BOYNEXTDOOR ‘The Action’ EP Review: Every Track Ranked

This track captures the emotions that surface after a breakup while looking around an empty space filled with traces of that relationship — all expressed through a rock sound. As the fourth track on the album, “Bathroom” stands out for its sharp guitar riffs and clean arrangement of the instruments. The members’ vocals and rap drive the song forward, unfolding its relatable lyrics and repetitive hook. Pay special attention to the transition between MYUNG JAEHYUN’s precise rap delivery and WOONHAK’s verse, as well as the interplay between SUNGHO and RIWOO’s vocals in the second chorus. The line “I threw all my coins into the Trevi” — a metaphor for misfortune and loss after separation — connects thematically to the opening track “Live in Paris,” creating a sense of cohesion across the album.

Opening the album with a ticking-beat rhythm that evokes the anxious movement of a clock hand, “Live in Paris” begins with a clear, vivid keyboard sound. The track draws a metaphor between the frustration felt during the songwriting process and the time difference with Europe. The lyric ‘Mrs. Lee from next door knocks on the wall all night because of the mic noise that crosses it’ depicts a cinematic and specific scene that draws listeners into the album’s atmosphere. Meanwhile, the bass, drums, and synthesizer sounds that underpin the chorus add a dreamlike layer to the song.

The refined elements of acid jazz and the foreign-language phrases — ‘Ni Modo,’ ‘Un, Deux, Trois’ — align perfectly with the keyword “Paris,” offering both musical sophistication and an immersive listening experience. The lyrics are also honest reflections of the members’ current emotions. TAESAN’s line, ‘My self-esteem keeps sinking, digging a hole on B5, nowhere near the Eiffel Tower but under a fluorescent light,’ connects to the slump he openly spoke about earlier this year. Finally, SUNGHO’s murmured tone as he delivers ‘Live in P-a-r-i-s’ adds a layer of chic elegance — the defining kick of the track.

As the members said, “The moment we first heard it, we knew this was the kind of song BOYNEXTDOOR could do best.”“Hollywood Action” channels the group’s signature free-spirited energy. Picking up boldly from the keyboard sound of the previous track “Live in Paris,” the title song bursts open with powerful vocals and brassy instrumentation. Alternating vocals and rap lines from the very beginning build momentum, while LEEHAN’s warm, deep tone and the clear, resonant chorus vocals of WOONHAK and RIWOO drive the song forward.

The dynamic structure of the track makes it feel like watching a film unfold through sound alone. Its outro — filled with piano, drum and bass, and trumpet sounds — was originally left empty, but later completed with instrumental layers based on an idea from member LEEHAN. MTUNG JAEHYUN, TAESAN, LEEHAN, and WOONHAK all took part in the songwriting process.

Perhaps the most unexpected track on the album — yet one that makes perfect sense once you hear it. From its opening, led by the emotional rhythm of a synthesizer keyboard, to its overall structure, the song follows the classic formula of a Korean ballad.

Although BOYNEXTDOOR have long shown their affection and understanding of 1990s Korean pop and early 2000s R&B through their own content and Youtube live program such as ‘LeeMujin

Service’, this is the first time they have so earnestly captured the sentiment of heartbreak.

Unlike the generally trend-driven tones of the other members, LEEHAN’s warm and full-bodied voice suits this emotional mid-tempo ballad perfectly. Serving as the final track of the album, “As Time Goes By” closes The Action with a tender and timeless resonance.

How can a K-pop artist capture the spirit of an impromptu jam session? “JAM!” answers that question brilliantly. The song vividly embodies the spontaneity and creative rush of that moment — even more so when you know the backstory: TAESAN and WOONHAK reportedly worked on it this summer while ‘hiding under a blanket’ in a Japanese hotel room, worried that the noise might leak out. That playful energy pulses throughout the track.

Unlike the vivid instrumental layers of “Live in Paris” and “Hollywood Action,” “JAM!” strips the sound down to a more minimal beat, allowing the members’ diverse voices to take the spotlight. Vocals filtered through electronic effects and the repetition of catchy phrases make the track a sonic playground. The lyrics also add fun for fans familiar with BOYNEXTDOOR’s history and personality — from the return of ‘Jamie’ and ‘Sandy,’ first mentioned in“But Sometimes,” now recalled in LEEHAN’s line ‘Call them all, Jamie, even Sandy,’ to the cheeky nod to WOONHAK’s onstage mannerism in the line ‘I lick my tongue, addicted to the rhythm.’

As the tempo gradually builds, the vocoder-filtered vocals fade out to close the track, wrapping it up with precision. “JAM!” perfectly captures BOYNEXTDOOR’s unmistakable knack for playful chaos — their unhideable instinct to have fun.