(G)I-DLE – ‘[2]’ review: a fierce testament to their individuality

Since their triumphant return from hiatus in 2022, (G)I-DLE have been on a roll. Each launch since, from the chart-topping ‘Tomboy’ to the empowering anthem ‘Nxde’, has continued to take them to higher and higher heights. And with all that success, the quintet have kicked off a brand-new period with their second studio album, ‘[2]’, which is their first launch to drop the “I” naming conference they’ve used since debut.

Final 12 months, the group struck gold with the deliciously campy ‘Queencard’, they usually channel that very same power on the bouncy, hyperbolic ‘Spouse’. Right here, they take playful however piercing pictures on the male fantasy of an ideal spouse by way of their caricature-esque supply and thinly veiled sexual innuendo atop an unreasonably addictive dance beat. Censorship be damned, if there’s one Okay-pop group that can provide us a slicing message within the type of a straightforward to swallow tablet of infectious pop music, it’s (G)I-DLE.

On title monitor ‘Tremendous Woman’, nonetheless, the woman group pivot to the extra conventional feminine empowerment system with a hard-hitting, anthemic EDM banger. Channelling the titans of second-generation Okay-pop, we see glimpses of 2NE1’s ‘I Am The Greatest’ and T-ARA’s iconic ‘Sugar Free’ in its haughty, assured rap verses and intense instrumental drop. Whereas its spoken hook of “woman, woman, name me tremendous woman” doesn’t fairly pack the identical punch, ‘Tremendous Woman’ remains to be tremendous catchy and kicks the report off at an brisk tempo.

Good issues typically are available in threes, and the triple-whammy of ‘Tremendous Woman’, ‘Revenge’ and ‘Doll’ make for a euphoric first pay attention of ‘[2]’. Deliciously spiteful, the rock riffs of ‘Revenge’ will ship you on a relentless warpath as Yuqi and Minnie declare: “Let’s run additional to hell / Like a magnet, I’m on the lookout for you once more / Till you’re destroyed”. In the meantime, the fantastically haunting ‘Doll’ – co-penned and produced by Yuqi – appears like a sequel to 2022’s ‘Sculpture’ as they enter their villain arc, not keen to contort themselves within the title of feeling worthy of affection.

Although (G)I-DLE’s consideration has shifted away from issues of the center since their hiatus, the woman group nonetheless know their method round an immaculate love music. One of many album’s two standouts, ‘Imaginative and prescient’ is an alluring jersey membership gem, curious and coy as it’s pressing and seductive. Its instrumental lulls you right into a dreamy, lovesick haze, and the group’s feather-light whispers solely pull you deeper.

One other standout is the deceptively upbeat ‘Destiny’. A mixture of pop-rock guitars and jaunty piano thrives lend it the bittersweet power of the top credit monitor of a slice-of-life anime sequence. In its lyrics, they reckon with the exhausting, empty existence of refusing to take care of heartbreak, earlier than Soyeon reluctantly resigns in the long run: “No, I believe it’s higher to go by / As a result of I simply hate getting damage”.

But, ‘[2]’ isn’t with out its misses. Whereas ‘7Days’ is a touching declaration of affection to their followers, like many related songs throughout the Okay-pop world, it doesn’t convey something notably attention-grabbing to the desk. Much more genuine to the quintet’s sound and power is the braggadocious hip-hop monitor ‘Rollie’, which appears like what their 2023 88rising collaboration ‘I Need That’ ought to have been.

Greater than ever, ‘[2]’ sees the members of (G)I-DLE fluidly switching roles, from Soyeon’s towering vocals in its lead single to the Minnie and Miyeon’s spectacular dexterity within the rapid-fire rap verses in ‘Spouse’. Whereas not as sonically and thematically cohesive as their previous releases, this report pulls its weight as a formidable, numerous present of simply what they’re able to, each as performers and producers.

Particulars

• Launch date: January 29, 2023
• Document label: CUBE Leisure