TITLE: In The Name Of Love
ARTIST: CL
LABEL: SuneV, Kakao M
RELEASED: December 19, 2019
The queen is back and she’s free. Once breaking the shackles of YG Entertainment in November, we didn’t have to wait long for some new music from the Queen of K-Pop (my opinion, thank you very much). Over the years, we got to see what CL could do with singles and features. But now, we’re getting a whole ass EP. And like the G is she, she said fuck your title track, I’m going to release MVs for all the songs.
+DONE161201+
From this first track, you could tell this is a break up and love album. Not necessarily with a person but I think the whole idea. This track is laid over a wavy beat, and CL sings about being done basically. Telling us that this boy is a fool and she’s done with his ass. It’s an anthem and I’m here for it. The hook is catchy and the video is genius. She’s not in it at all. It’s basically clips of internet personalities to Korean artists and celebrities lipsyncing to the track. It makes you focus on the lyrics and just live in the song.
+REWIND170205+
This one I really love. Along with DONE, this was the first track that came out before the full ep dropped. It’s a song about reminsing and the MV shows that. It’s filled with just pictures of CL throughout her life and career with her friends and family. Rewind is a melodic track over a deep bass. When her raps come at the bridge, it’s really bridges the song but overall the song is a little one note. I think my favorite aspect of the whole thing is the MV.
+PARADOX171115+
The breakup is over. Now what’s next? That’s what Paradox is about. Moving forward and the sweet vocals over the simple track is just enough. It could almost be sung as an accapella track and it would be equally as effective. When the beat drops, the song really comes alive but my favorite party is the simple snapping and string sounds in the back.
+ONE AND ONLY180228+
The dance track! I can say this is the on trend song. It has the Latin flair that k-pop loves so much these days. And the MV was basically a choreo video. It feels like a sultry track that’s saying, “I’m the shit, your loss.” which CL is basically doing. A re-branding. But I can see this one being the song people gravitate toward to because it actually is the one that sounds the most like other songs today. Very G-Idle.
+I QUIT180327+
Can I say this is my favorite track? Yes. Yes I can. And it is the most simplest off the whole EP. Just guitar riffs, snapping and CL’s vocals. It’s not overworked, it’s simple and her words come across clear as day “Fuck you, I’m done.” The MV almost made me cry with how beautiful it was. All white with splatters of paint and individuals singing the song in Sign Language. How fucking powerful is that?!
+THNX190519+
The gospel track to end it all. That’s it.
Final Thoughts…
Pretty obvious that all of these tracks came from the closet of tracks past. But that doesn’t negate the fact that these were all written in a time when she was feeling lost and hurt with the ups and downs and the on the shelf moments at YG. I feel like the numbers on the track titles are actually dates that she wrote the songs. Overall, all the songs were simple and the vocals weren’t mind blowing. But it was a nice gift to the fans to have something to show she isn’t down and out of the fight.
PRODUCTION: 3 / 5
VOCALS / RAPPING: 3.5 / 5
VISUALS / CONCEPT: 4.5 / 5
OVERALL: 3.5 / 5
Least Favorite Track(s): +THNX190519+
Favorite Track(s): +I QUIT180327+
Unbothered Unnies 