Critic Rating: 8.5/10
To the excitement of anticipating fans and casual listeners alike, (G)I-DLE member Minnie recently released her solo debut album on January 21, entitled HER. Consisting of seven tracks with their own unique charms, this diverse EP delves into the topics of empowerment, love, and longing, revealing Minnie’s charm as a solo artist and uncovering her many facets.
“Blind Eyes Red” (9/10)
The opener to HER, “Blind Eyes Red” had surprisingly received little promotion despite being a pre-release track to the album. It was quite the gift to unsuspecting fans and listeners like me, who had casually stumbled upon the track on YouTube. In this dark and atmospheric track, Minnie exudes a sultry mood with her cold yet smooth vocals. I found her voice to be very fitting for this type of mature concept. Incorporating reverb and subtle electronic elements, the layered soundscape enhances the immersive experience of the song. Although some of the lyrics are a bit lackluster and frankly cringey, with lines like, “Watch me shake it low / Everybody asking questions I don’t even know,” the musicality and ambient production made “Blind Eyes Red” an interesting listen and a solid start to the album.
“HER” (9/10)
The track that the album is named for, “HER” is certainly deserving of its status as the lead single. I love the groovy instrumentation, the beginning of which reminds me of Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy.” It’s a fun song with a visually pleasing music video that explores Minnie’s identity, both through the public perception and her alter egos out of the spotlight. She questions the public’s views of her, asserting how they are mistaken about the actual life she lives away from the cameras: “You think I’m acting like a movie / But I’m just living my real life, lights out, out.” The music video depicts three different Minnies, dressed differently and busy with their own antics throughout the video, which represents the different sides to her personality. She teases, “You want her but you’ll never get her (‘Cause I’m her),” portraying how many assume that they understand her based on what they know from her media appearances, when in reality, they will never truly “get” the full extent of who she is. There was truly nothing I disliked about the song, though some may find it to be a bit modest and understated for the title track of a solo debut — there aren’t any bold or daring elements in its composition. However, playing it safe is not necessarily a bad thing. The vibes are there and it’s just a catchy, enjoyable track all around, which I believe makes it a strong choice for lead single.
“Drive U Crazy” ft. YUQI (8.5/10)
Featuring her fellow bandmate Yuqi, “Drive U Crazy” continues a similar attitude to its preceding track with a different vibe. With a cyberpunk-esque, electronic beat and sassy lyrics sung with attitude, this song is playful and irresistible to sing along to. That said, one qualm I have about this track is the lack of actual collaboration. Although the line distribution is fair and both singers have their own individual verses, there was no moment where they actually sang together except the last, abridged chorus. Both Yuqi and Minnie have a similar deep quality to their voices that work well together for this type of song — I just wish we could have seen some harmonization to let the complementary vocals of this duo really shine.
“Cherry Sky” (8/10)
“Cherry Sky” marks a switch in the album’s sound, transitioning from the more upbeat previous two tracks to a dreamy, slower-paced song. It is more laid back and maintains an ethereal, almost “floaty” feeling with Minnie’s breathy, sensual vocals. However, I found the “ay ya ya ya ya ya ya” in the post-chorus a bit irritating, especially as it was louder in volume than the rest of the vocals. It just didn’t seem to fit very well with the overall mood of the song, which is more delicate and alluring with its soft, airy vocals. The song could do without it.
“Valentine’s Dream” (7.5/10)
This ballad carries on the lighter approach and slow pace of “Cherry Sky” yet presents a completely different vibe — sweeter and purer. As always, Minnie’s smooth and soothing vocals are ever present, creating a dreamlike ambiance in this more sentimental track that draws on the topics of love and longing. “Valentine’s Dream” is a generally warm and comforting song, diverging from the moodier themes of the album and adding some variety to the tracklist. Still, there’s nothing too special or memorable about this track, which earns it a slightly lower rating.
“It’s Okay” (7.5/10)
Another ballad, “It’s Okay” unfortunately blends in with the previous and fails to stand on its own. The poignant track, with its gentle melody and soft vocals, comforts listeners and reflects on the journey of overcoming feelings of emptiness and heartache. On the whole, it’s not very dynamic and retains a pretty simple, repetitive pattern. Although lyrically touching, it’s just another standard K-Pop ballad.
“Obsession” ft. TEN (8/10)
With a climactic and almost eerie-sounding beginning, this song then suddenly lurches into a bright and upbeat track, reminiscent of an adventure anime opening. In the K-Pop landscape where collaborations between artists of different labels are rare, this collaboration between Ten and Minnie is unexpected. However, this duo really hits the mark. Minnie and Ten’s voices blend beautifully together in the dynamic and nostalgic disco-pop song. Their chemistry in this track is evident. The lyrics depict an exciting and pure romance, an “obsession” like that of an innocent teenage love, filled with heart-flutters and passion. “Obsession” is truly a standout track and a satisfying ending to the album.
Overall, HER is an incredibly solid album, with great production and a strong tracklist. I was not disappointed. The EP explores a variety of genres and themes, making the listening experience a truly interesting and engaging journey. Now having gotten the chance to explore Minnie’s musicality as a solo artist through this album, I’m very eager to see what she has in store for the future.
