Less than a week after surprise dropping pre-release single ZEN, BLACKPINK’s Jennie is already back with the second taste of her upcoming album. Teasers so far have promised a host of guest artists featuring on the project, and Love Hangover invites American singer/rapper Dominic Fike as duet partner. As I anticipated, the track offers a very different sound than either of its predecessors.
With Love Hangover, Jennie adopts many current trends driving global pop music while keeping an eye on the distant past. Elements of the production borrow from various decades — particular the 60’s and 70’s. This is a bit surprising, as Jennie’s work with BLACKPINK never dabbled in these sounds. The song spins its wheels for its lackluster opening verse, dragged down by melodic phrasing that feels ripped from any number of similar tracks. But as soon as we hit the first chorus, Love Hangover blossoms. The melodies here have a wonderful contrast between rhythm and flourishing mini-climaxes that give it a touch of classic soul. I wish more of the song had anchored itself around this style. It’s super effective and fits Jennie well.
Love Hangover‘s second strength arrives at its climax when the song gets a bit weird. Jennie’s vocals are warped into a hiccupping rhythm that feels as if it’s about to explode. If only the song had gone full bore and built toward a huge tempo shift! Instead, we’re left wanting more. Dominic Fike’s second verse also delivers nice contrast. I’m not familiar with his work, but he’s got a great tone — especially when supported by the stately strings that glide under his voice. Overall, Love Hangover works better than it has any right to. This Jennie solo album may be something special, after all!
Hooks
8
Production
8
Longevity
9
Bias
8
RATING
8.25