When Twice announced that their second full-length album “Eyes wide open” would be released on October 26, I was ecstatic for new music from one of my favorite artists in K-pop.  After the group’s transition from their original cute and peppy sound to more mature concepts, I was intrigued to see what Twice would put out next. However, they had very high expectations to top after their hit tracks “Fancy” and “Feel Special”, which topped Gaon and Billboard Global Charts with their sparkly sound. 

I found it refreshing to see Twice engage in the creative process and produce music that experiments with sounds that put them out of their comfort zone as artists. Each of the group’s nine members has unique talents in rapping, singing, and music production, and the album showcases each and every one.

The 13-track retro-inspired album, in celebration of their fifth anniversary as a group, has exceeded my expectations in musicality and production, especially with their lead-single “I CAN’T STOP ME”. The track highlights the strong high-pitched vocals of each of the members with a heavy synth beat. “I CAN’T STOP ME” also stays true to Twice fashion with an addictive pre-chorus that builds up to an explosion of vocals in the chorus sung by Nayeon and Jihyo. Although Twice is a vocal-heavy group, the little additions of raps added the right touch to match the intensity built by the beat in the chorus. The retro theme shines through in their music without losing their signature style.

“Eyes wide open” features a variety of sounds from cute bubble pop in their track “DO WHAT WE LIKE” to a soulful orchestral sound in “BEHIND THE MASK”. The tracks on the album fall into two categories, sweet and savory. Sweet songs like “UP NO MORE” and “DEPEND ON YOU” capitalize upon the light airy vocals of Mina, Jeongyeon, and Sana to create an uplifting tone for the song. These vocals match the breezy melody in the background and are underscored bysoft snaps and bells. Without feeling saccharine, these tracks are light and peppy.

The savory tracks present a different side of Twice, one that we have not seen much of until 2019. These tracks have darker sounds reminiscent of running through the streets during the nighttime. Tracks such as “HELL IN HEAVEN” and “GO HARD” make use of the powerful vocals of Dahyun, Jihyo, Chaeyoung, and Momo to create a hard-hitting vocal line-up complementing the prominent synth beats in the back. I have a strong preference for Twice’s sweeter tracks on this album, but that doesn’t stop me from giving an occasional listen to their savory tracks. 

This album manages to capture the duality of Twice’s lineup to create a contrasting collection of songs with something for everyone. “Eyes wide open” has cemented itself as one of my favorite full albums of this year, just like Twice has cemented themselves as one of the world’s best girl groups.