Earlier this week, Taemin made his comeback with the release of his third solo album and wouldn’t you know it, the title track is so freaking fantastic, it has inspired me to crawl out of my pandemic-y hole of solitude long enough to share my squeals of delight with the world. (With a mask on, of course.)

It comes as no surprise that “Criminal” meets every single one of my expectations for solo track from SHINEE’s maknae. The combination of Taemin’s sultry, yet slightly haunting vocals, mixed with that slightly dark, yet still somehow poppy beat that makes you want to move your feet, is exactly what I love about Taemin’s music. It’s a brilliant combination of light and dark, emotional pop, that makes my little fangirl heart so happy! And I haven’t even started talking about the MV yet!

To say I love this music video feels like such an understatement. The concept is as strong as any other Taemin comeback. The visuals are gorgeous on every level and I love that there’s this not-so-hidden feel of sinister intent that’s been glossed over by that beautiful K-Pop shine. In short, it’s the perfect concept for this time of year, when the bright neon obnoxiousness of summer gives way to the more muted and somewhat spooky tones of autumn.

Of course, as much as I love the concept of the video, it’s the choreography that has really moved me. As always, I’m mesmerized by the fluidity of Taemin’s choreo. I find myself perpetually in awe of the way this man moves. It is art in motion and I cannot even begin to express the feelings that this beauty invokes. It really is nothing short of perfection and all I can say is, well done, my dude. Well done indeed!

Honestly, the same could be said for the entirety of Taemin’s third album. I’ve been listening to “Never Gonna Dance Again: Act 1” on repeat this week and I can’t get over how much I love it. The vibe of the entire album is so very, very Taemin, which might seem like a dumb thing to say but hear me out. Every once in a while, an artist will try branching out into new sounds. Sometimes it works, other times, not so much. It makes me happy that Taemin has found a sound that works for him and is sticking with it. Because this sound really, REALLY, works for him.

As far as tracks go, I found the collaboration with Kid milli on “Black Rose” to be an unexpected and rather fabulous treat. But it’s “2 KIDS” that really stands out to me. I think it’s because the lyrics just hit on a much more personal note than most. To be honest, it’s a bit of an unexpected surprise, which might be why I like it so much.

If you’re looking for a new album to add to your K-Pop collection, I would highly recommend Taemin’s third solo offering. I might even go so far as to promise that it won’t disappoint. But maybe that’s just my inner fangirl talking…