The Sound (Stray Kids album)
The Sound is the debut Japanese-language studio album and third overall by South Korean boy band Stray Kids. It was released on February 22, 2023, through Epic Records Japan, eight months after their second Japanese-language EP Circus (2022). Centered on an orchestra theme and the group's own unique music concept, the album consists of ten tracks, preceded by "Scars", the Japanese versions of "Thunderous" and "Case 143", and the title track. The Sound debuted atop Oricon Albums Chart for the first time, and Billboard Japan Hot Albums. Background and release After the release of the Japanese version of "Case 143" on December 15, 2022, Stray Kids first announced their debut Japanese studio album via a trailer on December 23, 2022, scheduled for release on February 22 next year. The album made available to pre-order on the same day, coming in four editions–limited A (CD + Blu-ray), limited B (CD + SpecialZine), regular, and eight individual-cover FC limited editions. The album's title, The Sound, alongside the track listing, main promotional images, and each edition's cover artworks, were revealed on January 16, 2023. The visuals depict the concept of an orchestra, showing the members playing different musical instruments. The main trailer was uploaded later on January 25. The original track "The Sound" was released on January 28, while "There" later as a promotional single on February 15. Music and lyrics The Sound consists of ten tracks; six tracks are original Japanese songs, and four tracks are previous releases recorded in Japanese: "Case 143" and "Chill" from the EP Maxident (2022), and the double A-side single "Scars" and the Japanese version of "Thunderous". The FC limited edition additionally includes the instrumental version of the title track. 3Racha—an in-house production team of Stray Kids members Bang Chan, Changbin, and Han—wrote and produced most songs on the album. In addition, the members Hyunjin and Seungmin also participated in writing "DLMLU", and "Novel", respectively. The album opens with the title track "The Sound", depicting the group's confidence and attitude toward their music. "Battle Ground" shows "their enthusiasm and determination to survive in the world of music." "Lost Me" is a "heartrending" ballad about loneliness without a loved one. "DLMLU" stands for "Don't Let Me Love You", expressing the feeling of "breaking up". "Novel" shows the imagination of "sweet love in novel or drama" and "the feeling of falling in love". The final track "There" is a "heartrending" and "sad" ballad about the end of love. Described by members, it is the second part of the song "Your Eyes" from their previous EP Circus (2022). Promotion To commemorate the release, Stray Kids partnered with Shibuya 109 for Valentine's Day and White Day campaigns, decorating the department store and launching a pop-up store in Tokyo and Osaka in February and March 2023. The group also partnered with Spotify Japan for a stamp rally to attend a special pop-up exhibition at Magnet by Shibuya109 in a week of the release date, and FamilyMart for limited goods. Stray Kids appeared