Since debuting in 2022, three-piece girl group G22 have been endlessly compared to other pop acts. Fans have dubbed them the Little Mix or Destiny’s Child of the Philippines. Or the female version of P-Pop icons SB19. These past few months, they’ve also been hailed as the real-life Huntr/x from KPop Demon Hunters, which they acknowledged with a full cover of “Golden” at the Acer Day event back in August.
These other groups are all very talented too, and their influence on G22 or this heavily retro-inspired record can’t be denied. But The Dissection of Eve shows that G22 deserve to be known as just G22, as themselves, not the Filipino or female equivalent of anybody else. Some ingredients might be familiar or nostalgic, but the product is uniquely G22.
Dissection opens with “Pa-Pa-Pa-Palaban.” The song was originally released as a single back in March and stood on its own, evoking 2010s pop hits without sounding outdated. It’s noisy and obnoxious in the best possible way: self-proclaimed “female alphas” like G22 shouldn’t be afraid of causing a commotion.
But the brassy pop cut works great as a first track too, complementing the rest of this commendably cohesive album. The cool, confident lyrics, co-written by G22 member AJ, serve as a mission statement for Dissection: “Ekis sa bukabolaryo ang ‘babae ka lang’ / ‘Pagkat walang kasarian ang pagiging matapang” (“Remove ‘you’re just a woman’ from your vocabulary / ‘Cause being brave has no gender”).
Reggaeton-inflected “Lakumpake” (roughly “I don’t give a damn” in English) continues in this vein. Written solely by AJ and co-produced by her too, the track reiterates the empowering themes of track one. Next up is the album’s best song, “Groove On,” one of the catchiest songs we’ve heard all year. With lyrical contributions by Jaz, “Groove On” is a nimble, sultry Y2K R&B throwback. Its flawless sound is no surprise when you learn that Theo Martel, who previously worked on BINI’s career highlight song “Lagi,” produced “Groove On.”
“Groove On” is followed by yet another standout track, “Super Saiyan.” Fairly restrained, repetitive hip-hop synths in the backdrop give way for the G22 girls’ fiery raps to take centre stage. In particular, AJ—again credited as a co-lyricist—cements herself as one of the most impressive rappers in P-Pop right now.
“KIAK (Kung Ikaw At Ako),” written by member Alfea alone, serves dreamy, romantic electropop/R&B. “Until When? (Kinakaya Ko Pa),” penned by all three members of G22, is absolutely magical. It’s so easy to mess up a slow-ish pop ballad, but in the hand of producers Jem Florendo and Pauline Lauron, “Until When?” is anything but boring. The bright orchestral arrangements make the song sound like it’s straight out of a classic Disney Princess film.
“First” is yet another chill R&B love song, this time incorporating some jazzy elements and lyrics by Jaz and Jason Marvin. Dissection ends with “Filipina Queen,” a slow-burn hip-hop track penned by AJ yet again. Although it’s not as immediately catchy as “Palaban,” the song builds up to a breathtaking final chorus delivered with the delirious, hypnotic energy of a ritual. It’s a stunning conclusion to The Dissection of Eve, the finest P-Pop record in a year filled with many other strong albums too.
The Dissection of Eve is out now on all digital streaming platforms. You can also find G22 on Instagram.