album intro, “One Day,” feels like a faded euphoric dream. The sextet’s light harmonic melodies tell the story of missing a former partner and hoping one day their paths will cross again. The contemporary pop song is accentuated by light maracas. 

“You Problem” is a funky pop song that starts off heavy with a deep, pulsating bass that’s an instant head bopper. The song makes you want to dance with its upbeat acoustic guitar rhythm. The falsetto in the second half of the chorus is surprising for Monsta X and showcases the group’s well-rounded vocal ranges.

The sweet Spanish guitar at the start of “Tied To Your Body” is quickly overtaken by a harder beat. This produces an edgier sound that grabs your attention and entices you to keep listening. 

The synth-forward sound of “Whispers in the Dark” provides more bite but this song could be easily lost in the shuffle despite its radio-friendly inclination. “Blame Me” follows the synth-wave movement as well, but with an alt-pop twist. The angst of the members’ voices pulls inspiration from early 2000s alt-rock artists. If you’re new to K-pop, Monsta X includes Shownu, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney and I.M; Wonho left in 2019 and has been just fine on his own.

“Secrets” harkens back to previous Monsta X releases, tapping into their R&B playbook. This song livens up the mood with atmospheric chords and a slapping bass to introduce the essence of funk back into the fold. The energy of the song is easily felt in the beat and the rhythm.

The next song, “About Last Night,” has sharp trumpets and a dirty, fuzzy bass with a distant cowbell in the background. As the chorus comes around, listeners are thrown into an auditory cacophony with a splash of vivacious strings that immediately reverberate through your body. The too-short chorus should have been extended to further entice and immerse, however.

Spatial vocals are front and center at the beginning of “Better,” and each note sung by Monsta X is clear and precise as the beat takes a backseat. The return of the bodacious bass riff in the chorus, alongside snapping and the elongated melodic lyrics (“I need you”) ties the song together. Both the sound and lyrics show the desperation of trying to get better. As with much of the material it sets a mood rather than telling a specific story.

“Blow Your Mind” is an early 2000s boy band pop revival tune that pulls in the best elements from that era. The guitar introduction is faintly reminiscent of “Like I Love You” by Justin Timberlake. The disco-like rhythm in the chorus, with the punchiness of the bass, instantly throws you back to a time where denim on denim was the trend. 

To round out the album, \ title track “The Dreaming” is a slow ballad sprinkled with twinkling piano chords. It sets a calm mood, which contrasts the earlier tracks. The lullaby-like vocals tantalize and dance through the air as a gentle rocking bring the album to a close.

Follow photographer Onome Uyovbievbo at Twitter.com/byonome and Instagram.com/by.onome.