Exit : E

EXIT : E is the first extended play, and the second musical release of South Korean group Winner. It was released on February 1, 2016, 18 months after their debut album 2014 S/S back in 2014.[1] As with their first album, the members contributed heavily to the songwriting and production aspects of EXIT : E. The album was also WINNER's last with member Nam Tae-hyun, who left the group on 25 November 2016.

Exit : E
Digital version cover.
EP by
Winner
ReleasedFebruary 1, 2016
Recorded2015
Genre
Length18:10
LabelYG
Producer
Winner chronology
2014 S/S
(2014)		 Exit : E
(2016)		 Fate Number For
(2017)
Westminster version
Alternate "Westminster version" cover
Singles from Exit : E
  1. "Pricked"
    Released: January 10, 2016
  2. "Baby Baby"
    Released: February 1, 2016
  3. "Sentimental"
    Released: February 1, 2016
  4. "I'm Young"
    Released: February 1, 2016

The album physical sales sold over 64,000 copies in Korea.

Background
"When we were making our first album in 2014, since each of us desired a different musical direction, there were many times when we disagreed with each other. In this upcoming album, we respected each other’s preferences and worked separately, silently and whenever there were satisfactory results, we immediately talked to each other about it. Because this process worked out smoothly, we rarely clashed."[2] - Mino

The majority of the album was produced by the members themselves, much like in their full-length album 2014 S/S, though with limited contribution from leader Seungyoon. Member Taehyun was the main composer for both title tracks, "Baby Baby" and "Sentimental". Uk Jin-kang was a frequent presence in the album as well, who had previously helped Big Bang member Daesung with his second Japanese album D'slove. Frequent Sistar contributor lyricist and producer Rovin, assisted Taehyun with his solo single "I'm Young".

During the 18-month long hiatus, the members took the time to study more about music producing and songwriting in order to expand the variety in their sound. Jumping straight from the CJ E&M produced "Show Me The Money" rapping survival show, Min-ho expressed relief in being able to leave the 'intense' atmosphere behind..."[hiphop itself] is a scary type of music and it’s not like there is a rule that you need to do everything with strength but the program 'Show Me The Money' itself is an audition program where they make all the rappers compete with each other so it can’t be helped that there is a atmosphere that pressurizes the mentality." Going on to explain that the hiphop scene was somewhat restricting, he revealed that the members were more comfortable working together on EXIT : E than on their previous album, where they had encountered disagreements stemming from different musical styles. Taehyun, meanwhile, listened to B. B. King, blues rock, and modern rock in order to expand his musical experience, and incorporated those styles in the songs he contributed to the album. He learned to play the guitar during the break as well.[2]

Packaging

The physical album was released the following day and came in two versions: "Alexandra Palace" and "Shoreditch". A limited physical edition, called "Westminster", was released on March 12, 2016.

Composition

The album features five tracks, including the double title songs "Baby Baby" and “Sentimental”, Mino and Taehyun’s duet “Pricked”; as well as a solo song "I'm Young" by Taehyun.[3] "Baby Baby" was described to be a blues-infused song, and "Sentimental" a rhythmic minor pop track “Sentimental”.[4]

Cover projects

As a way to generate excitement for Winner's comeback, instead of simply releasing teasers, various artists covered "Sentimental" and "Baby Baby", the title tracks for the then upcoming extended play. 8 different renditions were made in total for the project series, featuring short video covers by DEAN,[5] Epik High,[6] G-Dragon,[7] Katie Kim,[8] Akdong Musician,[9] Zion.T,[10] Taeyang,[11] and Lee Hi.[12]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Baby Baby"
Taehyun
  • Taehyun
  • Kang Uk-jin
4:06
2."Sentimental" (센치해; senchihae)
  • Taehyun
  • Mino
  • Hoony
  • Taehyun
  • Kang Uk-jin
  • Taehyun
  • Kang Uk-jin
3:28
3."Immature" (철없어; cheol-eobs-eo)
  • Yoon
  • Mino
  • Hoony
  • Yoon
  • Kang Uk Jin
Kang Uk-jin3:12
4."I'm Young" (Taehyun solo; 좋더라; johdeola)Taehyun
  • Taehyun
  • Rovin
Rovin3:33
5."Pricked" (Mino & Taehyun; 사랑가시; salang-gasi)Mino
  • Mino
  • Kang Uk-jin
Kang Uk-jin3:51
Total length:18:10

Commercial performance

Upon release, EXIT : E was an immediate success with "Baby Baby" and "Sentimental" having topped eight charts including Melon, OllehMusic, Naver Music, Genie, Bugs, Soribada, Mnet.com, and Monkey3Music.[13][14] The album was warmly received in various parts of Asia as well, where it climbed to the top of iTunes charts in 11 nations including Hong Kong, Indonesia, Macao, Malaysia and the Philippines. It has also ranked 17th on U.S. iTunes.[1] It debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's World Albums Chart and at No. 3 on the Heatseekers Album chart.[15]

Charts
Chart Peak
position
South Korea Gaon Weekly Album Chart[16] 1
Japan Oricon Weekly Album Chart[17] 63
United States Billboard Heatseekers Album Chart"[18] 3
United States Billboard World Album Chart"[19] 2

Sales
Region Sales
Japan 4,321[17]
Korea 87,553+

References
  1. "Winner starts 2016 with hit mini-album". The Korea Times. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  2. "The Winner Takes It All". W Korea. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  3. "WINNER – 'EXIT MOVEMENT : E' TRACKLIST". YG Life. January 19, 2016.
  4. "Winner up next in YG baton relay". Kpop Herald. February 3, 2016.
  5. "DEAN Became Fourth Cover Artist of WINNER's "BABY BABY"". YG Life. January 24, 2016.
  6. "EPIK HIGH – '센치해(SENTIMENTAL)' BY WINNER COVER 08". YG Life. January 28, 2016.
  7. "G-dragon to sing cover for WINNER". Kpop Herald. January 24, 2016.
  8. "Katie Kim makes cover of 'Sentimental'". Kpop Herald. January 2, 2016.
  9. "AKMU – '센치해(SENTIMENTAL)' BY WINNER COVER 05". YG Life. Akdong Musician are happily 'Sentimental' in WINNER's pre-release cover series. January 5, 2016.
  10. "Zion.T became Third Artist to Cover WINNER's "BABY BABY"". YG Life. January 23, 2016.
  11. "Second cover song of YG WINNER's "BABY BABY"… It's TAEYANG now". YG Life. January 22, 2016.
  12. "LEE HI – 'BABY BABY' BY WINNER COVER 01". YG Life. January 21, 2016.
  13. "WINNER tops 8 music charts". Kpop Herald. February 1, 2016.
  14. "WINNER's "BABY BABY" and "SENTIMENTAL" are sweeping charts… "Topping music charts together"". YG Life. February 1, 2016.
  15. "WINNER Returns to Top 5 of World, Heatseekers Album Charts". Billboard. February 9, 2016.
  16. "Gaon Chart" (in Korean). Gaon. 16 August 2014.
  17. "오리콘 위클리 싱글/앨범/DVD/블루레이 차트 1~100위 (갱신완료)" [Oricon Weekly Single / Album / DVD / Blu-ray chart, 1-100 (updated)] (in Korean). theqoo. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  18. "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  19. "World Albums / Billboard.com". Billboard. February 8, 2016.
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