The five-member K-pop girl group (G)I-DLE released their second full-length album on Jan. 29, titled “2.” The group, consisting of Soyeon, Minnie, Miyeon, Shuhua and Yuqi, debuted in 2018 and has consistently put out hit after hit since then. So, does “2” continue their rise in the industry?
Despite being called a full-length album, “2” runs relatively short when compared to their previously released music. The eight tracks culminate in about 20 minutes worth of music. For reference, the group’s first full-length album “I NEVER DIE” (2022) rounds out to about 24 minutes. Compared to their previous releases, “2” comes across more as a blip in the music scene, not a long-standing era.
By the time you finally start to get into the rhythm of the music, the next song is already gearing up. This unsatisfying listening experience is truly a shame when it comes to (G)I-DLE, considering how no track, no matter how short, is a skip on this album.
“2” opens with the main track “Super Lady,” an EDM production fitting right into (G)I-DLE’s trend of feminist, girl power anthems. The song itself sounds very intentional, with each member getting a moment to shine in their own way. Soyeon’s writing style stands out in this track, with parts tailored to each member’s voice, atypical for most K-pop lyricism. However, despite the empowering message, “Super Lady” does not have the same punch as previous main tracks like “Nxde” and “Queencard.” The music video does most of the heavy lifting for this song, featuring complex shots and beautiful costuming. This opener will definitely kill at a large concert venue and with a live audience, but as a listening experience “Super Lady” is a fairly weak start to the album.
The second track, “Revenge,” is a sample of (G)I-DLE’s best genre: just a bit of rock. Miyeon, Minnie and Yuqi’s vocals stand out the most in this song. Paired with Soyeon’s smooth rap verse, this song is the perfect execution of chill rock.
“Revenge” translates easily into the third track, “Doll.” Like “Super Lady,” “Doll” is distinctly a (G)I-DLE song, yet fails to rise to the standard the group has set in previous albums. The name itself is very reminiscent of their far better track, “Tomboy” with lyrics like “Do you want a blonde Barbie doll? It’s not here, I’m not a doll.” Unlike “Tomboy,” “Doll” feels rather unspecial beyond Yuqi’s fierce vocals that are the track’s highlight.
The fourth track, “Vision,” is simply an easy listen. As the album’s midpoint, it’s basic but not groundbreaking. Its transition into the all-English and fifth track “7Days” is well done, although this perhaps is because Minnie is the writer behind both. Regardless, “7Days” is a pretty track and an easy add to any playlist with the members’ beautiful vocals shining through.
The sixth track, “Fate,” is a bit of a time machine back to an era of K-pop rarely revisited, when beats were funky and vocals bouncy. With lyrics such as “I think I forgot something … I think it would be better to just pass by,” and Soyeon’s unique performance style, this track is by far one of (G)I-DLE’s best b sides and one of the best off of “2.” Unfortunately, “Fate” also suffers from being cut too short, the outro coming far too quickly for such a well-created song.
“Rollie,” the seventh track off “2,” is another full English release, but unlike “7Days,” is captivating from the start and an immediate re-listen. The beat is fun and the vocals are addicting to listen to. The “watch me eat” style of production is typical (G)I-DLE in the best way.
Rounding out the album is “Wife,” which ends the album with a shout rather than a whimper. The lyrics are catchy while also having that (G)I-DLE theme of female empowerment. “Wife” is the only track that comes close to the iconic nature of many of the girls’ other hits and definitely surpasses “Super Lady” in its listening ability. Although the music video and choreography are more simple than the main track, “Wife” leaves room to take in and enjoy the music for what it is. If any songs from “2” enter your playlist, it must be this one.
Overall, “2” is a no-skip but also subpar album, mediocre in nature knowing the talent these girls actually possess. However, not every album pushes the envelope for the industry, and not every album or artist needs to. All of the tracks are well-crafted but as a whole are not new or special. While the album covers a wide range of musical styles, each track feels meaningfully placed to create the best listening experience. Structurally, this is a well-put-together album but suffers from being far too short for truly no reason.
At its core, “2” is a (G)I-DLE album, but it is not and should not be the peak of what they can produce.
