aespa’s fifth mini album, Whiplash, strives to reinforce the group’s identity, but it ultimately lacks the compelling songwriting needed to fully express this vision.
The title track, “Whiplash,” blends vibrant house elements with pulsing beats anchored by a gritty bassline. However, much like its predecessor, “Supernova,” it relies heavily on production while lacking a substantive chorus, opting instead for talk-singing. aespa’s constant repetition of the title throughout its tracks lends an almost monotonous quality to the song. The music video’s sleek, minimalist visuals only reinforce this impression, making me half-expect the words Meet iPhone 16 to flash on the screen at any moment.
“Kill It” opens with an abrasive intro, redeemed only by group member Winter’s rapping, which adds a welcome contrast to the intense hip-hop beat. The pre-chorus builds beautifully, only to be abruptly undercut by a grating and repetitive chorus. Given SM Entertainment’s resources, the lines, “I-I-I-I-I-I kill it / Kill it on the spot, kill it, kill it on the shot,” make for an unexpectedly uninspired centerpiece. The song attempts to recapture the success of “Savage” by embracing the group’s edgy persona, but it fails to translate that uniqueness into the composition itself.
aespa’s title tracks are crafted for commercial appeal, but it’s the B-sides where the group truly excels. “Flights, Not Feelings” delivers on the album’s dark, mysterious tone with an R&B style that showcases each member’s vocal talent and unique sound.
However, not every B-side hits the mark. Despite all of the criticisms so far, “Pink Hoodie” somehow manages to stand out as the album’s most poorly conceived track. The message — be yourself without caring about others’ opinions — is fair, if a bit shallow, but the lyrics compare it to wearing a pink hoodie over a suffocating dress. The song checks every box in the list of K-pop don’ts, particularly with its talk-singing chorus of “Pink hoodie,” followed by an awkward “ayy, oh.” Why add meaningful lyrics to give the song depth when you could just repeat a syllable five times? Unless the stuttering was intentional to evoke a robotic feel, “Pink Hoodie” derails the album’s aesthetic.
On the other end of the spectrum, “Flowers” opens with a distorted guitar riff, perfectly capturing its euphoric, dreamlike quality. Layered vocals blend into an angelic harmony that is soft in tone yet undeniably powerful. The group’s main vocalists, Winter and Ningning, deliver standout performances, seamlessly balancing soothing verses with soaring high notes to give the track its emotional punch.
“Just Another Girl” is a nostalgic pop rock song, like vintage Blackpink, but nowhere near as catchy. The melody and composition are more straightforward than the other tracks, making it a fitting closer for the album that doesn’t overwhelm the listener. The album takes aespa’s strengths and weaknesses to new extremes. Its Genius annotations might be sparse, but it’s a fun listen regardless. If nothing else, Whiplash is sure to land on K-pop fans’ gym playlists, and there’s no shame in that. aespa has seemingly solidified its persona, but to truly stand out, the group needs to carve out a niche and push beyond trendy styles to elevate itself to the next level.
