ITZY are currently enjoying unexpected virality thanks to their 2020 b-side That’s A No No gaining traction on SNS. It’s the perfect time for the girls to be promoting, and if a full group comeback isn’t in the works a solo debut is the next best thing. Following the group’s leader Yeji, youngest member Yuna has released her first solo work.

Ice Cream does a nice job harnessing Yuna’s star power over a light synth-powered track. The song actually sounds more like Twice than ITZY. It’s glossy, upbeat and coated in a bright pop sheen that fits Yuna’s appealing voice. This is the kind of song that’s almost impossible to dislike. It doesn’t put a foot wrong and makes no moves that would polarize listeners. It’s simply nice, fluffy pop music.

But while i enjoy the song, what’s keeping me from loving Ice Cream is the flatness of its melodies and arrangement. No element within the track has range, meaning it bops along nicely without ever reaching a peak or even building tension. A secondary hook with a splashier sound would have done wonders to give Ice Cream lasting interest. As it stands, this is the kind of song I’d happily put on any playlist but wouldn’t wait with bated breath to hear.

Grade: B-