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Let’s be clear that on such a tight project like JISOO crafted with AMORTAGE, even the “worst” song on the record is still super strong. “TEARS” is a thumping, empowering breakup anthem where the starlet toasts her decision to leave (“This one’s on me, so, cheers”) and move on from her “pity party” throughout a bed of light, rock-tinged bubblegum production.

While we love the wordplay and liberating feeling of the track, the overall performance doesn’t feel like it pushes JISOO as artistically as the other AMORTAGE tracks. The song also includes an undeniably catchy hook of ah’s, but it lacks the same novelty and fun as other hooks and instead feels like it could be at home on an early BLACKPINK album.

While JISOO has long played down her English as the BLACKPINK member least comfortable in the language, the South Korean star still impressively co-wrote two fully English songs on AMORTAGE. “Your Love” is an effervescent declaration of the pure exhilaration of love: “I’ve never known this feeling/ But if I had to find a way to explain your love/ Your love feels like the rain/ Feels like a song I used to know/ And your love feels like the way/ There’s only green lights driving home.”

With several of the song co-writers adding background vocals to the track — including JISOO’s Warner Records label mate Jenna Raine, who signed a deal with Scooter Braun’s SB Projects and Warner in 2022 — “Your Love” boasts a classic, singalong-style chorus that gives it an additional sense of euphoria. One could imagine shouting the lovely lyrics (“I swear that we’ll be young forever) with one’s partner as well as your best friends.

As JISOO’s first solo comeback since she delivered “Flower” in 2023, “earthquake” is definitely the most impactful track of the bunch and perfect to mark her return with a big bang. The shape-shifting, electronic-pop cut is reminiscent of the experimental-yet-accessible that defined much of Britney Spears’ career — and standing alongside a pop princess like Britney is never a bad thing — with JISOO also incorporating her acting skills with a stream of emotive ad-libs towards the song’s end.

This single has a similar catchy quality to “Flower” with the hook-laden production but boasts a noticeably upgraded sophistication. The progress we hear from JISOO in just two years is indicative of the work she continues to put into her craft but also signals an exciting future where her music career heads from here.

Just like how ARMORTAGE‘s lead single “earthquake” marks a remarkably mature return for JISOO, the EP’s closing track “Hugs & Kisses” also pushes her talents to spotlight her ongoing evolution as a musician. Moving from a minimal electronic intro to a classic pop-rock production as a slightly haunting, distorted vocal sample lurks in the background, the all-English track quickly establishes the range of emotions JISOO will take us on as she fires warning shots at an uncommitted lover: “‘Cause I’m tired of you using me like a safety net/ I’m not buying your excuses, no need to waste your breath.”

While the two tracks on JISOO’s debut solo release, ME, saw a significant emphasis on instrumentals and the production to handle the song’s most impactful parts, listeners can hear the BLACKPINK star more on AMORTAGE. “Hugs & Kisses” incorporates a full, sass-packed chorus before the EP’s catchiest dance hook as a noticeably emotional JISOO shouts throughout. Before the final chorus, JISOO unleashes a huge belt, marking the cherry on top of a body of work highlighting the star’s strengths while pushing to new creative heights.

When BLACKPINK first debuted in 2016, who would have bet that JISOO could come roaring with such confidence on her own English track like “Hugs & Kisses” — we’re not sure even JISOO would have. However, if this is the energy she’s bringing in this new chapter of her career with BLISSOO, there’s lots more this humble 30-year-old is still to unleash upon the world.