Down to Earth

The record

Down to Earth is Taeyang’s second mini album, released on 25 April 2023 with six songs. The title track is ‘나의 마음에 (Seed)’. The album introduction on Bugs follows on from the January pre-release ‘VIBE’ and describes a record covering ballad, hip-hop and soul. Lisa of BLACKPINK features on ‘슝! (Shoong!)’ and Beenzino on ‘Inspiration’.

Reviews

Billboard placed the record at number 20 in “The 25 Best K-Pop Albums of 2023”, published on 29 December that year. The list carries Jeff Benjamin’s byline and each entry a writer’s initials or name; this one is signed by Jessica Oak. Her entry reads: “Not only is Down to Earth Taeyang’s first solo album in six years, and first project under new home THEBLACKLABEL, the six-song EP stays true to its title as one of the year’s most honest releases.” She then turns to the guests, writing that “the sophisticated mix of tracks brings out big-name features”.

Among the tracks

Four songs are named in that entry. ‘VIBE’ is “the R&B-tinged lead single”; ‘슝! (Shoong!)’, with Lisa, is “melodic”; and ‘Inspiration’, with Beenzino, is “the jazz-pop treat”. Of the title track the entry says: “But the album’s crowning moment comes from the piano ballad ‘Seed’ with its potent lyricism and heartfelt intensity, making this the singer-songwriter’s most moving and compelling vocal performance to date.”

Numbers

The same entry records that ‘VIBE’ “earned both artists their first Hot 100 entry when it entered at No. 76 this year”. The record itself stands at number 20 on Billboard’s list of the 25 best K-pop albums of 2023.