Twice "This is for": my opinion
Four: it's so hype omg. I bet this is the concert opener, I can already see the choregraphy, the back-up dancers, Momo slaying the center and the crowd screaming. So so glad they included it in the album and it didn't become a lost media.
This is for: It feels like Like It Like It and Strategy had a child. The instrumental is laid back, but the vocal part is pretty "hip". I feel there's a lot going on and the first listening left me a bit overwhelmed. The first feeling I got was that it lacked some structure, like the pre-chorus is blended up with the verses and you realize it's a pre-chorus because the chorus suddenly comes out. I got used to it the more I listened to the song and I could catch the nuances of the track more. I still have the feeling that it's a bit too packed like when you try to fit all your clothes in one travel bag and you barely managed to zip it. It does improve the more you listen to it though. The MV was very nice and very in line with the recent trends but still with the very energetic and bright touch Twice provides. I like the choreo as well, again very in line with the trends, shaking ass is pretty much compulsory at this point and choregraphers are arrested if they don't add it, but it's still very much Twice coded, if that makes sense. Everything about this song is an attempt to be in line with the modern times, but it's still written in Twice font and I think it's the right blending at this point in their careers since it attracts new fans but doesn't alienate older fans.
Options: The instrumental is pretty chill and fascinating and the vocals follow this vibe. I like the falsetto parts, whatever Jihyo is doing is great. This is also a big grower, I overlooked it a bit at first but it's very very nice.
Mars: A more up-beat track with a retro vibe. The chorus is amazing, I love the belting! This needs to be performed as well, I bet it's gonna be part of their hand-mic performance.
Right Hand Girl: since the trailer, I knew this lady would hit, istg if they don't perform it I will riot. This is the most ass-shakeable song released this year. I read the lyrics and my first impression was that it is a song with queer undertones (like one girl breaks up with the guy and the bff tries to make her understand her friend is much better) but then it could also have a more literal and individualistic (?) meaning. Either way, probably the lyrics want to play on both meanings so I love it regardless.
Peach Gelato: This is the type of song who's gonna stick to your head even though you don't really want to. Right now I think there's more interesting tracks, but can I dance with you again you again-
Hi Hello: This song reminds me of something and it took me a bit to realize that some parts sound similar to Dahyun's Keeper. I don't know if anyone felt the same or if I'm tripping, but either way it's a nice song.
Battitude: I thought we would get demjointz in the title track, but instead it was a b-side. All I know is that this needs to be performed, I need a visual reference and I think the song would gain a lot in a live version.
Dat Ahh Dat Ooh: Twice in their baddies era finally, let them use those low voices more. This one has a sexier feel than Battitude, I feel it's a bit easier to listen to compared to the previous track.
Let Love Go: I love it. It feels like something out of the 70s/80s, the chorus is beautiful. Like Peach Gelato this is unexpectedly catchy for me.
G.O.A.T.: MiDaChae are a surprising trio but they ate. I love the chorus. All of them have naturally soft voices, but also super interesting lower voices, I really think they work very very well together.
Talk: I somehow can imagine a performance and choreo for this one too. Another ass-shake song for me, the chorus is catchy. The bridge is brigding in this one and I love the ad-libs.
Seesaw: very soft and angelic song, this is also one that I lowkey overlooked but the chorus is actually so pretty and catchy.
Heartbreak Avenue: I'll be honest. If you watch the trailer for the track, you will hear a different instrumental that compliments better the chorus imo. The actual song is a lot more delicate (?) than what I was expecting. Probably another addition to their hand-mic set list.
Is this better than FOL? I think only time will tel. What I can say is that THIS IS FOR (can we start calling it TIF?) has a certain sound that dominates a lot of the tracks and it's the sound that fans appreciated the most in the recent years (Basics, Bloom, Like It Like It etc.) so I think they truly pushed the game in that direction. This is what gives a sense of cohesiveness to the whole thing, while still keeping a considerable amount of variety when it comes to genres and themes. I really enjoy the vocal performance of all the members, I think whoever is working with them can now use their voices a lot better and managed to allow them to showcase their range. I think they also did a great job with the ad-libs, I saw more variety and more members doing them. Overall it seems that a lot of work was put into it.
Another thing I can say is that this album was clearly made with the concert in mind. We have the typical instrumental usually added before the first song, we have the songs for the hand-mic performance, we have the heir of Go Hard, so I think we'll see a lot of the music of this album in the set-list.
I really enjoyed listening to all the songs and it's great to go back, listen again and notice something you didn't notice at first. It was truly well done.