Top Seed
{{Infobox album
| name = Top Seed
| type = Studio
| artist = Infinite
| cover = INFINITE TOPSEED.jpg
| alt =
| released = January 8, 2018
| recorded = 2017–2018
| studio =
| genre = {{hlist|Urban R&B|Metal|Pop Ballad{{cite web | url=https://n.news.naver.com/entertain/article/312/0000303659 | title=뉴스 : 네이버 Tv연예 }}{{cite web | url=http://m.breaknews.com/552624 | title=[브레이크뉴스] 'Top Seed' 컴백 인피니트 엘, "첫 솔로곡 '지난 날' 수록..직접 가사 작업" | date=8 January 2018 }}}}
| length = 42:37
| language = Korean
| label =
| producer = Lee Jung-yeop (exec.)
| prev_title = Infinite Only
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = 13egin
| next_year = 2023
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Top Seed
| type = studio
| single1 = Tell Me
| single1date = January 8, 2018
}}
}}
Top Seed is the third studio album by South Korean boy group Infinite. It was released on January 8, 2018, by Woollim Entertainment with the lead single "Tell Me". Top Seed was the group's first full album release since Season 2 (2014) and the group's first release since Infinite Only (2016). It marked the group's first release as a six-member group after former member Hoya left the group in August 2017. It also serves as their final release before their members' departure from Woollim Entertainment.
Background and release
While fanmeeting on March 3, 2017, an unexpected black-and-white teaser video featuring individual shots and ended with the words "2017 May", which confirmed their next comeback schedule.{{cite web|url=http://m.entertain.naver.com/read?oid=109&aid=0003489936|title=인피니트, '무한대집회'서 5월 기습컴백 선언..진짜가 온다|website=Entertain.naver.com|accessdate=9 June 2018}} On March 29, Woollim Entertainment announced that the filming of music video for new title track on March 30 had been postponed due to Sungkyu's rib injury.{{cite web|url=http://m.entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0000717221|title=[단독] 성규, 갈비뼈 골절 부상…5월 인피니트 컴백 빨간불|website=Entertain.naver.com|accessdate=9 June 2018}}
On May 16, Woollim Entertainment confirmed that Infinite's comeback schedule in May had been postponed because Sungkyu had not fully recovered from his injury and would continue to receive treatment.{{cite web|url=http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0000734028|title=[단독] 인피니트, 5월 컴백 연기…일단 해외·개인 활동 마무리|website=Entertain.naver.com|accessdate=9 June 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://entertain.naver.com/read?oid=108&aid=0002614784|title=인피니트 5월 컴백 무산.."성규 갈비뼈 부상 회복中"(공식)|website=Entertain.naver.com|accessdate=9 June 2018}}
On August 30, following the departure of Hoya, Woollim Entertainment announced that Infinite would aim to make a comeback sometime before the end of 2017 after the members had wrapped up their solo activities.{{cite web|url=http://m.entertain.naver.com/read?oid=311&aid=0000769813&gid=999339&cid=1069495|title=[엑's 이슈] '6인조' 인피니트 다음 행보는? "개인활동→연내 새앨범"|website=Entertain.naver.com|accessdate=9 June 2018}}
On November 21, Woollim Entertainment confirmed that Infinite would make a comeback in January 2018 and that they had recorded the album and were making necessary modifications.{{cite web|url=http://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=109&aid=0003666165|title=[단독] 6인조 인피니트, 연내 컴백 불발.."내년 1월로 연기"|website=Entertain.naver.com|accessdate=9 June 2018}}
On December 11, a Woollim Entertainment representative revealed that the group had completed filming a music video for the album's title track.{{cite web|url=http://entertain.naver.com/now/read?oid=076&aid=0003191220|title=[단독] 인피니트 6인조 컴백 임박...10일 뮤직비디오 촬영|website=Entertain.naver.com|accessdate=9 June 2018}}
Woollim Entertainment began releasing video teasers on January 2 at Midnight KST and confirmed Infinite would return on January 8 with their third full album and the lead single "Tell Me". In the music video teaser for "Tell Me", the men appear to be in a dream, and some choreography is shown.{{cite web|url=https://www.allkpop.com/article/2018/01/infinite-drop-mv-teaser-for-tell-me|title=INFINITE drop MV teaser for 'Tell Me'!|website=Allkpop.com|accessdate=9 June 2018}} "Tell Me" is directed by Sunny Visual, who directed "Undoable" by Jan Dong-eun, "What You Like" bg Lee Gi-kwang, and "Only U" by Laboum.{{cite web|url=http://www.gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/article/m.view.gaon?idx=13580|title=국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!|website=Gaonchart.co.kr|accessdate=9 June 2018}}
Composition
The title track "Tell Me" was written and composed by BLSSD, formerly known as Bee of the songwriting team Rphabet; he wrote the single, the instrumental intro "Begin" and co-wrote "Wind", an ebullient synthpop track.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/k-town/8093230/infinite-top-seed-album-tell-me-music-video|title=INFINITE Begins Anew With 'Top Seed' Album: Watch the Music Video for 'Tell Me'|website=Billboard.com|accessdate=9 June 2018}}
The sixth track "Pray" was written and composed by SWEETUNE. Dongwoo also made the rap lyrics on "Pray (Mattel's Sorrow)".{{Cite web|url=https://www.yesasia.com/us/infinite-vol-3-top-seed/1063974654-0-0-0-en/info.html|title = YESASIA: Infinite Vol. 3 - TOP SEED CD - Infinite, Kakao Entertainment (Kakao M) - Korean Music - Free Shipping - North America Site}}
The album features three solo tracks by the members Dongwoo, L, and Sungjong. Dongwoo composed his solo track "TGIF" with GALLERY. L composed his solo track "Reminsce" with Jeong Min-ji. He describes his song "very lyrical". He sang the band version, but the original for the fans. Sungjong's solo track "Love Song" was written by Misung.
Promotions
The group held their comeback showcase for its third studio album, "Top Seed", at Blue Square Hall in central Seoul on January 8, 2018. It was broadcast live on Naver's V-Live.
The group started to perform their title track "Tell Me" on January 9, on Mnet M! Countdown and continue to perform on KBS2 Music Bank, MBC Music Core, SBS Inkigayo, and MBC Music Show Champion. They also performed their b-side track "No More" for their comeback stage. They won five times on music programs.
The members also guest on variety shows such as Weekly Idol, Comedy Big League, Battle Trip, and Hello Counselor.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| extra_column = Arrangement
| title1 = Begin
| lyrics1 = BLSSD
| music1 = BLSSD
| extra1 = BLSSD
| length1 = 1:30
| title2 = Tell Me
| lyrics2 = BLSSD
| music2 = BLSSD
| extra2 = BLSSD
| length2 = 3:51
| title3 = Synchronise
| lyrics3 = Moon Sulli
| music3 = {{hlist|Andreas Moe|Christian Fast|Ian Dench|Henrik Nordenback}}
| extra3 = Henrik Nordenback
| length3 = 4:00
| title4 = No More
| lyrics4 = Jeong Gu-hyun
| music4 = Jeong Gu-hyun
| extra4 = Jeong Gu-hyun
| length4 = 3:22
| title5 = TGIF
| note5 = Dong Woo solo
| lyrics5 = {{hlist|GALLERY|Dongwoo}}
| music5 = {{hlist|GALLERY|Dongwoo}}
| extra5 = GALLERY
| length5 = 3:22
| title6 = Pray
| note6 = 기도) (메텔의 슬픔
| lyrics6 = SWEETUNE
| music6 = SWEETUNE
| extra6 = SWEETUNE
| length6 = 3:24
| title7 = Why Me
| note7 = 왜 날
| lyrics7 = SEION
| music7 = SEION
| extra7 = SEION
| length7 = 5:14
| title8 = Wind
| note8 = 분다
| lyrics8 = {{hlist|BLSSD|Razer (Rphabet)}}
| music8 = {{hlist|BLSSD|Razer (Rphabet)}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|BLSSD|Razer (Rphabet)}}
| length8 = 3:47
| title9 = I Hate
| lyrics9 = {{hlist|Misfit|Ollounder|LEEZ}}
| music9 = {{hlist|Ollounder|LEEZ}}
| extra9 = {{hlist|Ollounder|LEEZ}}
| length9 = 3:39
| title10 = Reminisce
| note10 = 지난 날) (L solo
| lyrics10 = {{hlist|L|Jeong Min-ji}}
| music10 = {{hlist|Kim Yong-sin|Kim Tae-sung|Gabriel Brunell Brande}}
| extra10 = Kim Yong-sin
| length10 = 3:44
| title11 = Love Song
| note11 = 고백) (Sung Jong solo
| lyrics11 = Misung
| music11 = Jeong Gu-hyun
| extra11 = Jeong Gu-hyun
| length11 = 3:12
| title12 = Begin Again
| lyrics12 = Jinli (Full8loom)
| music12 = {{hlist|Face of Glory (Full8loom)|Jinli (Full8loom)}}
| extra12 = {{hlist|Face of Glory (Full8loom)|Jake K (Full8loom)}}
| length12 = 3:32
| total_length = 42:49
}}
Charts
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| South Korean Weekly Albums (Gaon){{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=02&hitYear=2018&termGbn=week|title=Gaon Album Chart – Week 2, 2018|website=Gaon Chart|language=ko|accessdate=May 12, 2018}}
| 1 |
| scope="row"| Japan Weekly Albums (Oricon){{cite web|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/rank/ja/w/2018-01-22/p/2/|title=2018年01月08日～2018年01月14日 オリコン週間 アルバムランキング 11～20位|website=Oricon.co.jp|accessdate=9 June 2018}}
| 17 |
| scope="row"| US World Albums (Billboard){{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/world-albums/2018-01-20|title=World Music: Top World Albums Chart|website=Billboard.com|accessdate=9 June 2018}}
| 4 |
=Monthly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2018)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| South Korean Monthly Albums (Gaon){{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/album.gaon?nationGbn=T&serviceGbn=&targetTime=01&hitYear=2018&termGbn=month|title=Gaon Album Chart – January 2018|website=Gaon Chart|language=ko|accessdate=May 12, 2018}}
| 4 |
Sales
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Country
! scope="col"| Sales |
|---|
| scope="row"| South Korea (Gaon) |
| scope="row"| Japan (Oricon) |
Release history
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
! Region ! Date ! Format ! Label |
| scope="row"| Various
| rowspan="2"| January 8, 2018 | rowspan="2"| Woollim Entertainment |
|---|
| scope="row"| South Korea
| CD, music download |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Infinite}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Top Seed}}