[&] - LOONAOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

I will admit, I'm a fairly new Orbit. But from the moment I saw the music video for "Why Not?," I immediately fell in love with LOONA. And with their newest comeback, [&], my opinion of them only increases. Starting from the intro track, "&," the album immediately kicks off with an intense electronic sound. Reusing some elements from the lead single, it's powerful, bold, and sharp. Next, is the lead single, "PTT (Paint The Town)," with influence from Indian culture and music, this track has a very intense dance hip-hop sound. LOONA sings about not caring what other people think about you and showing your true colors shamelessly. Showcasing an amazing pre-chorus, and a captivating bridge, with LOONA's vocals, it's an absolutely gorgeous track. After that, we have "WOW." A bouncy, upbeat track, LOONA encourages every girl to be proud of who they are, and be themselves without shame. Then, we have "Be Honest," my favorite song on the album. A refreshing bop, it's about being honest to yourself and expressing your feelings. In my opinion, LOONA's vocals really shine here, with great melodies and lively raps. Next is the fully English song "Dance On My Own." Opening with a simple acoustic guitar, LOONA's vocals have a really nice feel in this song. Then, we have "A Different Night"—an emotional ballad with a dreamy, sentimental sound. The ad-libs throughout the song enhance the effect nicely. The album ends with "U R," a soft R&B song with lo-fi influence. It's a really good song for chilling in your house at night! Overall, this album transitions very nicely—opening with an intense, powerful intro, and ending with a warm, cozy sound. This is definitely one of my favorite albums, everyone should give it a listen! You'll definitely like at least one track on it!

—crystallized_stars4ONLY - LEE HIOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

The warmest voice of South Korea returned with her full-length album 4 ONLY. Lee Hi begins with R&B track "Savior," featuring B.I. The song is absolutely beautiful and every line feels special. B.I's rap delivers the message, 'Love changes and you already know it. It's much easier to believe in eternity.' Up next, "Intentions," tries to understand men's logic behind their toxic behaviors. Then Lee Hi challenges a lying partner in "Waterride," wanting him to face the problem. Switching genres, Lee Hi tries nu-disco with "Bye" and "Red Lipstick" and completely nails it. Next, we have one of my favorites, "H.S.K.T." The vocal dynamic between Lee Hi and Wonstein is gorgeous, singing about selfish love. We can sum up "Safety Zone." in this line, 'Laziness means the end of a relationship, but familiarity is the start of a perfect love.' Learning how to be with someone is tough and it means you're now responsible for someone else's feelings. If you don't take good care of them, they'll wilt. In the song, the couple tries to hold on because they want to believe in each other. I'm so in love with the ethereal harmonies in the outro. Then comes "What is love?" embodying the idea of 'opposites attract' and its consequences. Being too different can cause insecurities because you can't fully understand someone you're not. In "Darling," Lee Hi is impatient to know if the person she likes is into her. For her, there's no other option—leading to the title track, "ONLY," a sweet love song about growing old with your soulmate. The music video makes me cry every time I watch it. Even though we might lose our minds when we grow old, the love we feel is the only thing we'll remember.

—EleventhCassetteALPHA - CLOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

After what felt like an eternity, CL of 2NE1 finally released her first full-length album, ALPHA this fall. Staying true to its name, CL proved why she was and will always remain the alpha in the Korean music industry. The year-long rollout for the album gave fans a nice taste of what to expect from the album starting with the anthemic dance-pop track, "HWA" which encapsulated different themes and meanings represented throughout the album. CL then greeted us with "SPICY," a South Korean empowerment anthem with an interesting collaboration with American actor, John Malkovich. CL also shined on the all-English pop track "Lover Like Me," showing her versatility once again. The album was led by "Tie A Cherry," a self-confidence anthem. Credited as a songwriter on all her songs, the album is a perfect showcase of CL's caliber using clever phonetics and wordplay especially as she effortlessly switches between Korean and English. ALPHA not only talks about her power and impact in the industry but also her vulnerabilities and what it truly takes to be an alpha. Releasing a complete package, CL raised the bar even higher for K-Pop's style, sound, fashion, and visuals with ALPHA. Our only hope is that hopefully, we won't have to wait terribly long for its follow-up.

—ssaa10decAttacca - SEVENTEENOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

After their comeback in June with Your Choice, SEVENTEEN returns with a "PANG!" With Attacca being their ninth mini album, it absolutely did not disappoint! To get into more depth with the meaning behind the album's name, Attacca means 'beginning immediately' (directing a performer to go without pause to the next section). Just like how WOOZI said in an interview, the album can help illustrate how SEVENTEEN could express this unstoppable kind of love. The album is just perfect for when you're in the different stage of love! Want a song about a passionate and determined love with a killer guitar? Welp, the energetic pop-rock title track "Rock With You" is the one to get you amped up! Wanna get onto a deep listen through tracks with a more sentimental touch about a relationship that is crumbling, and looking back at it, and reflecting on actions? Well, the tear-jerking and panic-stricken "Imperfect love" (performed by the Vocal unit), "I can't run away" (performed by the Hip-Hop unit), and "2 MINUS 1" are the ones to get in the feels with. Want songs that experience the beginnings of first love with passion and determination and all the emotions that come with it? "To You," "Crush," and "PANG!" (performed by the Performance unit) are the tracks to get you all warm inside with experiencing it again in the form of songs! I absolutely love the whole tracklist of the album to the point where I can't even choose a favorite song when all of them are just masterpieces! Each of the unit songs show quite a different side to each of them and it is done really well! Definitely worth listening multiple times thanks to the different aspects of love shown in the album!

—HobschiskeBAD LOVE - KEYOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

KEY’s first solo release after his military service is a masterpiece of self-expression. Bad Love is a piece of art that goes beyond the sonic aspect and incorporates its music videos, stage performances, and print material. We talk a lot about concepts for albums but rarely is an idea as thoroughly and consequently executed as Bad Love has been. Sonically Bad Love is a very cohesive album that still manages to give each song its own identity. What ties them together are mostly synthesizers and a vague 80s retro feel. That feeling does not extend to the visuals though, which, in their sci-fi pulpiness, are more a throwback to the late 60s, to the likes of Bowie’s 1969 “Space Oddity” or Kubrick’s 1968 “2001: A Space Odyssey”. The album’s photobook is itself a narrative space comic meets fashion shoot, while the music videos for “Bad Love” and “Hate that…” also include space imagery. Every song on Bad Love is a hit in itself which makes picking favorites near impossible. “Bad Love” is for sure the most dramatic of the six songs and hence the perfect pick for the title track. Girls Generation’s Taeyon’s feature on “Hate That…” was a nostalgic delight to all 2nd gen stans while providing both KEY and Taeyeon with duet partners that could hold up both vocally and when it comes to emotional expressiveness. KEY's full English song “Helium” was one of the best English language kpop tracks this year. Meanwhile, “Yellow Tape” and “Saturday Night” are in their own right very different dance songs. The album closes with the quieter and more emotionally inward “Eighteen (End Of My World).” It’s the only song off the album that’s not been promoted with stages or a music video and hence might have gone under the radar for more people. That’s sad considering KEY's great vocals and vulnerability in the song. KEY has talked about how he had to fight people at his label to make his full vision for Bad Love come to fruition and I can only say that I could not be happier that he stood his ground and won, both for him and for us as listeners who got to experience Bad Love as he intended.

—sianiiCOLORS from Ars - YoungjaeOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

Telling a beautiful story of love and heartbreak, Youngjae of GOT7 released his first solo album in 2021. Showing the different colors of a relationship from start to finish, the album was diverse not only in its lyrical content but also its sound. Most people were fascinated by Youngjae who opted for a dance-pop sound for the title track "Vibin" instead of his signature ballad style. It is sweet and catchy and listeners can still appreciate the power of Youngjae's vocals. B-side tracks "Tasty" and "Roses" infuse the album with a nice surprise. "Tasty" shows off a more groovy style paired with Youngjae's flawless falsetto. "Roses" bring in the synth-R&B sound amplifying the track's sensuality found in its lyrics. Towards the end of the album, we enter a familiar territory with the piano ballad "Eternal" and R&B ballad "Moonlight." The emotions are beautifully conveyed by Youngjae's powerful delivery. Switching between softer tones and high notes, the singer takes his listeners on a heartwarming journey with his first album.

—ssaa10decCRAZY IN LOVE - ITZYOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation
CRAZY IN LOVE was the perfect first full-length album for ITZY; from the true to form 'we don’t care what you think' "SWIPE," to the soft and sentimental "Mirror," this album had it all. Throughout the album, each member was able to showcase their talents, whether it be in ways that MIDZY could expect, or even some incredibly impressive new ways like Yuna’s viral rap verse on "#Twenty," Via the undoubtedly catchy title track "LOCO," a song about the rush of going crazy over someone, ITZY proved that their thematic control reaches further than their trademark "I love myself / not shy" personas. With an exemplary first studio album like this, I can only imagine which new heights will be reached by ITZY in 2022.

—LukeNolastnameDimmension : Dilemma - ENHYPENOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

The album that made my back arch differently. With no shame, Dimension : Dilemma is a world in itself, showcasing an array of eight tracks characterized by ENHYPEN's unassailable boldness and susceptibility. You’ll easily catch their distinctiveness plunged on each and every song in the tracklist. The whole album itself is a slap in the face as they once again raised the bar high with their evident versatility and powerhouse vocals. Ever since the album was announced, I’ve been anticipating they would bring diversity and variety to the tracks. Ranging from a balmy-languid mood to a more jaunty-spirited vibe, this album never disappoints. That’s as much a testament to my own perspective for the album’s overall excellence.

—Deign_Paul_ArchieEpik High Is Here 上, Pt. 1 - Epik HighOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

Epik High continues to have its foot on the pulse of the human condition in Epik High Is Here 上 (Part 1). The legendary trio has stayed true to their sound and somehow remains on-trend even in this 10th full-length album. For almost 30 minutes, the lyricism and raw emotion had me in a chokehold the whole time. While I thought I would find myself coming back to listen to the Latin-inspired, confidence-boosting song that is “Rosario” I kept hitting repeat on the thought-provoking “Lesson Zero” and meditating on the idea of going back to “Zero.” Another one of the heavy rotations was the song that brought B.I. out of his year-long hiatus “Acceptance Speech.” Other tracks on the album like “True Crime” and “End of the World” are songs that if I would keep to myself I could but they are just too good not to share. The final song of the album “Wish You Were," is a lo-fi track that leaves the listener with this haunting feeling that you can’t shake. I only hope the sense of closure needed at the end of “Wish You Were” is going to be given to us in Epik High Is Here 下 (Part. 2). Until then, if you see me listening to “Acceptance Speech,” for the 100th time this week, mind your business.

—NabitaEsprit - JiwooOriginal Album

Making a comeback after a year with an EP that made an impression that left everybody asking "What's your interpretation of this album?" Jiwoo, also known as Hayake, recognized as an artist as well as a producer, surely knows how to make your jaw drop. Through the five songs in this EP, you can feel that there's hope for us to get through all of our hardships. It is poetically strengthening and mind-soothing. Additionally, the music video of "Lustre" showcases the details of the lyrics visually and artistically.

—sa44Formula of Love: O+T=˂3 - TWICEOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

Formula of Love: O+T=˂3 is all and more that I could have expected from "TWICE's third full length album". As they are growing internationally, the 17-track project has a diverse set of songs that showcases the group's abilities and range. After their first English hit "The Feels" in October, the album contains three more tracks in English: "MOONLIGHT," "ICON" and "CANDY." These four songs are also musically different from one another, appealing to a wide international audience who may not be familiar with K-Pop. This album also contains TWICE's first unit songs, which allowed each member to try something new on their track– "PUSH & PULL" was a fun song for Jihyo, Sana and Dahyun; "1, 3, 2" allowed Jeongyeon, Mina and Tzuyu to show off their vocal prowess, while "HELLO" was unexpectedly perfect for Nayeon, Momo and Chaeyoung, who have found a new specialty in hip-hop. The biggest surprise off of the album was the rock ballad "선인장 (CACTUS)," which Jihyo not only wrote but composed. It is a rock ballad that has powerful vocals and instrumentation, which only leaves me wanting to know what other new experimental tracks TWICE might be keeping away from the public. This album was a perfect demonstration of TWICE's expanding musical genius, and soon enough everyone will fall under their formula of love: ONCE + TWICE = ♡

—PlanNineFragile - eAeonOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

eAeon, the Korean singer-songwriter, also known for being the leader of indie band Mot (못) and one-half of Night Off (나이트오프), returned after nine years with his solo album, Fragile. The release is a very interestingly working mixture of synth-pop and lo-fi, with very honest, vulnerable lyrics, and 'love' as a metaphor to talk about fragility throughout the whole album. One of the most interesting songs on the album is "왜일까 (I Wonder)," which creates the vibe that could easily be the soundtrack to the film, probably some dark drama or a spy movie. "어쩌면 (Maybe)," one of the singles released prior to the album, will make you think about changes, and the impact other people make in our lives. For this album, eAeon also collaborated with a R&B singer Jclef ("Null"), rapper Swervy ("Mad Tea Party"), and rapper-songwriter-composer RM ("그러지 마 (Don't)"). The latter is probably the most known off of the album (deservedly). "그러지 마 (Don't)," the story of the relationship gradually falling apart, is not their first collaboration, and once again together they created a very unique piece. Both artists share a similar musical sensitivity, and they hold great respect for each other, which translates into the results of their joint work. That being said, despite the rather gloomy subject of the lyrics, the whole album is oddly comforting and definitely worth listening to as we all have the fragility to embrace.

—siannveHAPPEN - HEIZEOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

One of the best voices of South Korea has returned this year with her 7th mini album, HAPPEN. It's also the first one since she switched labels to PSY's P Nation. The R&B singer and rapper wrote seven out of eight tracks, she also revealed that she was struggling with the lyricism for a long time while working on it, but was able to overcome it with the support of her team. The whole album is very gentle and melodious, and definitely one of her best. It also features singer-songwriter Ahn Ye Eun, ballad singer Kim Feel, and rappers CHANGMO and Gary. The most impactful song from the album is the title track, "헤픈 우연 (HAPPEN)," where over a funky clean melody, Heize sings about the small moments that fate can bring and the probability of coincidence, repeated by the music video that starts with "I don’t know if chance encounters are truly by chance. I'm meeting you for the first time, but I don't know if it’s truly our first." From the b-sides off the album, "감기 (Flu)" produced and co-written by Epik High's Tablo and multi-Grammy-nominated Mighty Mike undoubtedly stands out the most. CHANGMO's gritty rap matches Heize's smooth rap and softly-sang chorus very well, making this bitter-sweet song so good.
—siannveHide & Seek - PURPLE KISSOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

After debuting in the spring with “Ponzona”, PURPLE KISS showed with their first comeback “Hide & Seek” in September how much you can grow in barely half a year. The seven-member girl group, chosen to uphold MAMAMOO’s legacy of outstanding and charismatic vocals, impress with their talent and versatility on the record. The title track “Zombie” is electrifying in its catchiness, delivering on vocals and rap as well as on visuals, a fun music video and choreography. In a year with a lot of brilliant girl group songs, PURPLE KISS still managed to stand out with their very own charm. Talking B-sides, they oscillate effortlessly between moods and genres, going from “Twinkle” with its sweet message and tropical house influences, to “ZzzZzz’s” soft indie loneliness. Especially of note is the level of participation the members had in this album. All seven have writing credits for “2am”, a song dedicated to their fans. While all contributed, rapper Yuki stands out, having credits on all of the six songs. With little more than a dozen songs under the group’s belt, you can already tell her finesse and skill as a rapper will only grow from here. While “Zombie'' was the right pick for the title track, my personal favorite is “So whY”. Combining a funky beat with a perfectly executed anti-drop, “So whY” makes me especially excited to see what more we can expect from these monster rookies in 2022, who’ve already established themselves as more than capable singers, rappers, dancers, writers and composers less than a year into their career.

—sianiiHot Sauce - NCT DREAMOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

'Hot Sauce' is a cohesive yet diverse album. The title track encapsulates this very well with the Spanish vocal sample (+the distorted version used in verses) as well as the rapid pace and the chanting on the second refrain. It kind of (albeit very subtly) reminded me of Hitchhiker-produced tracks like 127's "MAD DOG." It's followed by "Diggity," which combines hard, punchy, and experimental elements with DREAM's cute aesthetic - making it a fan favorite among many. "Dive Into You" is one of my two personal preferred songs out of all the B-sides. The strong bassline brings power to the rap verses and drops off for harmonic, melody-driven pre-chorus, only to come back bigger immediately after. The soft slowdown at the end perfectly leads into "My Youth." "Rocket" gives me the vibe that I'm literally blasting off to space and, at some points, feels like I'm riding a Ferris wheel or doing something of the sort at an amusement park. My second preferred song out of the tracklist is "Countdown (3, 2, 1)." The best part is the final verse that comes back unexpectedly after the chorus to bring back the track's punchy energy. It definitely did a good job of giving the impression that something big was about to happen. "ANL" makes me feel like it's just rained and the sun is coming back out from the clouds (and also brings me a strange sense of nostalgia). "Irreplaceable," tells the story of an energizing love with a forever lover - and you don't even need to understand a word to know that. And, finally, "Be There For You" and "Rainbow" are heartfelt ballads that sound like they could fit right into an OST. Overall, there wasn't a miss on NCT DREAM's latest fully-new release and I'll happily listen to the whole thing over again many times. It was even followed by the 'Hello Future' repackage.

—ckrIITE COOL - DPR LIVEOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

IITE COOL is a feel-good EP by DPR LIVE. He begins with "Venus," which is about a one-of-a-kind girl who has strong beliefs and doesn't follow the stereotypical relationship roles, which DPR LIVE is into. Track 2 is a collab with Beenzino & HWASA called "Hula Hoops," definitely the track that starts the party. DPR LIVE's parts seem like a continuation to "Venus" since he also speaks about a cool and edgy girl who doesn't care about what anyone thinks of her. In my first listen, I was in awe of HWASA's angelic voice. The third track, "Summer Thighs," is one of my favorites. It's a summer song about a new encounter with a girl of his type and he wonders if he's hers too. She kisses him and it seems so, making it a perfect transition to my favorite track, "Boom," featuring DPR IAN. It's an extremely sexy song but the girl turns out to be really selfish and only wanted sex. For the first time in the EP, we hear the vulnerability in the most stunning and unexpected interlude ever. The original vibes are long gone, replaced by angsty melodies and insecure lyrics where Dabin endlessly asks who's the other guy she's been seeing, just wanting to know why. Next, we have the first track I ever heard from DPR LIVE, "Taxi Cab." The upbeat rock song focuses on who DPR LIVE is as an artist, how he's perceived, and his opinion about Korea's music culture. Not holding back with the last track "Awesome," DPR LIVE shows his confidence about his place in the K-hip-hop industry and his views about the world. IITE COOL is a great EP to listen to in the summer, full of awesome vibes and brilliant artistry behind each song.

—EleventhCassette인생은 나쁜X (Life is a Bi...) - BIBIOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

BIBI, currently one of the most interesting Korean rising artist, released her sophomore EP, Life is a Bi…. On her five-track album, she explores the topic of the toxic relationship we all have with life. It can be unpleasant and harsh, whether we are ready for it or not. "Life is an endless loop of happiness, sadness, difficult times and more. When life hits you hard, sometimes you just want to blame everything on someone else," BIBI said about the reason behind the album. But she also shows the different perspective for it, on the title track she sings "I've been six feet under, But I've been nine feet upward, bitch." On all the tracks, despite the darker topic, we can hear upbeat trap beats and her subtle humorous approach in the well-thought-out lyrics she penned, where she gives hints how to enjoy whatever life gives us. They're rhythmically very satisfying, and she also uses wordplay easily ("BAD SAD AND MAD"!). All of that makes this album so outstanding and interesting. And probably it could not have been released in that form if BIBI was signed under a big label instead of an independent Feel Ghood Music she has chosen, that clearly allows her for creative freedom.

—siannveLilac - IUOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

Acting as a bridge between her 20s and 30s, LILAC is a cathartic album by the Korean singer-songwriter, IU. Running with her theme of age-related projects, the singer brings comfort to her fans on this album. Containing extremely relatable lyrics, at least relatable to me and most people I know, LILAC had a track for every moment. Sonically, the album is a perfect modern pop album, from 2000s R&B to 80s disco-pop to soaring orchestral ballads, IU shares every aspect of herself that we have grown to love. While the lead single is an explosion of springtime excitement like the blossoming of lilacs, I think the album’s real gems lie in the B-side tracks like “Troll” featuring R&B artist DEAN (side note I need new music from DEAN), the bubblegum-pop, “어푸 (Ah puh),” “Coin,” "아이와 나의 바다 (My sea)" and “Flu.” One thing I love about IU's albums is the incredible songwriting collaborations. It shows that she can fit into any style possible, LILAC's credits contain several prominent Korean songwriters including Lee Chan Hyuk, PENOMECO, JUNNY, Sumin, and hitmaker Ryan S. Jhun. IU amplifies her relatable personality through her music and lyrics and LILAC is the perfect example of it.

—ssaa10decMINISERIES - SUMIN & slomOriginal Album | Romanization

When these geniuses collaborated on an album, I had no words to explain what I felt. MINISERIES is one of the albums that I've been waiting for the most ever since they hinted at collaboration through their Instagram stories and posts around the end of July. Knowing how distinct SUMIN's sounds are, this collaboration made me curious about what the final results would be. This album basically shows how great their chemistry and musicality are, and shows how much variation in sounds there can be in an album. It's not easy to put different genres in an album, especially a full-length album. But from the first track "MIRAGE" all the way to "CHEERS," there are surely no skips, and you can groove to each one of the songs. Thirty-one minutes of SUMIN and Slom is not enough.

—sa44MO' COMPLETE - AB6IXOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation
MO' COMPLETE is more than complete with everything that makes an album a masterpiece, and I wish more people would give it a listen. After a few listens to the album in full, I was hooked. It's a whole adventure, with genre blends that keep you interested as you move from track to track. One thing I've learned about AB6IX is that they take their music in directions that are so unique to them, no matter what the trend is at the time. This album has electropop, Latin-influenced, and mellow tracks, alongside songs that make me feel like flying and others that make me want to dance. I remember I was first obsessed with "DOWN FOR YOU," the Daehwi-composed track that mixes Latin instruments with sultry vocals about love. But since then, I've been attached to the mellow "그해 여름 (DO YOU REMEMBER)," a track reminiscing on a summer full of memories, also showcasing each member's strengths—from Woojin's captivating rap and Woong's powerful notes to Donghyun and Daehwi's emotional falsetto. The cherry on top is the sweet title track; Composed by Daehwi, "CHERRY" is the perfect song to match the album's color palette and concept. Overall, MO' COMPLETE showcases AB6IX's growth as artists and is a record that is definitely worth re-listening to.

—PlanNineMoodswings in This Order - DPR IANOriginal Album | Korean Translation

South Korean-Australian singersongwriter DPR IAN makes his debut with Moodswings In This Order. He opens the album with the atmospheric intro track "MITO." IAN's voice is distorted throughout most of the song, representing his character MITO as he is born. Only the last line, 'Like yesterday' is clean, as if we were about to see the past from this point on. IAN says MITO represents who he used to be growing up. The next track is "So Beautiful." With an orchestral touch and transition, the song starts off with the sound of soothing violins, followed by a catchy whistle melody. The vocals remind you of John Legend's old songs like "P.D.A. (We Just Don't Care)." My favorite line off "So Beautiful" is 'I love it when the skies can't sleep.' In the next track, "Dope Lovers," IAN shows off his dynamic use of head voice (higher pitch) and chest voice (lower pitch). Another highlight for me is in the second verse when he uses "'Cause I think..." as an anaphora for another two lines. It sounds very simple, but I don't think it's that common. Also, the bridge builds up perfectly, having desperate vocals in the background to conclude the concept of the song. Up next, we have IAN's collaboration with DPR LIVE and CL from 2NE1, "No Blueberries." It's a very catchy song about anxiety and just like "Dope Lovers," he uses other interesting dynamics, like the spoken lines in between vocals (I borrowed this technique for one of my songs because it's just so cool) and also I love the gun sound effect in DPR LIVE's rap, I keep making the motion when it comes up. CL really complimented IAN in the chorus and I feel like having his backing vocals makes more emphasis on the feeling of anxiety—those voices in our heads telling us we should flee from danger. This makes a perfect transition into the next track, "Nerves." IAN purposely uses repetition as a method to express his doubts, as if you were retyping a text multiples times and you end up writing anything but what you meant. The song is about losing someone because you weren't able to say what you really felt. "Nerves" is a really raw song and I think that's clear in the outro, when IAN apologizes and ends up telling his feelings through this song instead. Following the theme, "Scaredy Cat" is a fun song about being afraid of everything. I'm particularly fond of the line, 'There are clouds in disguise and I'm always terrified, they might just rain on me.' Besides the line being genius, his falsetto sounds beautiful. The next track brings back the orchestral elements from the beginning, according to IAN, "Welcome To The Show" was the hardest song to make just because he could only write it when he was feeling down. He expresses his fear of what's to come next after he has opened up through his songs. Finally, to close the album, IAN brings "No Silhouette." He goes back to the guitar melody in the opener "MITO," but instead of making his way down sonically, he goes up. In the lyrics, IAN confessed that he has lost MITO—his younger, immature self. At the end, Moodswings In This Order becomes an album about growth, learning how to open up, how to love and come to terms with past experiences. This is why, to me, MITO is the album of the year.

—EleventhCassetteNOEASY - Stray KidsOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

Stray Kids has never been one to take criticism lying down. NOEASY is a great example of that, the pioneers of the “mala” genre have done it once again by poking fun at their critics to make their “noisiest” album yet. From the boisterous “Thunderous,” where Felix declares that they “don’t play by the rules,” to “CHEESE” where they challenge the critics by asking “What’s so funny about an A-Class vibe?” The entire album featured 14 songs of pure Stray Kids vibes. 3 of those 14 songs were created by members units where they got to showcase new sides of themselves. While I enjoyed every single song on this album, my year-end streaming service reviews have all called me out for the number of times I listened to “Red Lights.” This album also brought the best gifts any STAY could ask for, the return to Stray Kids to the stage as 8 and the most wins any Stray Kids title track has ever received. Stray Kids continues to set the bar incredibly high for fourth-generation K-Pop artists and I cannot wait to see what they do next.

—NabitaOnly Lovers Left - WOODZOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

WOODZ or Cho Seung Yeon delivered one of the best mini-albums of 2021 with Only Lovers Left. Co-written by the singer himself, each track on the album depicts a different aspect of a relationship. Each of the six tracks is a 10 out of 10 as they beautifully blend different genres and styles making a cohesive record. Opening with "Multiply," the track is one of the three all-English songs on the album. The lo-fi song is paired with an acoustic guitar which opens the album on a brighter tone. With a punchy hook, "Thinkin About You" continues the vibrancy of the album dabbling with pop and EDM melodies. WOODZ's beautiful falsetto can be heard on the track make it extremely memorable. "Sour Candy" is WOODZ's opportunity to showcase his multi-faceted artistry. The cheeky 70s-inspired song is THE hidden gem of Korean music in 2021. A fun listen through and through "Sour Candy" is playful not only in its lyrics but also with sonic production. "Kiss Of Fire" is the Weeknd-inspired song with a blend of synth-R&B, pop, and a trendy bassline, completing the sensual vibe of the track. WOODZ's vocal delivery takes center stage in the song's bridge. "Chaser" is an explosive track that makes you want to run wild through the rain. The emo-rock-influenced song mixes the style of Led Zepplin with the vocal performance of Michael Jackson. The album closes with its lead single which is an interesting choice in itself. "Waiting" is the darkest song not only in terms of its lyrics but also the visuals that accompanied it. The singer is seen in emotional turmoil painting a very vivid picture of toxicity in relationships and the effect it has on an individual. With Only Lovers Left, WOODZ has outdone himself, expressing his emotions through his songwriting, composing, and performance. The album shows that WOODZ has the power and capability to stand as a versatile soloist on the global stage.

—ssaa10decQuerencia - CHUNG HAOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

This being CHUNG HA's first studio album, it was expected to exceed expectations! And oh, it did! The album explored a long list of genres thanks to the album's separation into four "sides" (NOBLE, SAVAGE, UNKNOWN and PLEASURES). Each side gives off different vibes and rhythms, taking the audience on a rollercoaster of emotions! As for the concept, Querencia (an abstract concept in Spanish) is referring to a place where one can be one’s true self/or to desire. The album truly does justice to the concept of where you can be your true self with the wide range of meaning added into the tracks, making it an album that suits every mood. For some instances, the difficulties of a relationship, how "it's okay not to be fine," to show empowerment and confidence, to pick yourself up and come back stronger than those who have betrayed you. At first, I was skeptical of the 21 tracks but I was just blown away! Of course, never doubt Chungha! With hardly any tracks to skip, the album contains everything that fans have come to love about the soloist. I would say my favorite track of the album would be "Demente ft. Guaynaa" (including the Spanish Version). The melody and lyrics are just awesome! It is an album to remember and revisit no matter how you are feeling because it has something for everyone!

—HobschiskeSavage - aespaOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

If cyberpunk, Y2K, and the dystopian concept were all mixed, we'd get Savage. The long-awaited debut mini-album of monster rookie girl group aespa is nothing short of memorable and brilliant, with its musical cohesion taking us on a six-track journey that is nutritious in its distinct sounds. Starting with the anthem-like "ænergy," the track serves as an introduction to the album and aespa's concept. The lead single "Savage" was a foreseen success due to its addicting rap making and colorful vocals, similar to the enticing "I'll Make You Cry," which brings us a 2000-style pop track, reminiscent of the music of female ensembles such as The Pussycat Dolls. Heading onto a cheerful atmosphere, "YEPPI YEPPI" is easy to listen to and would be able to put anybody in a good mood. "ICONIC" is empowering through sweet vocals, and its drooping confidence conveyed in the chorus allows the listener to feel better about themselves. Savage's final song, "자각몽 (Lucid Dream)," is a surreal R&B track that closes off the album on a lighter yet still alluring note. Overall, Savage is a linkage of parallel songs that can all shine on their own due to each track's originality and concept, and the more you listen to the album, it'll be inevitable to become addicted to it.

—loveholicSTAYDOM - STAYCOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

After the powerful entrance STAYC made to the K-Pop genre in late 2020, making them my favorite girl group debut of the year, the group's much-anticipated first mini-album STAYDOM was released in April of 2021. Consisting of four songs, this delivery emphasizes the group's intention of making an impact and gaining their own place in the industry. With unmatched vocals and fun choreography, the lead single "ASAP" is an infectious and bubbly refreshing song that positively assures the group's duality, compared to debut song "SO BAD." Although based on my taste, their B-side tracks are what shines the most. The confidence-inducing track with a catchy and melodic tune "SO WHAT" encourages the listener to be their own self, regardless of other people's opinions. My preferred track, "사랑은 원래 이렇게 아픈 건가요 (LOVE FOOL)" is an easy-to-listen and sweet slow-paced mixture of the members' diverse vocal colors and meaningful lyrics. Both songs reach their peak during the bridge, both unique yet addicting in the same kind of way. Ending with a remix of "SO BAD," TAK lends his artistic abilities that make for a song perfect for performances. To say I am excited about STAYC's future releases is very little compared to the relentless anticipation I have as I look forward to the undeniable success that STAYC will face as they dive more into their talent.

—loveholicSticker - NCT 127Original Album | Romanization | English Translation

While most of the world was shocked at the collection of songs that formed Sticker, it came as no surprise to the fans of the group. NCT 127 has always been experimental and their style and sound has defined many trends in the new generation of K-Pop. Sticker is a perfect example of their envelope-pushing style. From hidden gems like "내일의 나에게  (The Rainy Night)" and "다시 만나는 날  (Promise You)" to club bangers like "Bring The Noize" and "Far," the album takes its listeners on a sonic adventure playing with our senses. While the title track threw its listeners off in the deep-end, tracks like "Focus", "Lemonade" and "Breakfast" ensures that the album sounded cohesive. NCT 127 pairs its vocalists with its rappers appropriately on the album giving each member to shine and do what they do best. With sleek choreography, interesting and vibrant visuals, NCT 127 took a major risk with Sticker which came to beautiful fruition. With its repackage, accompanying concert tour, and commercial success, I believe NCT 127 has finally established themselves as senior artists in the industry and a force to be reckoned with. With an eclectic list of songwriters and producers, Sticker is an incredible blend of pop, hip-hop, R&B, and ballad, with no song fitting into one category perfectly.

—ssaa10decThe Chaos Chapter: FREEZE - TOMORROW X TOGETHEROriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

Leaders of the fourth generation of K-Pop gave us their third full-length album—The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE. The album is very strong in terms of the music, and at the same time, the group freely tries different musical styles, which gives a very natural, pleasant-to-the-ear effect. The subject of the songs still oscillates around the highs and lows of their boy lives on the verge of being teens and young adults. It is also significant that all the members were actively involved in the creation of the album, which makes it even more personal—they all wrote the lyrics, and HUENINGKAI co-produced one of the songs, ("Dear Sputnik.") The main point of the album is the title track, an emo-rock song "0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You)" featuring South Korean R&B singer, Seori. The song is followed by the band's first English song, an upbeat, funky "Magic," which emphasizes perfectly the dancing abilities of the group during performances. When talking about the best songs from the album, it is impossible not to mention "Anti-Romantic," the soft synth-pop ballad that works as the album opener, shows youth's intense feelings of falling in and out of love. The album turned out to be a hit not only in Korea, but also in Japan, scoring for TXT their fourth consecutive number-one album. Moreover, it debuted at No. 5 on Billboard 200 albums chart (a weekly ranking of the most popular albums in the United States) making TXT the third K-Pop group in history to chart multiple albums on it in the same year.

—siannveWANTED - CNBLUEOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

Five tracks without a single skip, WANTED actually turned out to be one of my favorite albums of the year, going to show that you can really find some hidden gems in Korean music if you know where to look. With killer vocals and instrumental, from the uptempo "Love Cut," and "99%," mellowing out in the middle through to the slower and more moving "Time Capsule," this album was short, sweet, and had everything it needed for the group's only comeback of the year. If you haven’t heard of CNBLUE before, this album could definitely be the one that makes you wish you had. I’m sure that, moving on to their 12th year in the industry, there is a lot of good music on the horizon for CNBLUE and their fans.

—LukeNolastnameWATERFALL - B.IOriginal Album | Romanization | English Translation

I will admit, I am a fairly new fan of Hanbin. I always knew of him as a songwriter, but I never paid attention to his lyrics on a deeper level. Hanbin’s ability to share a heartbreaking and depressing story through his lyrics but still make the track sound like a summer bop is perfectly on display on WATERFALL. Hanbin also known as B.I professionally expertly hides his pain in the album’s lyrics. Some of the highlights on the album include previously mentioned rock ballad, “Numb,” “Then,” “Illusion,” "Help Me" and “Daydream” which also features longtime friend, Lee Hi. Storytelling takes center stage on the album, considering the public scrutiny the artist has faced in the past. Being his first full-length album, WATERFALL becomes an outlet for Hanbin to share his truth. While the production is simple and minimalistic, B.I still incorporates rock, hip-hop, funk, pop, jazz, and ballad sounds in the album. One of my favorite things is when a rapper sings and sounds phenomenal and we hear it once again on the album. The album contains some of B.I’s best vocal deliveries and amidst the heartbreak and darkness, Hanbin manages to find hope and light on WATERFALL which is what makes this album one of the best of the year.

—ssaa10dec