Top tracks — play these first
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One Day — Opening the album with a reflective tone, this track sets the emotional stage with its poignant lyrics about longing and hope.
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Whispers in the Dark — This song stands out for its haunting melody and introspective themes, showcasing the group's vocal versatility against a backdrop of atmospheric production.
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The Dreaming — The title track encapsulates the album's overarching themes of aspiration and self-discovery, combining anthemic choruses with rich harmonies.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong production and songwriting but remains within familiar K-pop structures.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of layered vocal harmonies across multiple tracks, creating a rich sound texture.
- Each song typically follows a verse-chorus structure, with some tracks incorporating bridges that shift the emotional tone.
- Several tracks utilize electronic beats that vary in intensity, with moments of calm followed by energetic choruses.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- concise energetic bursts
- upbeat tracks for quick listens
- playful vibes for social settings
- emotive hooks for sing-alongs
Maybe skip if you
- slow-paced reflective moments
- long immersive experiences
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — First all-English album, marking a significant career shift and wider recognition.
- Themes
- international ambition· English-language transition· poignant longing
- Career context
- Released on December 10, 2021, The Dreaming is Monsta X's first all-English album, marking a significant shift in their career after establishing a strong fanbase with previous Korean releases. This project followed their successful album All About Luv and demonstrates their intent to reach a wider international audience.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Ateez· Stray Kids· NCT 127
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 One Day 2:26
- 2 You Problem 3:19
- 3 Tied to Your Body 2:09
- 4 Whispers in the Dark 3:40
- 5 Blame Me 3:08
- 6 Secrets 3:00
- 7 About Last Night 2:33
- 8 Better 2:19
- 9 Blow Your Mind 2:10
- 10 The Dreaming 3:57
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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