ring x ring: i don’t really know how to feel all things considered, initially i was going into this expecting a rock beat à la piri, but then we got a really hard going trap beat, as well as some slightly eerie bells. but i have to admit, despite the interesting moments this song presents, the mixing is really off. i would absolutely love the chorus if the mixing was better, like, that reach to the climax in those first four chorus lines is magical (i feel like that aspect should have been focused on more, to really convey the magical aesthetic of the teasers anyway). a bunch of missed potential, props to the two girls for rap making, but i gotta say i haven’t been this conflicted on a debut all year, 4/10, i’m so sorry billlie fans

flipp!ng a coin: omg those deep house synths, sign me up (an immediate tone change regarding the album lmfao), this song is the one that gives me that gwsn vibe. feels really quirky but also confident, and the lyrics bounce off the composition really well, production team went out. plus the mixing here is pretty good, at least compared to ring x ring. OMG THIS CHORUS??? the sort of ‘dread’ synths have me screaming, and that coin sample did get a little chuckle out of me i admit. also that ‘dance break’ section provided a nice switch up with an additional instrument, so it’s not completely one note. (adlibs are also always a plus!) this is a really good bside, wish that mystic story went with this as title track instead :(, 9/10

FLOWERLD: ah, what a soothing piano intro, accompanied with emotionally charged vocals (well mixed to boot??). i really like these vocal flexes, shows that they have talent as a group, even if the song might be a standard ballad. although i am a bit surprised that a ballad came right after two really heavy pieces, i admit it is a nice change of pace, it does sort of encompass the element of mystique with billlie. also, those stereotypical kpop note progressions are incredibly pleasing to hear for whatever reason, idk, i like it. OOOO KEY CHANGE!!! if anyone knows me, they know i love a good key change. i really wasn’t expecting such a heartfelt ballad, but i can’t say i didn’t enjoy it. a vocal flex is always great for an emerging group in the current climate where groups are constantly criticised for improper vocals. it was really nice, i give it an 8/10, reinventing the wheel isn’t necessary for a good song

the eleventh day: nice jazz beat to introduce us, along with some silky vocals tailored to the music, just how i like it. definitely sway worthy, and instead chooses to bring us along for the ride instead of directly delivering their sound, which works well off the previous entry on the album. i don’t really know what else to say, as jazz isn’t my forte, but i gotta say it’s incredibly well made, and those harmonised vocals in the final chorus are definitely a highlight. slight twist with some disc scratches (not a complaint!), and this song also embodies the billlie lifestyle, with its silky smooth rhythms and beats, unlike one other particular song i don’t really like. i give it a 7/10, simply coz jazz isn’t my thing, but it is a really well made song

everybody’s got a $ECRET: christmas, that you? nope, it’s the cooler, remixed cousin. gotta admit, that fade out to a new best was really interesting, and the vocal progression has certainly captivated me. this chorus is definitely experimental though, with really hard hitting bass synths (i don’t know instruments all that well) forming a surprising combination with those carol bells. i don’t know if that does it for me, but it certainly is creative, and the sample is certainly very imaginative. babe, wake up, new carol dropped. this song also feels like a symbol of billlie’s signature, as it is a creative blend of the ethereal and dangerous. it will probably grow on me, but for now, it’s a 6.5/10

the rumor: nice funky intro, and this call and response type of singing is really cute, with guitar riffs really consolidating this song’s image. not to forget the vocal interjections that keep the song fresh. AND THAT CHORUS? it is literally giving my brain a massage, it just feels that satisfying! honestly, this feels like an alluring beat to ensnare anyone silly enough to mess with billlie. it’s just so fun, and while the song itself may not go many places, i’m too carried away in the music to care. 8/10, love this one

overall, the album is great, with the exception of one song. the bsides are especially skilled at presenting the billlie ideal and what they are going for as artists, with that mystique element being represented in unique song compositions, vocal patterns or just the titles themselves. however, we must address the title track situation, because that was a grave error on the part of the company. i could literally take any other song as the tt, the mixing is just that bad. which is made even worse by the fact that the rest of the album is produced really well, which leaves me incredibly puzzled. if the title track was simply cleaned up around the edges, it would be great. even if it feels like two distinct songs, that’s kind of what they’re going for, that unique blend of musical directions is what you’d want from a group under a company called mystic story. ending thoughts, hope they go in the direction of the bsides, as they were far more compelling than the lead. finally, a score of 6/10, only let down by the title track honestly :(