I know my presence has been quite sparse lately but I am back, dear readers. Inspirits and Shawols alike may gloriously rejoice as I will be reviewing none other than the Toheart album titled '1^st Mini Album,' which was released back on the 10^th. So two weeks have passed since the album dropped and yes, the delay is entirely my fault so I will wholeheartedly and humbly accept any castigation.

Before delving into the songs, I will briefly point out that Toheart (Woohyun and Key) is the lovechild of�INFINITE�and�SHINee. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect from this seemingly oddly-matched duo (I am aware they are BFFs). INFINITE's and SHINee's musical styles are just so dissimilar. Plus I was a bit skeptical of Key and his vocal ability since Key himself implicitly stated in one of his interviews that he is not the best singer. Bah, humbug I say! Embrace your flaws, Key. You're fabulous and that's all that matters. Anyway, enough with my prattle. Going back to the album, I'll admit it packs enough punches. Your inner fangirl/fanboy will likely squeal with delight upon hearing how tastefully composed it is.

The title of the first track, "Intro," is apropos in the sense that it is literally the introduction for the subsequent track. In this guitar-laden instrumental, we are granted an aural glimpse into "Delicious," the following�also the title�track on the album. The jauntily-strummed guitar chords spill over fluidly from "Intro" into "Delicious," a song that is vaguely recollective of one of INFINITE's songs. The rhythm of the guitar bears a close resemblance to "Come Back Again." But that's as far as the similarity goes. "Delicious" declares an identity of its own with a whimsical melody, accompanied by equally whimsical lyrics. The drums up the level of funkiness in the song and if you listen closely, you can just make out the background harmonization�which fit perfectly like a missing puzzle piece�before the hook.

"Maze" flaunted more of 'SHINee's color'; it sounded like a milder alternative to the energetic, dance-beat influenced songs SHINee is known to release as singles (Dream Girl, Everybody, Lucifer, etc.). This track is also guitar-heavy but the chords don't take front and center as was the case in "Delicious." There are elements present that make it more a 'dance' song. Or a simple pop song. The bumping electronic drumming and the alterations to the vocals with auto-tune were the focal point of this track.

The fourth listed track called "You're My Lady" is a groovy jazz/R&B number. It's my favorite song on the album. The unexpected change in tempo around the 2:20 mark is effortlessly natural, a switch that adds a little spunk. In this particular song, our dapper boys sweetly serenade all the sexy, single (and taken?) ladies of the world (holla at you girl). Woohyun's velvety, dulcet voice suits this track much better than Key's. I'm sorry Key, but something about your part was just a bit off. But Woohyun? Please come hither and murmur with that delectable voice into my ear�. Uhhhh, I mean your voice is nice.

"Tell Me Why" is the fifth track. The song starts off as a piano ballad but gradually builds with acoustic guitar and subtle synths. It evokes a certain wistful mood what with its slightly melancholy melody and lyrics. Upon painstaking search and labor of moving my fingers on the keyboard, I managed to get ahold of the lyrics. My prescience proved correct; the song is about love. Or the lack of it to be precise. Somebody provide these poor, heartbroken boys a shoulder to cry on. Any volunteers?

The final track, "Departure," is not the best album close I've heard but still is a pretty solid track. It's a mellow ending but I won't complain since the previous tracks didn't disappoint. The singing and even the instruments are kept to a bare minimum. It's the kind of song you'd hear as the OST to a romantic comedy drama, playing in the background as a montage of the potential love interests�(who obviously hate each other's guts at first encounter) rolls on screen, including a scene of our always-frustrating-yet-endearing couple bashfully strolling side by side, slowly catching on that they are actually (*gasp*) soul mates.

And there you have it, folks. A notable effort from two veterans in the K-Pop industry. There isn't much more I can ask for in this album except maybe Woohyun's voice. I never realized how angelic he sounds (dear lawd, am I turning into a fangirl?). I may have doubted the two dapper boys in the beginning but they have successfully proven me wrong. I will be looking forward to more of their releases in the future.�