IVE - IVE EMPATHY Review
Selective Hearing reviews IVE's third mini-album, IVE EMPATHY.
Release Date: February 3, 2025
Track Listing
Rebel Heart
FLU
You Wanna Cry
Thank U
Attitude
TKO
Review
At the end of 2024, Starship Entertainment announced that IVE would start the new year of 2025 by releasing their third EP, IVE EMPATHY.
The album's pre-release single, Rebel Heart, was unleashed upon the masses in January 2025. As my Rebel Heart review stated, the song is anthemic and strongly similar to I AM in both feel and lyrical content. It made for a great teaser to build anticipation for this album.
Attitude is a funky dance-pop track, and much like Rebel Heart, it has a self-empowering message but focuses more on the side of "I'm the shit, deal with it." So it's full of what its title suggests. Astute listeners (or those of a particular vintage) should immediately recognize the song's hook.
If you can't recall, that part is taken from Suzanne Vega's 1987 song Tom's Diner, most likely familiar to many through its 1990 remix version by DNA.
The remainder of the album explores the concept of empathy, especially the slower songs You Wanna Cry and Thank U. These songs tug at the listener's heartstrings and leave a lasting impression after they are over. They are the best songs on the album by far.
If you're in the mood for something more like the title tracks, FLU and TKO would be more fitting for your listening needs. While they are not as deep as the slower songs, they are still some fine pieces of work.
TKO has a tougher street vibe and is the only time you'll hear IVE go "hard" on this album. Given its lyrical content, it's a good compliment to Attitude, as the songs share the same sassy feel. Conversely, FLU cleverly wraps a tale of falling for the wrong kind of person in a fast-paced and catchy three-minute pop song.
IVE EMPATHY is a captivating listen and a great start to 2025 for IVE.