WHIB are back with their second mini album of the year and their concept couldn’t be more different than January’s Rock The Nation. Such is the case with idol groups trying desperately to break out: throw anything you can at the wall and hope to god that something sticks. This tends to be a risky game because if you’re unable to find a genuine hit all you end up with is scattershot discography that’s too unfocused to garner a lasting fan base.

With Cherry Pie, the group has moved back to upbeat pop territory. This sound has given them their very best single in the past, but doesn’t work nearly as well here. Without a unique take on the form, Cherry Pie is an ultra generic offering that sounds more like a disposable Boys Planet mission song than a chart-conquering comeback. The instrumental checks all the expected boxes: plonky percussion, whistled loop, etc. The melody is buoyant but boring and the chirpy vocals do little to bring it to life. The song is not offensively bad, but I can’t imagine why you would listen to it when there are other acts who bring a much more individualized stamp to this sound.

Grade: C-