Guilty (Taemin EP)

{{use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox album | name = Guilty | type = EP | artist = Taemin | cover = Taemin - Guilty.png | border = yes | caption = Digital cover | alt = Man eating a pear | released = October 30, 2023 | recorded = 2023 | studio = *Seoul *SM Big Shot (Seoul) *SM Starlight (Seoul) *SM SSAM (Seoul) *SM Yellow Tail (Seoul) | genre = *Pop *Hip hop | length = 18:52 | language = Korean | label = *SM *Kakao | producer = *Theo & the Climb *Ludvig Evers *Gingerbread *LittGLoss *Inverness *MZMC *Joseph Pepe *Pink Slip *Gray Trainer *Dave Villa | prev_title = Advice | prev_year = 2021 | next_title = Eternal | next_year = 2024 | misc = {{Singles | name = Guilty | type = EP | single1 = Guilty | single1date = October 30, 2023 }} }} '''''Guilty''''' is the fourth Korean extended play (EP) by South Korean singer Taemin. It was released on October 30, 2023, through SM Entertainment. The EP is Taemin's first release since being discharged from military service. It consists of six songs, including the lead single, "Guilty".

==Background== Taemin's third Korean EP, ''Advice'', was released in May 2021, shortly prior to his mandatory enlistment in the South Korean military.<ref name="nme">{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/taemin-guilty-fourth-mini-album-3512130|title=Taemin announces 'Guilty', his first solo comeback in over two years|website=NME|last=Daly|first=Rhian|date=October 10, 2023|access-date=October 22, 2023|archive-date=October 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016090547/https://www.nme.com/news/music/taemin-guilty-fourth-mini-album-3512130|url-status=live}}</ref> He completed his military service in April 2023. On October 10, SM Entertainment confirmed that Taemin would release his fourth EP later that month, bringing his two-year hiatus to an end.<ref name="koreatimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/10/398_360807.html|title=Shinee's Taemin to release 'Guilty' after two-year hiatus|website=The Korea Times|last=Pyo|first=Kyung-min|date=October 10, 2023|access-date=October 22, 2023|archive-date=October 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020130443/https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2023/10/398_360807.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In an interview with ''Luxury'' magazine, Taemin said that he took inspiration for the EP from Georges Bataille's 1957 book ''L'Erotisme''. He stated that it would reflect on past chapters of his career, and described it as "an album where I walk on a tightrope to see how far I can go".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://luxury.designhouse.co.kr/magazineView/651383ba73544f436e2e703e|title=The Identity|magazine=Luxury|last1=Yoon|first1=Jeong-eun|last2=Jeong|first2=Song|date=October 2023|access-date=October 22, 2023|language=ko|archive-date=October 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011235407/http://luxury.designhouse.co.kr/magazineView/651383ba73544f436e2e703e|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Composition== The EP contains six songs of various genres. Lead single "Guilty" describes a selfish love that hurts others, incorporating strings and "dynamic" synths.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0003658856&viewType=pc|script-title=ko:샤이니 태민, 신곡에 '길티'한 사랑 담았다..10월 30일 컴백|trans-title=Shinee Taemin's new song contains 'guilty' love... comeback on October 30|work=Herald Pop|via=Naver|last=Park|first=Seo-hyun|date=October 17, 2023|access-date=October 22, 2023|language=ko|archive-date=October 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022222716/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=112&aid=0003658856&viewType=pc|url-status=live}}</ref> "The Rizzness" is a hip hop track with 808 bass kick, strong synth bass, organ and electric guitar tremolo sounds. The song implores those who are easily swayed by the words of others to listen to their own voices. "She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not" is a hip hop-based song that compares the moment love ends to the wilting of flower petals. It utilises guitar riffs and retro synth sounds to create a lonely atmosphere.<ref name="newsen">{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000783494|script-title=ko:믿고 듣는 샤이니 태민 'Guilty'에 담은 다채로운 목소리|trans-title=Shinee Taemin's colourful voice in 'Guilty' that you can trust and listen to|work=Newsen|via=Naver|last=Hwang|first=Hye-jin|date=October 18, 2023|access-date=October 22, 2023|language=ko|archive-date=October 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018045205/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000783494|url-status=live}}</ref> Alternative pop song "Not Over You" features "dreamy" chords, rhythmic drums and emotional vocals. It is about being unable to accept a break-up, and expresses feelings of suffering and longing. "Night Away" uses a soft guitar melody and synths to evoke warmth. The lyrics describe happy moments with a lover.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=312&aid=0000633089|script-title=ko:샤이니 태민, '길티'로 그려낼 사랑의 상반된 감정|trans-title=Shinee's Taemin portrays the conflicting emotions of love in 'Guilty'|work=Ten Asia|via=Naver|last=Kim|first=Se-ah|date=October 19, 2023|access-date=October 22, 2023|language=ko|archive-date=October 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022222716/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=312&aid=0000633089|url-status=live}}</ref> Finally, "Blue" contains a hopeful message, likening the realisation of long-awaited dreams to blue light.<ref name="newsen"/>

==Release and promotion== ''Guilty'' was announced on October 10, 2023, through the release of a teaser image showing a person's feet stood next to a white T-shirt strewn across the floor.<ref name="nme"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2023/10/09/korea-Taemin-Guilty-solo-EP-SHINee/8511696874754/|title=Shinee's Taemin to release 'Guilty' solo EP|publisher=UPI|last=Martin|first=Annie|date=October 9, 2023|access-date=October 22, 2023|archive-date=October 16, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016231617/https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2023/10/09/korea-Taemin-Guilty-solo-EP-SHINee/8511696874754/|url-status=live}}</ref> Pre-orders began the same day.<ref name="koreatimes"/> On October 13, Taemin uploaded a "photo dump" to social media, depicting scenery such as deserts, swimming pools and streets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000781989|script-title=ko:'컴백' 샤이니 태민, 새 앨범 'Guilty' 포토 덤프 공개... 자유로운 무드|trans-title='Comeback': Shinee's Taemin releases photo dump for new album 'Guilty'... free mood|work=Newsen|via=Naver|last=Hwang|first=Hye-jin|date=October 13, 2023|access-date=October 22, 2023|language=ko|archive-date=October 13, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231013124643/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=609&aid=0000781989|url-status=live}}</ref> He released a variety of online promotional content, including mood clips, teaser images and trailers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=003&aid=0012148178|script-title=ko:태민, 아이스크림이 녹아 흘러내린다…'길티'|trans-title=Taemin's ice cream melts and flows down... 'Guilty'|work=Newsis|via=Naver|last=Moon|first=Ye-bin|date=October 16, 2023|access-date=October 22, 2023|language=ko|archive-date=October 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022222716/https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=003&aid=0012148178|url-status=live}}</ref> Newspaper sheets containing the album artwork were distributed throughout Seoul from October 25 to October 27.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0003190344|script-title=ko:"호외요 호외!"..'30일 컴백' 샤이니 태민, 신사·한남·홍대서 'Guilty' 신문 배포|trans-title="Extra, extra!".. 'Comeback on October 30' Shinee's Taemin distributes 'Guilty' newspapers in Sinsa, Hannam, and Hongdae|work=Star News|via=Naver|last=Han|first=Hae-seon|date=October 25, 2023|access-date=October 27, 2023|language=ko}}</ref> Taemin hosted a livestream through various social media platforms on October 30 to count down to the album's release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=003&aid=0012164748|script-title=ko:샤이니 태민, 30일 컴백 카운트다운 라이브|trans-title=Shinee's Taemin to hold comeback countdown livestream on the October 30|work=Newsis|via=Naver|last=Moon|first=Ye-bin|date=October 24, 2023|access-date=October 27, 2023|language=ko}}</ref> He held a concert titled Metamorph at the Inspire Arena in Incheon in December.<ref name="metamorph">{{cite web|url=https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20231019000809|title=[Today's K-pop] Shinee's Taemin to host solo concert in December|website=The Korea Herald|last=Hwang|first=You-mee|date=October 19, 2023|access-date=October 19, 2023|archive-date=October 19, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019095400/http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20231019000809|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Critical reception== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Year-end lists for ''Guilty'' ! scope="col" | Critic/Publication ! scope="col" | List ! scope="col" | Rank ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- ! scope="row" | ''Paste'' | style="text-align:left" | The 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2023 | 14 | <ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/best-albums/the-20-best-k-pop-albums-of-2023|title=The 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2023|last=Opie|first=David|date=December 21, 2023|magazine=Paste|access-date=December 23, 2023}}</ref> |- |}

==Track listing== {{track listing | headline = ''Guilty'' track listing | extra_column = Arrangement | total_length = 18:52 | title1 = Guilty | lyrics1 = Park Tae-won | music1 = {{hlist|Jonatan Gusmark|Ludvig Evers|Kole|Maxx Song|Kriz}} | extra1 = Moonshine | length1 = 3:10 | title2 = The Rizzness | lyrics2 = Lee Hyung-seok (PNP) | music2 = {{hlist|Manifest|Jbach|Landon Sears|Kyle Buckley|Charles Roberts Nelsen|MZMC}} | extra2 = {{hlist|Pink Slip|Inverness|MZMC}} | length2 = 2:53 | title3 = She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not | lyrics3 = Lee Hyung-seok | music3 = {{hlist|Tony Ferrari|Joseph Pepe|Gray Trainer|Barry Cohen}} | extra3 = {{hlist|Pepe|Trainer|Gingerbread}} | length3 = 3:02 | title4 = Not Over You | note4 = {{Korean|hangul=제자리|rr=Jejari|lit=Same Place|labels=no}} | lyrics4 = Lee Seu-ran | music4 = {{hlist|Mathias Holsaae|Kristoffer Fuglsang Mortensen|Malte Ebert|Gavin Brown}} | extra4 = LittGloss | length4 = 3:33 | title5 = Night Away | note5 = {{Korean|hangul=오늘 밤|rr=Oneul Bam|lit=Tonight|labels=no}} | lyrics5 = Jo Yoon-kyung | music5 = {{hlist|Dave Villa|Breland|Maddy Simmen|TMM}} | extra5 = Villa | length5 = 2:56 | title6 = Blue | lyrics6 = {{hlist|Lee O-neul|Ji-he}} | music6 = {{hlist|Aaron Berton|Matt Crawford|Lucas Szulansky|Will Jay}} | extra6 = Theo & the Climb | length6 = 3:18 }}

==Personnel== {{div col}} * Taemin – vocals, background vocals * Deez – vocal directing (track 1) * Kriz – background vocals (track 1) * Kole – background vocals (track 1) * Park In-yeong – strings arrangement (track 1), string recording directing (track 1), strings conducting (track 1) * Moon Jeong-jae – string recording directing (track 1) * SM Classics Town Orchestra – strings (track 1) * Jeong Yu-ra – recording, digital editing (tracks 1–2, 5), mixing (track 5) * Jeong Gi-hong – recording (track 1) * Choi Da-in – recording (track 1) * Lee Chan-mi – recording (track 1) * Kim Cheol-sun – mixing (track 1) * Rick Bridges – vocal directing (track 2) * Manifest – background vocals (track 2) * Landon Sears – background vocals (track 2) * Lee Min-gyu – digital editing (track 2), recording (tracks 3, 6) * Jeong Eui-seok – mixing (track 2) * Maxx Song – vocal directing (track 3) * Oiaisle – background vocals (tracks 3, 6) * Junny – background vocals (tracks 3, 6) * Lee Ji-hong – digital editing (track 3) * An Chang-gyu – digital editing (track 3) * Woo Min-jeong – digital editing (tracks 3, 6) * Gu Jong-pil – mixing (tracks 3–4), Dolby Atmos mixing * 4bout – vocal directing (track 4) * No Min-ji – recording (track 4), digital editing (tracks 4, 6) * minGtion – vocal directing (track 5) * Breland – background vocals (track 5) * Kim Jin-hwan – vocal directing (track 6) * Will Jay – background vocals (track 6) * Lucas Szulansky – background vocals (track 6) * Kang Eun-ji – recording (track 6) * Nam Gung-jin – mixing (track 6) * Kwon Nam-woo – mastering {{div col end}}

==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}

===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ Weekly chart performance for ''Guilty'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Oricon|17|date=2023-12-04/p/2|rowheader=true|access-date=November 29, 2023}} |- ! scope="row"| Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon)<ref>{{cite web |title=Oricon Top 50 Combined Albums: 2023-11-13 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2023-11-13/p/2/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=November 10, 2023 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110031834/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/coa/w/2023-11-13/p/2/ |archive-date=November 10, 2023}}</ref> | 19 |- ! scope="row"| Japanese Hot Albums (''Billboard Japan'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://billboard-japan.com/charts/detail?a=hot_albums&year=2023&month=11&day=13|title=Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of November 8, 2023|website=Billboard Japan|language=ja|access-date=November 8, 2023}}</ref> | 13 |- {{album chart|Poland2|96|date=03.11.2023–09.11.2023|rowheader=true|access-date=November 16, 2023}} |- ! scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Circle)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=44&hitYear=2023&termGbn=week&yearTime=3|title=Circle Album Chart – Week 44, 2023|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|access-date=November 9, 2023}}</ref> | 4 |- {{album chart|UKDigital|34|date=20231103|rowheader=true|access-date=November 4, 2023}} |} {{col-2}}

===Monthly charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Monthly chart performance for ''Guilty'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref>{{cite web |title=Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2023-11 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2023-11/p/4/ |publisher=Oricon |access-date=December 13, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213034331/https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/m/2023-11/p/4/ |archive-date=December 13, 2023 |language=ja}}</ref> | 37 |- ! scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Circle)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=10&hitYear=2023&termGbn=month&yearTime=3|title=Circle Album Chart – October 2023|website=Circle Chart|language=ko|access-date=November 9, 2023}}</ref> | 10 |}

===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Year-end chart performance for ''Guilty'' ! scope="col"| Chart (2023) ! scope="col"| Position |- ! scope="row"| South Korean Albums (Circle)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://circlechart.kr/page_chart/album.circle?nationGbn=T&targetTime=2023&hitYear=2023&termGbn=year&yearTime=3|title=Album Chart 2023|website=Circle Chart|access-date=January 12, 2024}}</ref> | 87 |} {{col-end}}

==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for ''Guilty''}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=South Korea|type=album|artist=Taemin|title=Guilty|award=Platinum|access-date=March 7, 2024}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

==Accolades== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+ Music program awards ! scope="col" | Song ! scope="col" width="140"| Program ! scope="col" width="130"| Date ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row" | "Guilty" | ''Show! Music Core'' | November 11, 2023 | style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{Cite web|last=Lee|first=Ha-na|date=November 11, 2023|title='음악중심' 태민 1위 "샤이니월드 고마워"‥스트레이 키즈·에스파 컴백[종합]|trans-title=Taemin takes first place on ‘Music Core’ “Thank you, SHINee World”... Stray Kids and Aespa comeback [Comprehensive]|url=https://www.newsen.com/news_view.php?uid=202311111541512510|access-date=November 11, 2023|website=Newsen|language=ko}}</ref> |}

==Release history== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ Release history for ''Guilty'' ! scope="col" | Region ! scope="col" | Date ! scope="col" | Format ! scope="col" | Label |- ! scope="row" | South Korea | rowspan="2" | October 30, 2023 | {{Hlist|CD}} | {{Hlist|SM|Kakao}} |- ! scope="row" | Various  | {{Hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | SM |}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:2023 EPs Category:Korean-language EPs Category:Taemin EPs Category:SM Entertainment EPs Category:Kakao Entertainment EPs

Guilty (Taemin EP)

Connections

Linked from

Links to (33 total)