Jessica

“With Love, J”

(Coridel Entertainment)

Jessica’s album is warm and upbeat, singing of love and hope. It also takes less risks and plays it safe with familiar melodies and generic lyrics.

The former Girls’ Generation member, who left the group in 2014 to pursue her fashion business Blanc & Eclare, has returned to the K-pop scene with her first album, “With Love, J.”

Title track “Fly” is a bright, moderately catchy pop track about aiming high and achieving your dreams. It adds a global voice to it by featuring the English rapping by Brooklyn-based hip-hop artist Fabolous, who previously collaborated with artists Ne-Yo and Lil Wayne.

Jessica’s distinctly nasal voice colors the whole of the album. Piano-based pop track “Big Mini World” is another sprightly track about wanting to experience the “big, big world” out there. “Golden Sky” is a ballad on the strength of love, while “Dear Diary” is a rhythmic slow jam on letting go of one’s worries at the end of a long day.

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)