let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: i hate when companies announce a “mini album” only for half of it to be songs we’ve already heard a hundred times. why call it a mini album if it’s just a collection of leftovers padded out with a few new tracks? including meovv’s debut single here feels especially lazy—like they dusted off old files just to hit the minimum track count. this was meant to be their first proper mini album, a big moment. ... read more

the definition of a birthday cake — fun, sweet, and maybe not something you’d eat every day, but the occasion makes it feel extra special. 'what is love?' is just like that. the first bite — the title track — is a delightful introduction to the ep. it still holds up, but it’s impossible to separate it from the context of its release: the bright, nostalgic music video, the outfits, the choreography. it all came together to make the song feel even more ... read more

truly the beginning of a story! as someone who’s been following twice since page two (cheer up era), going back to their debut always hits me with a wave of nostalgia. even from the very start, twice had a clear vision, and the story begins proves that with a debut album that’s cohesive, memorable, and — honestly — skip-free.

from the energetic and instantly iconic title track to the deeper cuts (including reworked tracks from sixteen), the ep delivers the kind of ... read more

page two really feels like the perfect second chapter in twice’s story. it doesn’t stray too far from their debut, but instead builds on it with just enough polish and confidence to show they were settling into their identity. it’s bright, playful, and — above all — cohesive, continuing that bubbly energy from the story begins in a way that still feels authentic to them.

the cheerleader concept that came with this album was, honestly, spot on. these songs really ... read more

twicecoaster: lane 1 feels like going to an amusement park that’s about to close for the day. you hop on the first ride — tt — and it’s so fun, so iconic, so memorable that it makes you think, “wow, this is going to be so good!”… and then the rest of the park is just kind of, well, there. not bad, but definitely not the kind of experience that makes you want to come back.

it’s a shame that this ended up being twice’s first full-length ... read more

twicecoaster: lane 2 didn’t really fix any of the problems from the original release, but it did come with knock knock — and for that alone, it deserves a little redemption arc. the title track got way more hate than it deserved at the time. it’s a super cute, upbeat track that feels very twice in the best way. it’s bouncy, catchy, and has one of their most addictive choruses and bridges. sure, it’s a little silly, but that was the charm — and they pulled it ... read more

a great little upgrade to an already great album — sabrina really knows how to make a deluxe feel worth it and she absolutely glows on the fun, upbeat, dancey tracks (truly in her element).

i’ve said it before and i’ll say it again: i trust sabrina with deluxe editions like i trust my best friend with my life. emails i can’t send fwd was amazing, and this one keeps that streak alive.

but tiny critique time — and it’s the same one i had for the standard ... read more