Album Review: Alter Ego by Lisa
The BLACKPINK Star's first Solo album is solid, but lacks consistency
Of all the solo albums announced by BLACKPINK’s members, Alter Ego was the one I anticipated the most. Lisa has always stood out as the most charismatic and intriguing artist in the group, so I was excited to see how that would translate into her solo work. With New Woman and Born Again, she dropped two fantastic singles that raised my expectations even higher. Plus, her natural stage presence and energy seemed like the perfect recipe for an engaging and dynamic album.
Unfortunately, Alter Ego doesn’t fully capture that charisma and ends up feeling inconsistent. Let’s break it down:
Born Again (feat. Doja Cat, RAYE) – Kicking off with one of the strongest tracks, Born Again is one of Lisa’s best solo songs to date. The production is dynamic, versatile, and complements all three artists. Lisa delivers confidently, both with her sharp flow and sultry vocals. Doja Cat provides a smooth rapping part, and I love the harmonies in her singing part. RAYE adds depth and is my personal favorite on this track. The singing and rap sections from all three artists fit seamlessly with the dark yet uplifting production. An amazing track.
Rockstar – A solid song with good production, but it unfortunately lacks both energy and uniqueness. Lyrically, it’s all over the place, and while I don’t expect Lisa to deliver the most profound lyrics, her earlier songs like LALISA at least had the power and confidence to make up for it.
Elastigirl – This track tries to be playful and charismatic but leans too much into a gimmicky approach, failing to deliver any standout moments. The production feels chaotic, and Lisa doesn’t seem fully comfortable over it, making the song feel more like a forced filler rather than a memorable moment.
Thunder – Thunder is one of the album's highlights. Both the production and direction of the song allow Lisa to shine more. The electronic-heavy production complement her flow well and the mixture with trap elements is something which I really like. I wish there were more songs like this, cause it would have better supported Lisa’s strengths and giving her more room to shine.
New Woman – The strongest track on the album. Released as the second single, New Woman raised my expectations for Alter Ego. The balance between pop, Lisa’s signature BLACKPINK sound, and Rosalía’s flamenco influence is impressive. The track never loses my interest, and the production reaches its peak here. Rosalía’s vocals are stunning as always, and Lisa flows smoothly over the beat. The contrast and atmospheric shifts make the song stand out. New Woman provides everything a great pop song needs, plus the extra touches that make it unique.
FXCK UP THE WORLD (feat. Future) – A hard-hitting trap banger driven by heavy bass that enhances the aggressive and rebellious tone of the song. Lisa clearly thrives on this type of production, and it shows in both her flow and delivery, as her verses glide smoothly over the beat. This track injects much-needed energy into the album and stands out as one of the rawest and most powerful moments. Future is made for this kind of production, and I enjoyed his part a lot, although it's short. Definitely a highlight.
Rapunzel (feat. Megan Thee Stallion) – I see the vision for this track, but it lacks the necessary power to truly work as an anthem. Megan delivers a solid verse, but Lisa falls flat both in her verses and the hook. Overall, the execution isn’t well-planned, and the beat becomes repetitive over time.
Moonlit Floor – A very straightforward dreamy pop song. While both the production and Lisa’s delivery are relatively simple, it works. The song is catchy, romantic, and has a sweet touch. It doesn’t elevate the album, but it serves as an enjoyable track. Lisa’s vocals sound great, making it one of her best-sung performances so far.
When I’m With You (feat. Tyla) – I was excited for this track—and Tyla delivered. And that alone describes one of the album’s biggest issues. While Lisa is trying, many songs simply don’t fit her flow, which becomes repetitive at times. The song itself is catchy, but Lisa feels out of place and struggles to adapt to the Afrobeat-influenced production. Tyla shines here, while Lisa fades into the background.
BADGRRRL – I assume this was meant to be another Rockstar, but it lacks even more personality. Lisa aims for a hard-hitting banger, delivering with intensity—but she misses the mark. The hook isn’t strong enough to save the song, and I can’t help but feel a lot of potential was left untapped.
Lifestyle – Here, Lisa manages to bring back some personality, flowing well and delivering lines reminiscent of some of her strongest BLACKPINK moments. The production starts smooth but quickly builds energy, complementing her flow. The song has a forward-moving energy, especially in the hook. It’s an enjoyable track, though it still lacks the final punch needed to be truly impactful. Nonetheless, it remains one of Lisa’s most confident performances on the album.
Chill – A laidback track that blends various sounds. The vocal samples in the background are a nice touch, and overall, the song is enjoyable. It’s not particularly unique or outstanding, but it’s easy to replay.
Dream – Here, Lisa finally becomes more personal, sharing the emotions that were missing throughout the rest of the album. Over a soft, dreamy instrumental, she delivers verses with a more introspective approach. This finally added personality and vulnerability help connect her to the listener—something the rest of the album lacks. Dream isn’t the most remarkable track, but it serves as a sentimental and fitting closer.
Lisa is a versatile and talented artist, who has proven both impressive work ethic and an incredible will to perfection in her work over the last years. And Alter Ego shows a lot of reasons why she is an amazing artist—but also the flaws she still has to deal with as a solo artist. The album has its moments, like Born Again, New Woman, or FXCK UP THE WORLD. But unfortunately, it is very inconsistent, and tracks like Elastigirl or BADGRRRL feel more like fillers than essential tracks for the album.
Her talent and vision shine through here and there, and I admire her versatility, but at the same time, a lot of the production on this album works against her. Still, I admire Lisa’s dedication and undeniable talent. For her debut album, I also miss personality and more emotional depth. I don’t expect her to repeat her life history, but the album would have benefited from more character—to really learn who Lisa is, not Lisa of BLACKPINK, but actually Lalisa Manobal.
Alter Ego is a mixed bag, a compilation of the influences that have brought Lisa so far, but unfortunately, she doesn’t master all of them yet herself. A more refined concept and a clearer structure would have helped the album, because let's be honest—Lisa has both the talent and charisma to pull off a great album. But the inconsistencies prevent her debut from making a lasting impact. Alter Ego is a solid but inconsistent and flawed debut album, showcasing little glimpses of what makes Lisa a great artist, but overall lacking the execution to make it a truly memorable debut.
Track Ratings:
Born Again - 87
Rockstar - 72
Elastigirl - 53
Thunder - 73
New Woman - 88
FXCK UP THE WORLD - 75
Rapunzel - 60
Moonlit Floor - 71
When I’m With You - 65
BADGRRRL - 47
Lifestyle - 63
Chill - 70
Dream - 68
FXCK UP THE WORLD (Vixi Solo Version) - 74
Rapunzel (Kiki Solo Version) - 52
Overall Rating: 62
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