Critic Rating: 9/10
Global girl group sensation TWICE recently released a new, seven-track mini-album titled STRATEGY, which fans had heavily anticipated, as they hadn’t had a comeback as enticing as this one before. I had been one of those fans eagerly awaiting this release, and I believe STRATEGY is one of the best they’ve had in a while.
“Strategy (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)” 10/10
This song is TWICE’s first-ever collaboration with a Western artist. Many fans were initially pleasantly surprised at this pairing with Megan Thee Stallion, as these two artists have very different music styles — this feature was especially shocking as it was on the most promoted song of the album, the title track. Before “Strategy” was released, Megan had released a remix in her latest album MEGAN: ACT II (2024) of her recent song “Mamushi (feat. Yuki Chiba),” replacing the feature with TWICE instead. When the teaser was dropped for STRATEGY, many fans were excited as they had enjoyed Megan’s song and were now anticipating TWICE’s end of the collaboration. I would describe “Strategy” as a mix of both TWICE’s old and new sound, as the bubbly and upbeat vibe and dance is that of their earlier days, while the lyrics and concept have their more recent “mature” sound. “Strategy” is a confident, energetic track with a catchy refrain repeating, “Hey boy, I’ma get ya, I’ma get ya real good and I bet ya.” TWICE’s vocals and Megan’s rap, paired with the addictive dance, elevate the song to another level. This may just be my new favorite song from TWICE.
“Kiss My Troubles Away” 9/10
This song takes on a lighter approach to that of “Strategy,” with a much softer and slightly retro sound, while still retaining just as cheerful of an attitude and addictive of a chorus as the previous track. “Kiss My Troubles Away” describes the narrator’s emotional distress and worries, which would be quickly alleviated with the love and affection of their significant other, hence the title. It’s a very upbeat and bright song in terms of the instrumental and overall, fun to listen to.
“Like It Like It” 9.5/10
“Like It Like It,” though it may still have that slight cheery sound, is more on the mature, refined side of TWICE. The vocals in this song are much better showcased than the last two tracks, and truly enhance the song’s quality. I especially enjoyed the pre-chorus as it showcased the members’ shining voices, letting them belt the notes, juxtaposing the calm quiet of the instrumental. The drastic change in instrumental, from a fast tempo to a slow and quiet drop with extended notes, truly tied everything together satisfactorily.
“Sweetest Obsession” 9/10
Similar to “Kiss My Troubles Away,” “Sweetest Obsession” has a similar bright approach in terms of sound, but instead is a more electro-pop track. Upon hearing the chorus and lyrics, I was instantly reminded of their old bubblegum-pop songs from their early days. “Sweetest Obsession” describes the feeling of being infatuated with someone in a very pure and sweet way, simply wanting them to be with you. The lyrics, “네게 끌려 sweetest obsession/꿈만 같아, you are my passion,” translate to, “Drawn to you, my sweetest obsession/Feels like a dream, you are my passion,” capture the adoration of the narrator and their passion for their loved one. Overall, it’s a very cute and catchy song.
“Keeper” 8.5/10
“Keeper” is a great representation of the new music style that TWICE is trying in this album. I find the chorus to be particularly addicting due to its clever rhyming and repetition which smoothly connect the lyrics into a coherent melody. This track is also about love, a recurring theme of this album, with the song describing how the narrator is so loveable and desirable that their lover is bound to be attracted to them. But, since most of the other tracks had such a similar vibe, this one was slightly underwhelming compared to them. Nevertheless, “Keeper” is still a very enjoyable track and a good addition to the album, as it brings a more relaxed tone to the album compared to the rest of the tracks, with less belting and high notes, and more rhythm and melodies.
“Magical” 7/10
Since the album was released in December of 2024, before Christmas, this track was made to be a seasonal song, incorporating chimes and sleigh bells to give that wintry, sparkly sound that’s commonly found in Christmas songs. I initially did not enjoy the beginning verse of this song as the melody felt awkward and abrupt in comparison to the instrumentals, but as it went on, I grew to like the chorus as it flowed much better with the music. Although the vocals are great, this track wasn’t anything “magical” — it just sounds like a basic Christmas song and strays from the overall theme of the album.
“Strategy” 9.5/10
This version of the title track is the same as the first on the album, just without Megan’s rap. By itself, “Strategy” is a great song, an amazing song even, but it feels slightly empty without Megan’s rap, which I believe fits the flow of the song perfectly. Therefore, it deserves a rating slightly lower than the original.
Overall, STRATEGY has to be my favorite album from TWICE by far, and I think it’s a great recovery from their past two albums, Ready To Be (2023) and With You-th (2024), which weren’t as catchy or cohesive as this. All the songs blended together perfectly and were able to relay the feelings of love throughout this album, so I found them very memorable. After experimenting with their more mature concepts and going through their cutesy concepts, TWICE has found a perfect balance within this album, and I’m excited to see what they bring in the future.
