Call Back is the first studio album by South Korean singer and rapper Minho. It was released on November 4, 2024, through SM Entertainment. The album contains ten songs, including the lead single, "Call Back".
Composition
The album opens with lead single "Call Back", a pop song about confessing one's feelings that incorporates heavy bass, lyrical piano and upbeat guitar riffs.[1] It is followed by "Slow Down", an R&B pop song with trap elements layered over "dreamy" synths. The lyrics express Minho's wish for time to pass slowly when he is with his partner.[2] "Fireworks" features Sohee of Riize, and is a hip hopdance song with a rhythmic bassline. It conveys a positive message about lighting a fire under one's self despite the exhaustion of daily life.[3] "Came and Left Me" is a dance-pop song that opens with a restrained guitar riff and transitions to a more rapid rhythm. The lyrics are about coming to terms with a break-up.[4] "Something About U" contains heavy kick and bass. It describes wanting to get closer to someone.[5] "Round Kick" is an R&B dance-pop song that features energetic chanting, 2000s-esque electric guitar riffs, brass and synths.[2] "Affection" is an Afrobeat-based R&B pop song, marking Minho's first foray into the Afrobeat genre. It compares falling in love to being gradually submerged by a deep sea.[5] "I Don't Miss You" is an R&B pop song that combines acoustic guitar, intense bass and kick sounds. Minho sing-raps as though repeating to himself that he doesn't miss the other person.[4]Ningning of Aespa features on R&B track "Because of You". The song contains metaphorical lyrics about a break-up, and includes lyrical guitar, mandolin and 808 bass.[3] The final track, "Would You Mind", is an R&B song about an unforgettable love, featuring synths and heavy bass.[4]
Release and promotion
On October 15, 2024, SM Entertainment announced that Minho would release his first studio album, Call Back, on November 4, stating that it would "prove the expansion of his musical spectrum". The album contains ten songs, including the lead single of the same name, and comes two years after his first EP, Chase.[6] On October 23, Minho revealed the album's track list through a video uploaded to Shinee's social media accounts, including audio snippets of the songs "Fireworks" and "Because of You".[1] A few days later, he launched a promotional website which displayed a video of Minho driving a car with songs from the album playing in the background.[3] Minho hosted a live event to discuss the album on November 3, which was also broadcast through online platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Weverse.[4] He held his first solo concert, titled Mean: Of My First, at the Hwajeong Tiger Dome in Seoul on November 30 – December 1.[7]
^ abJeong, Hee-yeon (October 24, 2024). 샤이니 민호의 사랑 고백...진심 담아 'Call Back' [Shinee Minho's love confession... From the bottom of his heart, 'Call Back']. Sports Dong-A (in Korean). Retrieved October 31, 2024 – via Naver.
^ abKim, Ye-eun (October 25, 2024). '11월 4일 컴백' 샤이니 민호, 첫 정규앨범으로 선사할 보컬 매력 ['Comeback on November 4': Shinee Minho's vocal charm to be showcased through first studio album]. Xports News (in Korean). Retrieved October 31, 2024 – via Naver.
^ abcKim, Jin-seok (October 26, 2024). 샤이니 민호 앨범에 에스파 닝닝·라이즈 소희 참여 [Ningning of Aespa and Sohee of Riize participate in Shinee Minho's album]. JTBC (in Korean). Retrieved October 31, 2024 – via Naver.
^ abcdJeong, Seo-hyun (October 31, 2024). 샤이니 민호, 아련한 이별 감성...첫 정규 '콜 백' [Shinee's Minho creates a hazy feeling of separation in his first studio album 'Call Back']. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved October 31, 2024 – via Naver.
