Release Date: June 18, 2024
Track Listing
- CONNECT
- STATIC
- CONNECT (Instrumental)
- STATIC (Instrumental)
Review
IS:SUE is a four-member girl group made up of contestants who participated in the PRODUCE 101 JAPAN THE GIRLS idol survival program. The members are:
- RIN
- NANO
- YUUKI
- RINO
They debuted with their first single, 1st IS:SSUE, on June 19, 2024, featuring the lead song CONNECT.
PRODUCE 101 JAPAN THE GIRLS is a show I didn’t watch, so I have no emotional attachment to the members or knowledge of their skill sets. I’m going into this album completely fresh, much like I did with the other group birthed from this show, ME:I.
CONNECT is the introduction to IS:SUE’s music. Their sound doesn’t conform to what one would expect of a female Japanese idol group. It’s gritty, mix-and-match dance-pop more associated with modern K-Pop like MAVE: or aespa. Or, if you want to stick strictly to J-pop, think of when the plethora of EXILE male groups go hard on a track. Pick whichever one you want.
The song did little for me. On repeated listens, I found it different from the conventional female J-Pop fodder, but I felt no lasting impression after it was over. Depending on your tastes, you may feel differently.
STATIC is the more “listener-friendly” track on 1st IS:SUE. Rather than relying on quick tempo changes and walls of sound, it’s a straightforward mid-tempo track with a dreamy, relaxed vibe. It’s a nice contrast from the hectic pace of the title track. STATIC appealed to me the most of the two tracks on this single.
With only two different types of songs to absorb, it’s premature to make a fair assessment of IS:SUE. From what I have heard on this single, they can handle girl crush and standard pop fluff equally. What they choose as their calling card will develop as they release more material.
Stream on Apple Music
Stream on Spotify
