A few days ago, Twice’s Chaeyoung pre-released the first taste of her debut solo album with Avocado. Depending on your taste, that track either felt refreshingly new for K-pop or like a bit of a snooze. I fall in the latter category, though I did respect its unique tone. Pre-releases are afforded some leeway when it comes to being quirky or loosey-goosey, but it’s the title track’s job to pull everything together.
Shoot (Firecracker) is a jauntier affair, though much of the track is covered in the same gauzy nonchalance that has become a fifth gen girl group staple. It’s interesting because Chaeyoung hails from a girl group of a very different era with its own tropes and expectations and seems to be pushing back on them here. I’ve always believed solo careers should be their own thing and have a reason to exist outside of the main group and Shoot successfully carves its own niche. While I wish the song hit harder, that’s a critique I could level at the vast majority of K-pop in this day and age.
Instead, I’ll praise Shoot‘s catchy chorus, which carries the perfect level of breezy thrill. The song’s verses are a bit too featherweight for my liking, but the hook has a satisfying efficiency that gets a lot of bang from its limited buck. Rhythm guitar plays a large role in this success, adding a disco groove to the buoyant arrangement. Chaeyoung’s soft vocal is well-suited to this approach, stylish and aloof but underpinned by enough warmth to keep Shoot anchored to the ground. I don’t see this acting as a playlist standout, but its vibes are happy enough to warrant a sense of comforting longevity.
| Hooks | 9 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 9 |
| Bias | 8 |
| RATING | 8.5 |
