Dystopia: The Tree of Language
{{short description|2020 studio album by Dreamcatcher}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Dystopia: The Tree of Language
| type = studio
| cover = File:Dreamcatcher - Dystopia The Tree of Language.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| artist = Dreamcatcher
| language = {{hlist|Korean|English}}
| released = {{Start date|2020|2|18}}
| recorded = 2017–2019
| studio =
| genre = * EDM{{cite web |title=Watch: DreamCatcher Makes Strong Comeback With Intense "Scream" MV |url=https://www.soompi.com/article/1380859wpp/dreamcatcher-announces-1st-full-album-dystopia-the-tree-of-language-with-teaser-schedule |website=Soompi |date=February 3, 2020}}
| length = 42:23
| producer = *0to1
- Chairmann
- Hi5
- LEEZ
- Ollounder
| label = {{hlist|Dreamcatcher Company|Kakao M}}
| prev_title = Raid of Dream
| prev_year = 2019
| next_title = Dystopia: Lose Myself
| next_year = 2020
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Dystopia: The Tree of Language
| type = studio
| single1 = Full Moon
| single1date = January 12, 2018
| single2 = Over the Sky
| single2date = January 16, 2019
| single3 = Paradise
| single3date = January 29, 2020
| single4 = Scream
| single4date = February 18, 2020
}}
}}
Dystopia: The Tree of Language is the debut Korean studio album by South Korean girl group Dreamcatcher. It was released on February 18, 2020, by Dreamcatcher Company, and distributed by Kakao M. Dystopia: The Tree of Language features fourteen tracks including the lead single "Scream", and is available in four versions: "E", "V", "I" and "L".{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=[SET][4CD SET] DREAMCATCHER - Album Vol.1 [Dystopia : The Tree of Language] (E Ver. + V Ver. + I Ver. + L Ver.)|url=http://www.ktown4u.com/iteminfo?grp_no=1741898&goods_no=42106|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026161424/http://www.ktown4u.com/iteminfo?grp_no=1741898&goods_no=42106 |archive-date=October 26, 2020 |access-date=|website=Ktown4u}} Dystopia: The Tree of Language is the start of Dreamcatcher's Dystopia series and was followed by the group's fifth EP Dystopia: Lose Myself, and sixth EP Dystopia: Road to Utopia. Commercially, the album sold over 59,899 copies.{{cite web|script-title=ko:2020년 08월 Album Chart|trans-title=August 2020 Album Chart (see#133)|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=ALL&targetTime=08&hitYear=2020&termGbn=month|access-date=September 9, 2020|website=Gaon Music Chart|language=ko}}
Background and promotion
On January 23, 2020, it was reported that Siyeon would release the pre-release single “Paradise” on January 29. Dreamcatcher was also preparing for a group comeback, and this single would tell a new story that would lead directly into the group's new release.{{Cite web|date=January 23, 2020|title=Watch: DreamCatcher's Siyeon Lets Her Voice Shine In 1st Solo Single "Paradise" MV|url=https://www.soompi.com/article/1378773wpp/dreamcatchers-siyeon-to-release-solo-single-ahead-of-group-comeback|website=Soompi|language=en}}
On February 3, the group released the teaser schedule for their first studio album Dystopia: The Tree of Language. From February 4 to 12, the group revealed individual and group teaser images. On February 12, the group revealed a “lyrics spoiler” video, containing a snippet of the instrumentals of "Scream", and the "album story" spoiler. On February 13, the group shared a highlight medley for the album.
On February 14 and February 17, a dance preview and music video teaser for "Scream" was released respectively.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Allkpop
| rev1score = 9/10{{cite web |title=[Album and MV Review] Dreamcatcher – 'Dystopia: The Tree of Language' |url=https://www.allkpop.com/article/2020/02/album-and-mv-review-dreamcatcher-dystopia-the-tree-of-language |website=Allkpop |date=February 21, 2020}}
}}
Writing for Allkpop, Eric Wirsing remarked: "Despite all these tracks, there is very little filler. Every song is pretty much classic Dreamcatcher in one way or another. While there are some deviations from the formula, they still killed it."
Composition
=Music and lyrics=
The standard edition of Dystopia: The Tree of Language is about forty-two minutes long. Dystopia: The Tree of Language was written and produced by 0to1, Chairmann, Dami, Hi5, JiU, Kim Bo Eun, LEEZ, Ollounder, Siyeon and Yoohyeon among others.{{cite web |title=Dreamcatcher(드림캐쳐) 1st Album [Dystopia : The Tree of Language] Highlight Medley |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQy9ZBENAtc |website=YouTube |date=February 13, 2020}} At fourteen tracks, the album is the longest Korean material in Dreamcatcher's catalogue. Musically, Dystopia: The Tree of Language is a rock record with influences of EDM. Members Dami, JiU and Siyeon participated in the writing of "Black or White". Members Dami, JiU, Siyeon and Yoohyeon participated in the writing of "Jazz Bar". Siyeon participated in the composing and writing of "Paradise".
=Songs=
Filled with strong and electrifying beats, “Scream” contains a story with a motif of witch hunts in the Middle Ages. “Red Sun” is a warning and lesson told through hypnosis to people who do not admit to their faults.{{Cite web|last=Foundation|first=The Korea International Broadcasting|title=한국을 대표하는 글로벌 방송! The World On Arirang!|url=http://www.arirang.com/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=Simply K-Pop : ARIRANG|language=en}}
Soompi described "Paradise" as an electronic pop track that "gives a comforting message to the lonely people of modern society". "Scream" combines rock with electronica and is "motivated by the practice of witch hunts during the medieval period, and the scream before the chorus accentuates this motif".
Track listing
The following tracklist was adapted from the official released highlight medley.{{Track listing
| headline = Dystopia: The Tree of Language track listing
| all_writing =
| extra_column = Arrangement
| total_length = 42:23
| title1 = Intro
| note1 =
| lyrics1 =
| music1 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| length1 = 1:19
| title2 = Scream
| note2 =
| lyrics2 = {{hlist|Kim Bo Eun|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| music2 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| extra2 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| length2 = 3:24
| title3 = Tension
| lyrics3 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| music3 = {{hlist|Chairmann|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| extra3 = {{hlist|Chairmann|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| length3 = 3:11
| title4 = Red Sun
| lyrics4 = {{hlist|Chairmann|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| music4 = {{hlist|Chairmann|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|Chairmann|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| length4 = 3:05
| title5 = Black or White
| lyrics5 = {{hlist|Chairmann|Dami|JiU|LEEZ|Ollounder|Siyeon}}
| music5 = {{hlist|0to1|Chairmann|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| extra5 = {{hlist|0to1|Chairmann|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| length5 = 3:24
| title6 = Jazz Bar
| lyrics6 = {{hlist|Dami|JiU|LEEZ|Ollounder|Siyeon|Yoohyeon}}
| music6 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| extra6 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| length6 = 3:34
| title7 = Sahara
| length7 = 3:11
| lyrics7 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| music7 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| title8 = In the Frozen
| length8 = 3:16
| lyrics8 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| music8 = {{hlist|Hi5|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Hi5|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| title9 = Daybreak
| length9 = 3:03
| lyrics9 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| music9 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| title10 = Full Moon
| length10 = 3:09
| lyrics10 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| music10 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| extra10 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| title11 = Over the Sky
| length11 = 3:17
| lyrics11 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| music11 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| extra11 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| title12 = Outro
| length12 = 1:03
| lyrics12 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| music12 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| extra12 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| title13 = Scream (Inst.)
| length13 = 3:24
| lyrics13 =
| music13 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| extra13 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
| title14 = Paradise
| note14 = performed by Siyeon
| length14 = 4:03
| lyrics14 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder|Siyeon}}
| music14 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder|Siyeon}}
| extra14 = {{hlist|LEEZ|Ollounder}}
}}
Accolades
Charts
References
{{reflist}}
{{Dreamcatcher}}
Category:Dreamcatcher (group) albums