Thematically Arranged Wrap-up
A deceptively copious number of entries this year are drawn with nitpicky specificity from a categorically broad pool. Could be the industry is maturing a little, or a little too young, or I'm struck with fatigue and high expectations, or there was too much drama interfering with quality, or all of the above - but some of the glamour has begotten besmirched a bit. In any case, I have been foraging further to cover ground for an essentially unsatisfying year in Kpop. Below I make sense of the highs (there were some) and the void.
A deceptively copious number of entries this year are drawn with nitpicky specificity from a categorically broad pool. Could be the industry is maturing a little, or a little too young, or I'm struck with fatigue and high expectations, or there was too much drama interfering with quality, or all of the above - but some of the glamour has begotten besmirched a bit. In any case, I have been foraging further to cover ground for an essentially unsatisfying year in Kpop. Below I make sense of the highs (there were some) and the void.
RRROCK REVELATIONS
Life and Time - The Great Deep, "Deep"
I play this EP in entirety a lot. A lot. The quirky vocalist, the hip but not overly kitschy production (so many tracks smothered by reverb!), the math rocky, Zazen Boys surf punk vibe deserving of standalone post. Fortunately, Korean Indie has a great writeup, so I don't have to.
See also: single "Tiger".
Royal Pirates - "Fly to You"
Unfulfilled 2nd EP but deliriously good first, with this song rising to the top over the course of the year.
CNBLUE - "Can't Stop"
And the album. And the Japan releases too. And...
YG DOMINATION
Melancholy songwriting defines compelling identities for new acts at YG of late.
TaeYang - "Eyes, Nose, Lips"
Winner - "Empty"
YG TOTAL DOMINATION... and SM
Akdong - 200%
These two just being themselves - BFF conversational, candid and comforting, composed and well executed - is more than enough personality needed. How cute are they?
See Also: "Melted"
2NE1 (CL) - "MTBD"
"So Men-boong"
Late in the year, this song and GD/Taeyang's "Good Boy" actually sound a little dated, but the incipient power of CL solo is not to be denied or forgotten.
"So Men-boong"
Late in the year, this song and GD/Taeyang's "Good Boy" actually sound a little dated, but the incipient power of CL solo is not to be denied or forgotten.
f(x) - Red Light
SM's star was obscured by YG's total domination this year and the company's own chain lightning PR implosions. The finest offering was the sophisticated and thoughtfully modulated Red Light (to which derivative Red Velvet held no candle), and the most competently disappointing was Mr. Mr. (both albums truly victims of their own successes.) The rest of SM fell back on overly slick, often jazz, arrangements - TTS, DBSK, and SJ sounding mostly aged, brassy, or both. That exasperating "Be Natural" S.E.S. cover had nothing natural about it.
GET YOUR BUTT OFF THE FLOOR
Block B - "H.E.R."
Gospel testifying, frenetic soul claps, jump blues riffs over funky drum n' bass. Amen, Andre 3000, and drop cheeky "uh oh" all over that.
Afterschool - "Shh"
Technical marvel of convincing classic house grubbiness and warm blooming harmonics into a shimmering confluence of dance and pop.
15& - "Sugar"
HIP HOP INSURRECTIONS
Woo Tae-woon (of Speed) - "Focus"
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Olltii (featuring ZICO) - 그XX (SMTM remix)
Awe inspiring diss track from "underground" artist and unfortunate YG cannon fodder (though his show producers really did do right by him). See also: "OLL' Ready" ..."I'm all ready, all ready... War ready, war ready..."
Riding the hype of Show Me the Money, a tailor-made YG posse cut - one superbly crafted piece of fan service.
Jay Park - "Metronome"
SO NOW, WHERE THE BOYS AT?
THE MEAT OF THE MATTER
Despite an overwhelming number of new groups, solos and subunits, Kpop proper slowed to a series of serviceable retreads, tweaks and refinements in the pop department. Out of which floated the cream, the butter, the #1 boy group song-of-the-year...
THE MEAT OF THE MATTER
Despite an overwhelming number of new groups, solos and subunits, Kpop proper slowed to a series of serviceable retreads, tweaks and refinements in the pop department. Out of which floated the cream, the butter, the #1 boy group song-of-the-year...
Infinite - "Back"
Korean melodic sensibilities, tuneful, soaring balladry, dense production of piano, synths, rhythms, barely holding together while being being ripped through with a giant saw, shearing, mad, maudlin hearthrob execution - in otherwords, Infinite at their best. See Also: "Dilemma"
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
RETREADS, TWEAKS AND REFINEMENTS
RETREADS, TWEAKS AND REFINEMENTS
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Swoonier, breezier rendition of the typical coffee shop rap serenade - a lighter shade of beige swirled with latte pop caramel drizzle. Utterly, unexpectedly, out of character for BTS.
If in need of a mild dose, very short term, pop fix (minus Seo Taiji, or slitted and sequined tacky lady songs, of which there are plenty, but I cannot abide them and list none therefore), see also:
Kara - "Mamma Mia", if one must do a disco cruise ship summer song, kill it with solid verses and pretty song writingHONORABLE MENTION:
Girl's Day - "Darling", if one must have a flirty hot pant summer song, distill the sweetness simply and simply
Lee Hi, Soo Hyun - "I'm Different", best duet out of the many this year
BTS - "Hormone War", fun MV but also fortunately/unfortunately more in character
Vixx - serviceable sci-fi "Error" and/or "Eternity"Exo - growly overkill with "Overdose"
Got7 - "A", pairing a charming mood yet distractedly unstable vocals
GROWING PAINS
no clear front runner, but...
no clear front runner, but...
Teen Top - "I'm Sorry"
A recognizable, safe transition to manhood that involves slowing down the funk that was "To You". See also: "Missing" and the rest of the album, Exito, aka Teen Top 20's Love Two Exito for a mouthful.
Taemin - "Ace"
Glossy and precise, Ace makes regrettably few strides towards defining Taemin's musical persona the way Rise does for Taeyang, and as a whole, this album just makes me homesick for Shinee. But as far as one night stand mood music goes, the title track is oiled up, apropos, with enough touches of pretty to make a gal feel special. So, go on, feel like a pervert watching your boy do his thing.
B2st - "Good Luck"
A recognizable, safe transition to manhood that involves slowing down the funk that was "To You". See also: "Missing" and the rest of the album, Exito, aka Teen Top 20's Love Two Exito for a mouthful.
Taemin - "Ace"
Glossy and precise, Ace makes regrettably few strides towards defining Taemin's musical persona the way Rise does for Taeyang, and as a whole, this album just makes me homesick for Shinee. But as far as one night stand mood music goes, the title track is oiled up, apropos, with enough touches of pretty to make a gal feel special. So, go on, feel like a pervert watching your boy do his thing.
B2st - "Good Luck"
B2st'sTime, felt overly ambitious and wordy, but the first EP of the year had a few memorable singles. Technique-wise everyone just keeps getting better, but their coming of age narrative has not been the most compelling compared to their contemporaries.
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