MADDIE
Albums:
1. Fact Check - NCT 127 This is the perfect example of NCT 127’s signature groove. It’s the last hurrah before the eldest members break off for enlistment, and they’re giving us everything. We’ve got slick rap verses from Taeyong and Mark; we’ve got rich vocal deliveries from everyone else. My personal favourites are "Space" and "Yacht".
2. Melting Point - ZEROBASEONE ZB1 were great before, and now they’re spectacular. They’ve found their footing.
3. DARK BLOOD - ENHYPEN Having Bite Me and Bills together on one release already makes it OP.
4. THE WORLD EP.2 : OUTLAW - ATEEZ Includes a Cheongyang chilli pepper earworm, a continuation of an enigmatic storyline, and a dance that even those with two left feet can follow.
5. I feel - (G)I-DLE The usual girlbossery, shameless lyrics, and twerking on the runway.
Honourable mentions: Rover - KAI (EXO), HARD - SHINee, Drama - aespa
Songs:
1. "I AM" - IVE The biggest slay from K-Pop this year. You can’t get it out of your head, neither can your mum, your dog, or your neighbour. The girls reach high notes I can’t even materialise in my mind. The delivery is effortless, the performance is flawless elegance, and it’s the exact kind of glossy K-Pop we’ve come to love.
2. "BYOB (bring your own best friend)" - Billlie The only song this year to make you feel like you're a fairy soaring atop sunset-painted clouds with your fairy friends.
3. "Chasing That Feeling" - TOMORROW X TOGETHER I could eat those synths.
4. "I Am You" - P1Harmony Melty vocals and a romantic guitar. Feels like an ode to the past three decades of boyband music.
5. "Baddie" - CRAVITY. An addictive little tune. Reminds me of "I Like The Way" by Bodyrockers.
Honourable mentions: "Hear Me Out" - EXO, "Kidz Zone" - ZEROBASEONE, "Play Me" - SHOWNU X HYUNGWON (MONSTA X)
FRANCESCA
Albums:
1. Rover - KAI (EXO) Aside from the title track - which shares the same name as the album - that took the world by storm with its catchy tune, the TikTok dance challenge that every idol lined up to do with their idol, and KAI's winning first solo music show win, Rover was a project that showcased a myriad of genres that complimented each other, all in KAI's style. From the dancehall, afro-latin stylings of "Rover" to more afro-latin beats throughout the mini album, it shows how much he has grown as an artist since his solo debut. His track highlight video FILM: KAI #ROVER shows how much of a showman he is via the album’s overall concept, his dancing and his choreographies. I’m still waiting for his full dance performance to “Bomba” when he’s back from military service.
2. EXIST - EXO EXIST shows EXO's cohesiveness and consistency, the group’s vocal prowess and the rap-line’s intentional and technical verses: reminding everyone why they are one of the leaders of the 3rd Generation of Kpop.
3. UNFORGIVEN - LE SSERAFIM 2023 was a huge year for 4th Generation girl groups and amongst them stood LE SSERAFIM with one of the most powerful albums of the year. The progression of the tracklist plays well into the group’s concept and storyline.
4. I feel - (G)I-DLE An album that stands out amongst this year's releases. It’s really great to see (G)I-DLE continue to grow and experiment with different themes and sounds, and it’s exciting to see where they go next.
5. Get Up - NewJeans Though the album is only twelve minutes long, with each track averaging at about two minutes, the songs are catchy enough to stay as earworms, but never become annoying, even when played over and over.
Songs:
1. "Hear Me Out" - EXO The nostalgic vibe that EXO really exuded with this track was peak. Something about this track scratches an itch in your brain and makes you just relax. The way that this song sounds so simple but the vocals are on point: it just makes you appreciate EXO’s expertise and just knowing what they’re capable of. Side note: Suho’s pre-chorus line (yes, just that line) is one of the best parts of the song.
2. "Perfect Night" - LE SSERAFIM This song emulates the perfect night with a group of your girlfriends. What’s really not to love about this song? Not to mention, that they also released a holiday version: tis the season.
3. "Tinnitus (Wanna be a rock)" - TOMORROW X TOGETHER This track was the group's first venture into playing with Afropop and Afrobeat influences, and the result was a solid track.
4. "Cool With You" - NewJeans Out of all the songs on Get Up, this one actually left more of an impact on me than “Super Shy”. One of those songs that is easy to get into a groove with and just go.
5. "Rover" - KAI (EXO) The rework of Bulgarian Pop-Singer Dara’s “Mr. Rover”, including adding on afro-latin beats just for KAI, worked out so well. Nine months on, the song doesn’t feel overplayed yet at all.
Honourable mentions: "Eve, Psyche, & The BlueBeard’s Wife" - LE SSERAFIM, "INVITATION" - JUNNY, "CoolAs" - Key
AIMÉE
Albums:
1. Get Up - NewJeans How to even begin to sum up the memories that this album inspires with all its garage and club music influences? The moment it comes on I could cry, laugh, smile, reminisce, dance, resist the urge to saunter out of my dorm to get some cheesy chips from my favourite food cart after a long day of (almost, kind-of) essaying, just like I used to. To those unfamiliar with such genres, NewJeans' album felt like fresh air on a warm summer's day. As a long time lover of house, garage and drum & bass, this album was an utter gift and I still can't stop listening to it. If only it were longer.
2. The Name Chapter: TEMPTATION - TOMORROW X TOGETHER The best project the group have put out thus far. Diverse, yet cohesive. Just perfect.
3. The Billage of Perception: Chapter Three - Billlie After three great records, Billlie's fourth is their best yet, and is a beautifully crafted unskippable record for pop fans, made up of pop track after pop track with city and retro influences.
4. Unlock My World - fromis_9 Yet another career best on this list. Unlock My World has received much critical praise since its release and deservedly so with an entire album of wonderfully glossy pop.
5. In The Mood - Whee In (MAMAMOO) Whee In's first ever full length album is also her best record (there are many, many career bests across all of K-Pop this year), with song after song flowing into one another seamlessly. A calm R&B and pop record that only gets better listen upon listen.
Honourable mentions: Chill Kill - Red Velvet, Drama - aespa, SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN - SEVENTEEN
Songs:
1. "The Feeling" - SHINee Drum & bass has made waves in K-Pop this year and as a lover of the genre, I've been delighted. Few songs have perfected its use more than "The Feeling" by veteran 2nd Generation group SHINee. The very first time I heard the song, I gasped out loud the moment the beat kicked in during the first chorus, running free underneath joyful horns and ONEW's heartbreakingly emotive vocals. Their soaring voices, the yearning hope in the lyrics, those harmonies. One could cry; it's SHINee at their best, it's K-Pop at its best, it's everything.
2. "Bills" - ENHYPEN To be honest, this was the only song that threatened to dethrone number one. For all their abilities, ENHYPEN's vocals are rarely spoken of and in "Bills", the song's beautifully pared-back instrumental allows the group's vocals to shine.
3. "Fast Forward" - Jeon Somi South Korea's Barbie took us to the club with this banger, and between the song's message, the nostalgia in its 2010s dance-pop sound and that second verse... it's all fantastic.
4. "Cool With You" - NewJeans From all the songs on Get Up, this is (arguably) the most beautiful, and it (and its accompanying music video) transformed NewJeans from polished, bright-eyed newbies into ethereal artists.
5. "Like Crazy" - Jimin (BTS) As strange as it sounds, it still seems like the BTS member's solo debut has somehow (somehow?) gone under the radar in 2023, but this song ages like fine wine and to this day, the sadness and beauty captured by the song still lingers.
Honourable mentions: "Standing Next To You (feat. Usher)" - Jung Kook (BTS), "Eve, Psyche & The Bluebeard's Wife" - LE SSERAFIM, "BYOB (bring your own best friend)" - Billlie
SONAL
Albums:
1. SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN - SEVENTEEN After the success of FML, it would be hard for SEVENTEEN to top it with their next album, but the members came out with SEVENTEENTH HEAVEN. Like the concept, the album is a true festival and celebration of the group and CARATs with up-tempo songs, collaborations, and also the chance to cry at the vocal unit song. Although it was released in October, it brought back the summer vibes for the coldest time of the year.
2. THE PIECE OF9 - SF9 After almost a year without any music, SF9 came back with THE PIECE OF9, which is so unique and diverse, showcasing different styles and all the members’ strengths. SF9 always manages to keep an identity within an album, and the participation of the members helps it shine even more.
3. Pygmalion - ONEUS With everything that happened with ONEUS in 2022, Pygmalion was a new start for the members and showcased that they are still the brightest stars. With songs from different genres, it showcased ONEUS’s versatility as idols and why they don’t need to stick to one concept.
4. D-DAY - Agust D (BTS) BTS’s Suga came out with D-DAY and instantly hit back at critics wary of what Agust D could produce and, with “Haegeum” as the title track, he created stories within each song.
5. FML - SEVENTEEN SEVENTEEN started 2023 strong with FML, which was an album with many diverse songs and concepts from start to end. Whether it was a group or unit song, there was something for everyone, and each track showcased SEVENTEEN’s identity.
Songs:
1. "Baila Conmigo" - ONEUS ONEUS is a group that is known for never sticking to the same concept. While not everyone might like change, it fits the group perfectly. "Baila Conmigo" took Spanish inspiration and showcased how versatile the members are with the style of song they can sing. In particular, the lack of rapping in the song is a breath of fresh air amongst boy groups, and the strong choreography cemented ONEUS's title as "Performance Kings."
2. "Yawn" - SEVENTEEN SEVENTEEN's Woozi has always created masterpieces, but something about songs written entirely by him hit differently, and that's "Yawn." The lyrics are heartbreaking but truly allowed all the members of the vocal line to shine.
3. "Puzzle" - SF9 SF9 started the year strong with “Puzzle” and kept their titles as sexy idols alive with a song completely different from any boy group. Created by rapper Zuho, it proves that SF9 can have an equal line distribution to let all the members shine.
4. "I AM" – IVE One of the hottest songs of the year has to be “I AM” by IVE for good reason because it’s one of the catchiest tracks of the year, with classy lyrics, an upbeat tempo, and addictive choreography.
5. "Halley’s Comet" – ONEUS With so many boy groups doing fast and intense music, ONEUS’ “Halley’s Comet” was a breath of fresh air and truly showcased a new start for the members. Showcasing the members’ vocals, it’s an emotional but easy song to listen to.
