A K-pop act’s title track isn’t always the best song on their album, even if it’s the one most people will hear. Sometimes, b-sides deserve recognition too. In the singles-oriented world of K-pop, I want to spotlight some of these buried treasures and give them the props they deserve.
ITZY’s Yeji made a splash this week with her solo debut — a lean, consistent collection of four songs. Like many K-pop solos, the album feels very targeted to a global market, sharing much more in common with Western pop music than what we might consider idiosyncratic K-pop sounds. Within this framework, the songs are solid and well-produced with a surprising synth-pop sheen.
258 closes the album with an addictive pulse. Yeji opens the track with an impressive vocal run before moving into a moodier verse. I love the melodies here. They feel very familiar, but that nostalgia works to 258‘s benefit. Their rhythmic sound plays to Yeji’s strengths, melding rapid-fire deliver to a softer instrumental. This continues into the chorus, which sees her returning to the speedy vocal run that kicked off the song. Her vocals sound wonderful here. ITZY songs often force the members to perform in a strained pitch, but Yeji’s material maintains that intensity in a different way, drawing upon a lithe airiness that’s much more compelling.
Hooks
9
Production
8
Longevity
8
Bias
9
RATING
8.5