It’s hard to believe Sunmi has never released a full-length album until now. If we count her time with Wonder Girls, she’s been an active idol for eighteen years and a soloist for twelve. It’s a shame this album couldn’t have emerged when she was knocking out back-to-back classics like Heroine and Siren, but it’s still a long overdue project.
Sadly, Sunmi’s work hasn’t hit strongly with me in years. She’s been on a more downtempo kick since 2022, switching producers for music that’s lacked the thrilling spark of her best work. To borrow the title of this new single, you might say I’ve become cynical towards the Sunmi sound. With the stage set in this way, Cynical makes a welcome u-turn back towards dance music. Ultimately, it’s too one-note to fully recapture her full potential, but flashes of brilliance poke through here and there.
Cynical‘s verses are far more effective than its chorus. They’re moody and evocative, drawing power from Sunmi’s inimitable tone. I only wish the composers could have found a better hook to tie everything together. The “why so cynical?” refrain quickly wears out its welcome. It’s just too simple to satisfy — even with its off-kilter vocal arrangement. A peak of hope glimmers at the song’s conclusion as this chorus transitions into a more full-throated finale. We could have used this kind of melodic oomph throughout the entire track.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 9 |
| RATING | 8 |
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
oh, this is sounds so much like Purple Kiss
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Missed opportunity. “why so cynical cyclical, critical typical tropical tricycle bicycle biblical mystical icicle whimsical physical digital serial cereal … ” Look, I fixed it with a quick google of rhymes with.
Also, I agree with Duarte above, it does sound like a Purple Kiss-type song. Its not a bad song, its just not peak Sunmi quality. If you are going to make us wait a couple years for another song, it better be good, not something a much more junior group would do.
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I don’t hate it.
I’m excited to listen to the full album later.
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I started very excited and then slowly as it went along the song didn’t develope how I was hoping. Still decent though.
7,8,8,8 = 7.75
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It feels like the successor to stranger both sonically and with its accompanying visuals. I like the vibe enough, but with sunmi the bar is higher. I will through all of her title tracks. (Skipping stranger occasionally) During my bedroom concerts. So I’m disappointed, but don’t feel differently about her. Glad she has a solo studio album, it’s pretty consistent and it feels like she’s proud of what’s she making
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This is right up my alley.
Sunmi and Hwasa both delivered!
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