Alter Ego by LISA | Album Review

The debut solo record from the Blackpink star mixes minimalist trap-pop with flashy dance grooves.

I’m not a humongous K-Pop person, but ever since I saw the music video for “How You Like That,” the girl group Blackpink has permanently etched their image in my brain.

Between their instantly recognizable dual color scheme, their intensely choreographed performances, and the blinding beauty and talent of each member, it seemed like a foregone conclusion each member would attempt to break through as solo artists. From the jump, I had always pegged LISA as the “Justin” of the band, with her bad bitch swagger and rap verses overflowing with personality.

Now, she’s finally released her first LP as a solo artist, Alter Ego, and she’s bringing exactly what I expected to the table. We’ve got a mix of stripped back pop-rap, retro-tinged dance floor jams, and colorful pop bangers featuring some of today’s hottest artists (although that’s not always a positive). There’s also barely any Korean on this record, evidence LISA is firmly aiming her sights at world (or at least Western) stardom. 

Bookending the album are a number of minimalist, trap-inspired numbers emphasizing LISA’s rap ability. Songs like “Rockstar” and “Elastigirl” do a decent job of showing off her pen game, as well as the sound she’s aiming for as a solo personality.

That said, we also get a couple misfires in the mix, most notably “Badgrrrl.” The cheerleader-esque vocal chants that open the song annoy me immediately, and the track has nothing special in store to make up for that.

Moving into the middle of the album, things do start to look up. Maybe the biggest surprise on the album comes with “Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me),” which reinterprets “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None The Richer as a groovy rap-disco jam. It’s musically intoxicating, and doesn’t sound like a straight rip-off of the original song, to the point I was surprised when I heard that familiar melody on the chorus.

We also get a lovely spotlit ballad with “Dream,” where LISA reminisces on a lost love. The pillowy synths move through a beautifully wistful chord progression, and the lyrics here are among the record’s best:

Whenever I'm missing you

Call you up, but I can't get through

Don't know where you sleep lately

But I'll see you in my dreams, maybe

We can catch up, drive down our old street

If all that we were is all that we'll ever be

It's bittersweet

At least a girl can dream.

And then there’s the single “Born Again” which kicks the record off, a killer retro dance banger that shows off LISA’s ability to work with other artists. Raye and Doja Cat both kill their featured verses, and their vocal interplay on the chorus works phenomenally.

Not all features are as successful, however, which is my biggest sticking point with Alter Ego. Most notably, the three track run of “New Woman” featuring Rosalia, “Fxck Up The World” featuring Future, and “Rapunzel” featuring Megan Thee Stallion does LISA no favors. Future’s contribution feels completely phoned in, and Megan barely gets any real estate on her verse. 

All that said, we’re left with a mixed bag from LISA on Alter Ego. On one hand, we have some expertly crafted bangers that show off her charisma and talent, but on the other, we have lackluster trap-pop that fails to stand out from the crowd. If she can lean into the elements that worked here, I sense a strong sophomore showing for LISA, but for now, all I have are questions.

Production: 6/10

Lyrics: 6/10

Songwriting: 6/10

Overall: 6/10

Favorites: Born Again, Moonlit Floor (Kiss Me), Dream

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Thank you for reading! What did you think of this album? Feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts and recommendations.