Ruby: 1st Studio Album＜数量限定生産盤＞

When BLACKPINK announced that three of its members would be issuing their debut albums, many Blinks looked to ROSE to lead the charge. And lead she did: 2024’s "APT." became the fastest K-pop video in history to hit a billion views. It’s about as hard an act to follow as you could imagine -- but on her first solo album, Ruby, BLACKPINK compatriot JENNIE proves an equal powerhouse. Ruby is strongest at its boldest. Opening hit "Like JENNIE" is a hurtling meteor of confidence -- "who else got ‘em obsessed like JENNIE?" -- with the idol placing herself at the forefront of the culture amid funk carioca drums and carving synths. A second hit appears quickly with the foot-forward "Mantra," whose "pretty girl mantra" seems set to replicate the success of SSERAFIM’s "Crazy" on the club circuit. There are room-clearing raps ("Start a War") and roof-raising chants ("ExtraL"), bold showings from Doechii and Dua, highlife parties and SUV squadrons; this is an album that thrives when things get fierce. Yet in its more downtempo moments, Rubys writing proves a little less dependable. The directness that gives its hits their ballast can verge on barebones on the likes of "Seoul City" and "Damn Right," with the latters "damn right, I did that, yeah" feeling especially underbaked. The melodically brilliant "F.T.S." falls down similarly, uniting acronyms with no throughline, while repeated "starlight, bright"s ironically dim the mood of "Starlight." Though theres plenty to love in the albums closer, Ruby struggles to supply its more pensive moments with the right level of depth. Whats most interesting here is seeing JENNIE come into the light as an auteur as much as an idol. K-pop’s already thriving maximalism is put to the test on tracks like "Filter," which flips between genres and even time signatures as it flits between dream-like euphoria and standoffish self-confidence. JENNIEs attention to detail here truly brings Ruby to life, with the vocal textures she lays duet-like under every track, the sheer range of tones and voices she employs, and the shuddering Gesaffelstein-like synth breakdown that splits "ZEN" in half. JENNIEs solo debut is the most inventive of the BLACKPINK solo efforts and all the more brilliant for it, carefully constructed and laden with showings of solo stardom. A little refinement in the writing room might be appreciated in the long term, but its clear that JENNIE has the vision to deliver something spectacular. ~ David Crone