In a significant rebrand, (G)I-DLE have renamed themselves “i-dle.” This comes on the heels of their contract renewal with Dice Leisure and guarantees to usher in a brand new period for his or her music. The group has been remarkably common since their debut in 2018, with their singles typically defining developments of the period. Their discography tends to be extra “miss” than “hit” for me, however I’m all the time curious to listen to what they’ll give you subsequent.

New single Girlfriend leans additional right into a pop/rock sound than most of their materials and it’s at its greatest when absolutely embracing that vitality. This style is notoriously unfussy, thriving on easy catharsis laced with loads of perspective. i-dle actually have the “perspective” half down and ensure to drive residence their badass nature with repeated curse phrases within the music’s lyrics. It’s greater than just a little foolish, however I all the time discover it a bit cringy when idol teams attempt to be “unhealthy” in such apparent methods.

Musically, Girlfriend exhibits potential for a enjoyable, tongue-in-cheek approach ahead. I really like its extra melodic items, from the anthemic pre-chorus to the rollicking second half every verse. These moments supply a driving vitality that ought to have underlined the complete music. Compared, the refrain feels a bit undercooked, aiming for sing-along brattiness however by no means withdrawing in the best way I’d hope. These shiny centerpieces are contrasted by a extra minimalist sound throughout Girlfriend‘s rapped/spoken segments. This break up persona robs the observe of its momentum, and with a brief operating time there’s no actual alternative for the music to steamroll its listeners in submission. As a rule, it seems like a temper board for a greater comeback but to come back.

Grade: B-