( (G)-IDLE 'I Never Die' teaser image. Credits to Cube Entertainment)

(G)-IDLE has had an incredibly tumultuous year. It can all be traced back to one thing: school bullying accusations against main dancer Soojin. The controversy, despite seeming trivial, would eventually escalate to the point where Soojin announced her departure from the group, and of recent, terminated her contract with Cube Entertainment. It's a shame that Soojin had to leave (G)-IDLE since her voice and charisma are without a doubt important signatures of the act's sound. It's especially gloomy considering that the news broke right after (G)-IDLE reached new musical heights with mini album 'I burn' too. Now, though, we are seeing a rebirth of the act. Seemingly going by ( )-IDLE (the G referred to the number of members) now, their most recent release as a quintet, studio album 'I Never Die,' is proof that the group can still hold their own, even if it isn't as musically compelling.

('I Never Die' teaser images. L: Soyeon. R: Miyeon. Credits to Cube Entertainment)

The album starts off with attitude: title track 'Tomboy' is an alt-rock pop song jam-packed with various guitar riffs, quirky percussion, and charismatic verses. While the song very much succeeds in exemplifying the punk rock sounds of the album, it does not do complete justice to (G)-IDLE themselves. Rock is definitely 2022's K-pop trend, and 'Tomboy' makes use of it quite nicely. The robust artistic direction and intent are clear, the vocals are as strong and mesmerizing as usual, and the message is inspiring, but the song is... a bit unexciting? This is easily (G)-IDLE's most boring title track yet. It definitely needed a stronger chorus: while the guitar drop fills the space well, it doesn't do anything creative, nor does it make a lasting impact. This feels like a step back, considering the chorus is often the highlight in (G)-IDLE songs (think of 'Lion,' 'Hann,' and 'Oh My God.'). On top of this, the point choreography feels very elementary and takes away from the hardened, tough image that the production has been crafting.

One major criticism of 'Tomboy' I've noticed online is about its lyrics. And let me tell you, I completely DISAGREE. I will admit that the song's English lyrics are as cheesy as ever for a Soyeon production, but let's not forget that English is not their first language. Taking that into consideration, the specific word choice and wordplay in Soyeon's raps are actually quite good! There's been this odd, "revelatory" discourse that K-pop's English lyrics are going down the drain... but to be honest, when were they ever even above the drain? Although 'Tomboy' completely and utterly departs sonically from the mournful tale of a woman's tragedy they were weaving through the years, the message is still there. That woman is no longer facing the frostbite of cold: she has been reborn through the flames of 'Hwaa' to realize her worth and confidence, now defying the labels and expectations of society. This feminine empowerment that 'Tomboy' hopes to imbue within its audience was always there in (G)-IDLE, which really only makes all the hate and supposed controversies around Soyeon even more ironic. In this sense, 'Tomboy' is just plain fun to jam to.

('I Never Die' teaser image. L: Minnie. R: Miyeon. Credits to Cube Entertainment)

The "template" of the album follows 'I burn' to some extent, much to my delight. 'Already' is probably the strongest proof of this, as its melancholy, whispery, dramatic production reminded me of 'Moon' and 'Lost' off of 'I burn.' The spotlight on vocalists Minnie and Yuqi, who both BLEW me away, as well as the way 'Already's position in the tracklist mimics that of 'Moon' on its own album cements this too. I do want to mention that this isn't inherently bad-- I appreciate that that signature sound is still living on strong, and 'Already' is a solid addition to their repertoire. This mournful side of (G)-IDLE is one that always hits different.

Of course, we do hear new things as well. 'My Bag' is a bit different for them, but it wins the b-side trophy with ease. A clinky hip-hop soundscape is filled with quality rapping from each and every member, turning it into a track chock-full of personality and a statement on who (G)-IDLE are: "five diamonds." It's a major highlight not only off the album, but (G)-IDLE's entire discography.