The long wait is finally over, flovers! The lovely girls of fromis_9 are back after a year with their first full studio album since the group’s introduction to the K-Pop world in 2018. The album titled Unlock My World consists of 10 tracks that showcase their artistic abilities in different facets, from vocals and lyric writing to production skills. This comeback also marks the first era after the departure of Jang Gyuri, who might not be in the group physically anymore but her spirit lives and still radiates brightly, as seen in the “#menow” music video when the girls left a spot for their beloved former member during the group shot. 

Right in time for the summer season, the title track “#menow” stands as a strong contender in the battle of the group’s best summertime releases, including the catchy 2019 track “FUN!” and refreshing 2021 bop “WE GO.” The lead single for this comeback portrays the theme of loving oneself and living authentically, tying in harmoniously with the rest of the 10-track album. “#menow” is a groovy pop song that carries a carefree synth melody accompanied by dreamy vocals. The music video also gives complementary visuals to the empowering lyrics.

In the video, we first see the members in a sullen mood staring at their phones spammed with social media notifications and dolefully sitting backstage. The scenes emphasize the pressure of being under the spotlight and having many eyes on them at all times. However, the video cuts to the members appearing more cheerful as they are seen hanging out with each other, running down the empty streets, and having a slumber party. Among the lyrics are the lines, “No more hiding, I like it just as I am / So new, the Me now / This is me, what do you think?”* and, “Fear no more, look at me, no more guises, the truth,”* with fromis_9 powerfully declaring their choice to live authentically, and “unlock” their true selves to the world in order to earnestly be happy and whole.

The rest of the full-length album also explores this theme of self-love while still giving room for the girl group to experiment with different genres. The opener “Attitude” is a chic and fierce track that sets a strong tone for the album. It features a futuristic sound and tasteful distorted vocals that mirror the B-side “Rewind” from fromis_9’s previous release from our Memento Box. “Wishlist” took many fans by surprise as a full English song. Sung as a duet between members Jiwon and Chaeyoung, the song expresses not wanting to fit into anyone’s boxes of expectations but one’s own: “That perfect type who lives in your dream / I'm not for you, so I don't give a–.” Jiwon is also the sole lyricist for the track and participated in the song’s production.

Next up is Seoyeon and Nagyung’s duet “In The Mirror.” The mid-tempo song features a melodic rap and beautiful harmonization. “Don’t Care” is a title-worthy song with a funky bass line and off-the-scale catchiness. Add this song to your summer rotation right now! “Prom Night” is a great follow-up to “Don’t Care” with its groovy melody. The group does exceptionally with this sound, as the tracks with the same formula always catch my attention. It’s another great title track alternative contender.

While “Bring It On” and “What I Want” don’t stand out to me as much as the rest of the tracks in the album, they still find a place in the project. “My Night Routine” is the perfect winding-down track as we approach the end of the album. It reminds me of the slumber party scene in the “#menow” music video, and I only imagine that was exactly what happened after the fun time they had! All the members teamed up to contribute lyrics for the ending track “Eye Contact” to round out the full album. The sweet fan-dedicated song is bright yet heartfelt, proving that fromis_9’s love for flovers is as warm as a sunny summer day.

fromis_9 has grown over the years to find their signature sound and a musical formula that helps them stand out among the pool of other talented artists. The wait for this comeback was long, but it has certainly paid off for both fromis_9 and their loyal fanbase. The girl group reached their career-high in album sales with this full album, and there’s certainly a bright future with many achievements that they are bound to unlock.

Check out the video for fromis_9 lead title “#menow” and the full 10-track album on Spotify and Apple Music! 

“#menow” Score: 8.5/10

“#menow” Music Video Score: 10/10

Unlock My World Album Score: 9/10 

Overall Score: 9.2/10

*Lyric Translations from music video subtitles