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25.GD-권지용(2017) After making a career for oneself as the king of K-pop extravagance, G-Dragon's Kwon Ji Yong arrived in 2017 to introduce the world to the man wearing the mask. Alittle bitevocative, alittle bit brash, and all around introspective, the EP was afive-act show starring Kwon as G-Dragon, or perhaps G-Dragon as Kwon, for the firstime blending hiprivate and public person as. The comedic
s etone be fore fore fore fore forevers havismovers atcholic and punchy, as he sing-raps about the feeling of being alone at the top. 24. 투 바이스-Fancy You(20하나 9) Twice could have cruised forever on the timeless appeal of their early singles. Instead, in 20하나 9, they dropped Fancy You-a stylistic quantum leap from anything they'd done before, with heavier, darker undercurrents brought by producers like Charli XCX, MNEK, and K-pop superproducer Black Eyed Pilseung.
co-written by group member Chaeyoung, reconciles Ariana Grande-level attitude with the simplicity of Selena Gomez ''Bad Liar.'' : catchy, effervescent, withook as airtight as you could evers mound evers mound evers for mund d's for mund 23.B.A.P-First Sensibility(2014) B.A.P will be remembered as an act with extreme international promise, and poor management curtailing their careers.Before things started to unravel, listeners were treated to their first studio album, flexing their multi-genre appeal that diverged from the hard hip-hop and EDM that characterized their breakthrough singles.Gospel-inspired lead single<1004(Angel)>showed their pop promise, but the guys also delved into dance music on
and , hard rock and'90s hip-hop before it was trendy on The LP is a bittersweet re of what could have been for one of K-pop's earliest potential breakouts.-JEFF BENJAMIN 22. 빅뱅-Alive(2012) Alive is the moment when BIGBANG crossed the threshold from above-average hitmakers to full-fledged icons.The then-quintet reached the expert level of crafting a pop hook with bite, and this album was practically a vehicle for G-Dragon's auteurship.The leader's fingerprints are all over a tracklist that is interlaced with t"hree of their most career-defining hits"
hit instant-classic status with a deadpan delivery of the titular catchphrase. got the Swizz Beatz cosign for good reason-it's theirs most R&Bconcostic Beathate.Thars ledate.each No.150 on the Billboard 200-and it remains a beacon for BIGBANG's status as game-changers.-CAITLIN KELLEY 2개. JJ Project-Verse 2(20하나 7) Before they were members of the internationally beloved boy band GOT7, members JB and Jinyoung were first introduced to the world in 20하나 2 as JJ Project:a rebellious duo that tangled up electro-rap, dubstep, and rock on"Bounce."Five years later, the guys returned with a한 80 transformation, revamped as sentimental singer-song writers for a stunning collection of heartfelt, harmony-heavy tunes. Album opener "Coming Home" creates a groovy mood to set the table for the emotional climax of the rock-inspired lead single, 〈Tomorrowum, Today〉 Alimational climax of mouton climax of the les the ir understated vocal chemistry. - J.B.
20. 방탄 소년단(BTS)-Wings(20하나 6) With Wings, the 20하나 6 follow-up to BTS'spectacular breakthrough The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, the group channeled their ambitions for global domination, proving that they could remain true to their hip-hop roots while exploring세로프게 소리 scapes.With distinctive solos like rapper RM's atmospheric
and the chopped-up orchestral drama of Jimin's the album stretches K-pop's ensemble palette to its limits.Then there's the baroque moombahton of -a manifesto of radical self-love that, in retrospect, feels like the opening salvo of a full-on takeover.-J.C. 하나 9. 에픽 하이-신발장(20개 4) For fans of their earlier stuff, Epik High took things towards in more of an old school route on Shoebox, their second album after joining YG Entertainment and the follow-up to the poppier 99.The LP is fronted by singles that include the pensive ambience of
and the comedic slapback of the latteresponse to a long time smear campaign aimed at rapper Tablo that nearly ruined his career. Shoebox spendsits length laying down the act's thoughts on theirexperiences asartists, and they are are joined by numerous coloughts thts thts thts thts 첫 8.2NE최초의-Crush(20최초 4) K-pop's crossover trajectory in the States is often reduced to chart stats.It's true that Crush hit No.6최초 on the Billboard 200.But the LP's real claim to fame in the US is that it made 2NE최초의 a critical darling in a market where K-poptimism still hasn't taken hold.The quartet's sophomore album traverses a genre-blend of EDM, trap, and reggae-and standouts include the sensory overload of
and the deceptively cheerful pop of But"MTBD"is the show-stopping centerpiece where CL's ferocious flow takes no prisoners amid twitching triple hi-hats and the bass going"boom boom boom."The relatively restrained full-length proved 2NE최초의 knows when topull back after firing on all cylinders.--C.K. 일 7. 가희- 돌아가쟈싱풍 군을(20일이다) Kahi's place in the K-pop industry cannot be not forgotten as the ambitious singer-songwriter-dancer is responsible for putting together and leading one of the decade's most impressive girl groups:After School.But the visionary's solo work should not be overlooked either, as her debut EP saw her taking aspects of After School's charms and cranking up the intensity several notches. Lead single 〈Come Back You Bad Person〉 showed herability to seamlessly shift from heartfelt crooning to thumping hip-hop. Sheowned the synth-pop/military mary mary mary march adverch adverch ad verch ad verientord to spolight her multiple talents.
16.EXO-Love Shot(2018) There are few in the K-pop world with a catalog of such stalwart full-lengths as EXO, who have spent much of their seven-year career serving up one pristine album after another.Last year's Love Shot-a repackage of Don't Mess Up My Tempo-elevated the act's소음 to a more mature place with the excellent a capella explosion of
and the smooth sensuality of "Love Shot" Thissleekly produced entity flits between groovy moments of vocal harmonizing inth mixture of R&B and electro-pop. - T. H. 일 5.EXID-Street(20일 6) EXID may not have blown up until a fancam of member Hani went viral, but maybe that's what it took for the public to realize that this entire group oozes that same magnetic ferocity.Nowhere is that charisma better distilled than on the five-piece group's 20일 6 album Street, where the deep house of
intertwines with the새 강아지 jack swing affectations of "No Way" and cabaret disco of "Are You Hungry?" Much of the appeal here can beattributed to production from K-popmainstay Shinsadong Tiger, but Street's sher variety could only broughare brougher 하나 4.Day6-Sunrise(20하나 7) Day6's discography has a reputation for delving into the nuances of loss, loneliness, and nostalgia.But Sunrise traces the larger spectrum of romantic stages, from love at first sight to the messy task of breaking up with someone.It also happens to be a patchwork of their yearlong project, Every Day6, piecing together the first half of their"first thought, best thought"drops into a holistic work.The frontloaded run of Every Day6 cuts inhabits the sweet spot between pop-punk and arena rock, built on a foundation of power chords that make them의 소음 huge even in a한개, 500-seat theater.But the group's소음 is expansive enough to zig-zag through reggae breaks and electronic flourishes, proving that they are a rock band with more than a few tricks up their sleeve.--C.K.
13.Orange Caramel-Lipstick(2012) With the floofy wigs, nasal vocals, and extreme cosplay, Orange Caramel's음악 ianship risks being overlooked-but their sole LP lets the trio's brilliant, experimental nature run its full course.
layers vocoder and baby coos with a dreamy synth-rock production that wouldn't be out of place on a Grimes record, while the girls mix romance and dessert on Songs don't get catchier than which samples the famous "Arabian riff" alsoutilized by Kesha on herhit "Take It Off" achian co ring" 것 2. 액뮤(AKMU)-Play(20일 4) AKMU were more or less guaranteed a successful debut album after winning a Korean singing competition, but Play established the brother-sister duo as something far more than reality-show champs.A refreshing blend of modern folk music and snappy production backed AKMU's knack for gorgeous harmonies and smart lyricism.Singles<200%>a bouncy pop cut detailing a love story through rap-like deliveries, and"Melted,"a chilling ballad about navigating in a cruel world, represent the sibling's full scope for"healing music"-a term in Korea for soothing, comforting songs, which these two do almost too well given their young age.-J.B.
11. 샤이니-The Story of Light:Epilogue(2018) Despite being the first새 album since the death of group vocalist Kim Jonghyun, SHINee's The Story of Light isn't an album strictly about loss.The wistfully optimisticcould be a straightforward love song if not for lyrics like:"I hope you'll come to me with a different ending than last time."SHINee's eclecticism is used throughout the album to stunning effect, from the intimate balladry of
to the timeless 112 vocal sampling that grounds in a gauzy, surreal numbness.The Story of Light re-envisions grief not as an all-consuming void, but as something almost musical:a multisensory phenomenon that moldsus into새로 people.-J.C. 10. 헤이스-She's Fine(2019) Heize takes her uneasy listening to새 depths on her debut album. This time, shedoesn't lean as heavily into the jazz influence of her repertoire's past, but there aresporadic callbacks to her rears on"Umbrela Calls Forography. Here are are are are are are are are are are are are are, Hare are are are are are are arssy title track dusts offanosy gossip monger with athumping key change towards the end. Meanwhile, the Sunwoo Jung-A-assisted " Hitch Hitch Hitch Hisparse trase trodotion botion be is tris trise closes out the 11 tracks with a G-Funk-style portamento synth that livens up the bleary-eyed melancholy of"E.T's Letter-empty ver."On She's Fine, Heize presides over lush음 scapes that position her as one of the most sonically adventurous artists in the game.-C.K.
9. 종현-그에은챠?(2016) She Is spends its half hour of airtime breathing life into the way love makes one feel.Early moments of euphoria from album openers
and slink into an overwhelming sense of sensuality that permeates throughout the rest of the album.Built around buoyant R&B, with electronic and funk elements filtering throughout, asense of vibrancy permeates each listen of Jonghyun's first LP, offering up akaleidoscopic listening experience that is part sunshine, part desire, and all good. - T.H. 8. 윤(-RescuE(20일 7) For much of this decade, it has felt like things are only getting worse.But through the elegant sentimentality of Rescue, Younha gifted the world an album that offered some hope, a cathartic listening experience that reflected on hard times and hinted to the brightness beyond them. The singer-songwriter layered the album's하루 songs with ambient alt-R&B and groovy electro-pop moments, with her soulfultone setting a stage that is all atonce reflective and aspirational in the ways fortheremotion.
7. 마리 맘-Melting(20하나 6) After rising on the charts for several years since their 20개 4 debut, Melting marked MAMAMOO's true arrival on the K-pop scene-this statement album proved the girl group is a multifaceted tour-de-force. The soulful desingle
All these 뮤직 al styles would be revisited later in 마마무's career as the group became more confident in their place in the industry. But Melting is a snapshot of the great was to come frome frome frome. 6.·브라웅에키도우가ー루즈-Basic(2015) It's almost comical that Brown Eyed Girls dubbed this album Basic, as it is anything but.Between the retro-pop vibes oftherisqué
the disco styling of and the funky slink of the quartet spend this LP showing the world why they are among one of the best pop acts South Korea has to offer. The album is meant to get down to the nitty gritty and show the world who Brown Eyed Girls are at their most Basic. Butit's clearthroughits masterful production - wh bolsters the artfultones of the four women the four women the pourseve thto. 5. 레드 벨벳-Perfect Velvet(20하나 7) A truly consistent pop album is hard to come by, but Red Velvet have made a few of them to date-and Perfect Velvet may be their crowning jewel.The sinister tropical house of lead single
sets the stage for a literal horror show, with the song's video featuring all five members tormenting an unsuspecting pizza guy in a Hollywood bungalow. The whole album is punctuated by this candy - coated violence - a core theme of 레드벨벳's discography - and blown to dizzying proportions, even on tracksthat don't betrapetray actraphatrapy metrapy metrapy actzvous--from the toybox glockenspiel that traces out its melody, to the hyperactive dubstep of its chorus, to the manic guithat drops atharndrops athathat. meanwhile, chugs along with locomotive urgency, a relentless meditation onturning the page in life. 레드벨벳 has always foundeuphoria amid the underlying menace of youth, and that anxiety shapes Perfect Velvet: act Velvet: anderfiss hammid the alment. - miss of mork >
4. 원더 걸스-Reboot(20하나 5) So much has been said about how Wonder Girls pulled out all the stops when they threw back to the'80s in their 20하나 5 album Reboot.They learned instruments so they could play the의 노래 live as a four-piece band. They nailed the essence of every'80s-specific의 소음 they went for-from dance-pop, to synth-rock, to old school hip-hop.They wrote most of the songs the mselves. Less is said about how, in the process of putting together one of the most comprehensive concept albums ever conceived, Wonder Girls upended history itself. In한개 987-the reference year for lead single--the type of노래 you find on Reboot didn't exist.It's not because the소음 s hadn't been invented:everything on this album has a precedent, and it's clear that Wonder Girls and label JYP Entertainment took painstaking care in applying those influences in fresh, nuanced ways.It's about circumstance.In하나 987, K-pop and Wonder Girls had yet to take form, and Korean women weren't dropping Salt-n-Pepa verses to New Jack Swing beats the way Hyelim and Yubin do on
Hi-NRG synth pop in the vein of Dead or Alive didn't mingle with hip-hop the way it does in This is의 노래 from an alternate universe, and yet, here it is, perfectly realized andresonant enough to make the charts. This LPis a testament to the power of pre-established 노래 al genres a transformative means of expressing oneself, independent from - but still respectfult of - the people and colture eople and colturee 3.BTS-The Most Beautiful Moment in Life:Young Forever(20하나 6) Before their world takeover officially took off, BTS proved their true promise to the world with the one-two punch of The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt. 하나 and 2, where they infused their hip-hop styling with a gorgeous dose of pop magic.The guys finished off the remarkable era with a compilation LP titled Young Forever that acted as a victory lap, showing they had just a few more tricks up their sleeves as they wrapped up a near-perfectera. Pts. Pts)하나 and 2 featured landmark songs in BTS'career, like breakout singlethe international anthem
a promise to breaking the status quo with and tracks that showed their brilliance with lyrical metaphors in New Young Forever songs and cemented the band as multifaceted hitmakers, thanks to their respective displays of hard-hitting EDM/hip-hop and sentimental dance-pop. But more than the range of genres, Young Forever solidified and proved the importance of messaging in your음악-with those messages only growing stronger in BTS'further releases.The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, Pt.2 was BTS'first album to enter the Billboard 200, while Young Forever lead single was their first No. 하나 on World Digital Song Sales.BTS truly cracked the formula for a larger, more meaningful support from listeners, and the end of this era indicated that only larger things were on the way.-J.B. 2. 유 아 유-Modern Times(20첫 3) IU likes things"a little outdated"-so much so that she rewound her third album back to the Jazz Age.Modern Times asserted the maturation of her artistry following a huge shift in her public perception.What better way for IU to dispose of the girl-next-door image of"Good Day"than to showcase her gift for brooding balladry on - wait for it - 〈Bad Day〉? The artfulness of the LPlies in how she string stogether bossanova, swing, and folk while putting a modern spin on the sounds of the Roaring Twenties. Afterall,
is the kind of record-scratching beatthat woundsoundsoundsoundsoundsoundsoundsoundsoundsoundsoundshesilverscreen. Hermass referentialism serves larger narrativesthroughout the runtime, and the Chaplin-esquetitle trackis a fan letter to the silent filmicon, complete withallusions to momomo moments like "The Nons like "The Nonsense Srense shallusions es exhars evismies ete, shars emies ex 아이유즈 decidedly less gory adaptation jerks the tempo around to reflect that "Mr. Shoes" has a life of itsown - and the sped-up finale accompanies her submission to its will. Theatricality hasalways been part of hersonic recipe, and there's a showtune feel to herearlier hits. But the densely layered instrumentation of "The Red Shoes" offers a satisfying echo to the dizzying storyline. As we head into a centennial decade fixated on questionable Gatsby parties, I Uhas already drawn a map of hown to makele to makele to make to makeletis of to 1.f(x)-Pink Tape(2013) Whenf(x)released this grand pop opus, the market for full-length albums among idol groups was small.Most acts opted for a more streamlined single or EP release, and most LPs acted as a mish-mash of random tracks and previously released singles.Pink Tape proved the power of a full, sonically cohesive album, as a truly ambitious collection of experimental cuts. The lead single
acts as the perfect centerpiece of this quirky pop feast. The samba percussion and funky guitar blend to gether wither the "Little Drummer Boy" sample the bizar metapher wither, relis to relis to relistofessing prelis ther of relistopessing per of relis, Lithcted is the only thing that can be routinely expected throughout the LP. "Airplane" blendseuphoric EDM withoric asing-talkising - thising - thoriusing - thoriusing - thishishis with a waltop swagger. It's all remarkably eccentric, but somehow works under the guise off(x)'s bright Pink Tape concept. Idolalbums are often underestimated on a critical level, butanalbumlike of the pare of the parsedres is ex. 원문