It took awhile before members of Twice embarked on solo careers, but we’re now at a stage of their career where that feels like an appropriate extension of their brand. I can’t say I have any particular allegiance toward one member or another, but Nayeon’s solo work has been most suited to my pop-loving taste. Next on the docket is Chaeyoung, whose debut album is scheduled for September. Prior to unveiling that project, she’s teased us with pre-release Avocado.
Someone needs to study how and why K-pop has become so much slower and subdued these past couple of years — particularly on the girl group side of things. The easy touchstone is NewJean’s 2022 breakout, but we’re now three years removed from that. I know genres and taste changes with the times, but as a longtime K-pop fan I never would have predicted we’d end up in a place where a song like Avocado leads the campaign for a big solo debut. We’re as downbeat as you can get with this one.
Avocado is hazy and languid and all those other adjectives I’ve been overusing during this K-pop era. Chaeyoung’s voice never raises above a hushed tone as the melodies stretch in a murky, watercolor-esque pattern. It’s almost psychedelic, but in the way that makes you simply want to take a nap. On a purely artistic level, I appreciate the 70s guitar texture and dreamy weightlessness, but as a fan I have no real interest in listening to a song like this. I assume it’s much more enjoyable if you’re under the influence of something. Again, this is not statement I would have ever expected to use when describing a song within Twice’s musical universe!
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 6 |
| RATING | 7.25 |
wtf is this. Put Gnarly on
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Despite vaguely enjoying Avocado enough for a 7.5, I giggled at the negative comments. I think it’s just pleasant background music.
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This was supposed to be its own comment… wordpress I’m going to kill you.
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based
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This has to be either a shortened preview of the track or an atmospheric intro song on the album – otherwise it makes zero sense as a song. I expect a much K-poppier song for the actual Title Track.
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The track list dropped a few minutes ago at the time of me typing this! It is, in fact, an intro.
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Sucks, 5 across the board.
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I really like that Chaeyoung is going in a more indie direction because it suits her personality and style perfectly. I honestly can’t see her taking the same dance pop route as Nayeon, especially since she has already shown her interest in this kind of music through her concert solos and collabs like Pop Star. Even on her Instagram, you can see that she surrounds herself with friends who make this type of music, which makes it feel less like a typical kpop album concept and more like a genuine reflection of her.
It’s refreshing to hear something like this from a TWICE member since we’d never get it from the group itself. I’ve been collecting songs like this on my Spotify recently, and if the rest of her album follows this vibe, then I’m excited. Hope we can get more genres like hyperpop and dreampop as the only one in Kpop that I liked that does these is Yves.
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Honestly surprised that this is what Chaeyoung is going for, considering she’s a rapper. I mean she sang on a couple of Twice songs, sure, but she’s mainly known for her rap. So I was expecting something more like Lisa’s Money or Iggy Azalea’s fun-rap. Going for a lo-fi indie bedroom-pop was not on my bucket lits and I have to say with good reason. I don’t like this at all, I’m afraid. Pity, because I like Chae, she’s one of my favs in Twice.
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Her teased solo from weeks ago, In My Room, followed a similar style. Thank GOD she is not going the Lisa route.
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Not surprised to see a pov like this. But I argue, its actually nice to see a kpop group member go away from their group persona. I’m guessing you’re not an active fan of twice if you’d think she’s gonna go for something like Money or anything close to Iggy. Because that’s definitely a complete 180 of Chaeyoung 😅
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If I am going to fruit metaphors, it better be Caroline Polachek. This song here today, snoozerville.
Please kpop, make me feeeeel something again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p95zDvzO5Es
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test
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Whoops. Accidental post.Think of this comment like a track that should’ve stayed in beta. Like this tune. Sorry Chaeyoung sweetie, this is sleepy, slow, and without the personality and punch we know you have.
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