- SM All Kill
- Finally... Billboard's Kpop list of the year makes some sense. See Staff picks for Singles in particular. Shout out to superb selection of BTS b-side "134340". Their Album picks aren't too shabby either.
- Continuation... Sophisticated Dance Inflected Pop and Hip Hop
- Smokey, jazzy, doodly R&B Nostalgia
SM All-Kill
Boa - One Shot Two Shot
"perfect with you, with you, with you..."
A train pulls up into an empty station as harp-like synth arpeggios drip into a tunnel of echoes. Moody broken beats give way to house claps that quickly double time into a squelch of of coy elation and smoldering danger. Despite the throwback allure of "Nega Dola", "One Shot Two Shot" was the Boa song (and choreographed dance) that ended up haunting my memory this year.
RED VELVET - "Bad Boy"
Cool and swoony. An understated gem that I listened to over and over again.
NCT U - "Baby Don't Stop"
"Baby Don't Stop" cascades doubled ghost vocals into a veritable waterfall of airy sonic layers that are superimposed like a series of gel images over a bass that is both slappy and deep. The juxtaposition of two different aesthetics transforms this into a kismet of something both angelic and devilish. Details, Details, Details.
Super Junior (ft. Leslie Grace) - "Lo Siento"
"... momento"
Tri-lingual crossover "Lo Siento" makes excellent use of contrasts in vocal color, orchestrates a dramatic ebb and swell to the bass, and adds touches of melodic flair. What is going on?!
Taeyon - "Something New"
Beyonce in an elevator. Beefing with a hammer.
TVXQ! - "Love Line"
Known for chunky fantasias and overly wrought jazz hands, the surprisingly spare "Love Line" is cute without being infantilizing and is produced just enough to make the vocals ring pure.
Exo - Tempo
"Don't mess up my tempo, Don't mess up my tempo, Don't mess up my tempo, Don't mess up my.... ohhhh!"
Bold prog-pop with chunky, sticky, 90's drum production, wicked funky Daft Punk Homework era house riffs, dirty "Some Cut" squeaks, doo-wop vocals, plus over the top production work would have been good enough. But then.. tack on an epic bridge which builds from rap to a croon, then segues into a sultry 1/2 time mantra that could have ended right there. But then...flowering soul improvisation turns into the most surprising, angelic acapella sonic slay of acoustic contrapuntal harmonics that signals the rapture. By that point, you should pretty much be like, yeah, I DO believe.
BOY BAND STYLES
From classic sunny pop to R&B to digital moods and everything in between, 2018 had a lot of decent interpretations to choose from.
Ace - "Take Me Higher"
For straight up sunny pop, fall head over heels for Ace's floating-on-cloud-9 confessional confection and dreamy bridge.
Imfact - "Nanana"
A lovely, understated, and wistful take on trance with updated sound production and structure. The album is actually pretty good too.
Planetarium Records - "Hocus Pocus"
"Alohomora... Hakunamatata"
When the wonky production and thoroughly solid vocals kept me finding my way back to this R&B and street inflected song, perhaps splitting hairs about their category as idols vs group of collaborative solo artists is maybe beside the point. See Also: Superb and weird "Blah", as well as "Blind" on album Planetarium Case #1. Solos go from arresting in "Color" and "She's Got Everything", to downright stalkery in "Manitto", and are worth looking for. I wan't to hear more in 2019.
VAV - "Gorgeous"
Agreed.
DAY6 "Days Gone By"
Cute retro! Then, satisfy a different brand of retro with some serious J-rock on "Breaking Down".
Monsta X - "Destroyer"
I usually glaze over when hard hitting or angsty boy-power tracks start playing, the kind with gangster intro and outro on the MV, but Destroyer manages to be both moody and strong alongside beautiful composition and interesting key changes.
Pentagon - "Shine"
Like "Love Scenario", part of me thought I was too good (ahem...old) for this, but the bratty boy vibe, exuberant breakdown, and perfect use of contrasting vocals just stuck to me like "gum." There are other kids trying to fill this niche, but Pentagon does it the best.
GIRL GROUPS
K/DA - Pop/Stars
I dunno. I'm in to it.
This is rightly Jeon So-Yeon (the best girl out of that season's 101) representing (G)I-DLE (with a run of decent debut singles - foremost "Alone") and killing it.
A-Pink - "I'm So Sick"
Out of all the groups that I thought might get a second chance revival, I never imagined it would be A-Pink, but they seem to be full of surprises. See also 2019's "Eung Eung".
BEST COLLABO
(which Crush crushes.)
Sam Kim and Crush - Classic R&B with serious D'Angelo vibes in "Make Up"
Zico and Sam Kim - "It's You", Zico and IU - "SoulMate"
Zion.T - 'Uh Huh + Sleep Talk (feat. Oh Hyuk)' (THE FILM)
SOLO
j-hope - Daydream
Chung Ha - "Love U"
ALBUMS
EXO-CBX - Blooming Days
Understated, consistent, easy.
Got7 - Eyes On You
As this shuffled in and out of my autoplay, I found I kept heart-ing the various tracks. A pleasant and breezy listen. The clumsy vocals of Got7 is central to their charm, and the album is gratifyingly low key. "Look" has more immediate impact, but I like the slow burn, old fashioned "Hesitate" as well.
Paloalto - Summer Grooves
The single "Shelter" is a an interesting yet somewhat jarring addition to the otherwise laid back vibe and tight lyrical styling. Indeed, both summery and groovy.
XCIXXOR'S PICKS
HA:TFELT - "Pluhmm"
HONORABLE MENTIONS and UNCHARITABLE THOUGHTS
IKON's "Love Scenario" is super catchy if somewhat derivative, but somehow, the mangle of "sen-a-REE-yo" makes it ok?
NCT127's "Replay" is a solid rendition of last year's rubbery "Jelly" style beat. See Also: SF9 - "Now or Never"
Rainz' hyper-frenetic refrain subverts the otherwise overly familiar subject of teenage boy aggression in "Turn it Up"
Heize - Wind (album)
Heize's transition from mediocre Unpretty Rapstar competitor, to channeling Dean, to easy listening pop chanteuse has been quick and painless.While "Jenga" is pretty, the body of work shows for better or worse that Heize is sort of an empty vessel who has finally found a marketing strategy - upscale, mature, like Mika Nakashima but safer. This is not the worst thing that can happen to a pop star in Korea, but is certainly a little disappointing.
WORLD
Kacey Musgraves - Golden Hour (album)
I havn't listened to an album quite so thoroughly for awhile. Beautifully written and produced, glistening and replayable from top to bottom. It is impossible to choose a single song. I leave you with the title.
The Internet - Roll (Burbank Funk)
"Listen to your heart..."
So funky. Sooo Groovy.
I havn't listened to an album quite so thoroughly for awhile. Beautifully written and produced, glistening and replayable from top to bottom. It is impossible to choose a single song. I leave you with the title.
The Internet - Roll (Burbank Funk)
"Listen to your heart..."
So funky. Sooo Groovy.
See Also: The Internet - La Di Da
Da Pump - "USA"
An un-ironic, flabbergasting, completely heartbreaking intervention from one old friend to another - imploring you to remember better days and stop taking that smack and start getting your shit together because the world needs your certain brand of specialness and yes, we still believe in you and will support you through this bumpy road in your life. This absolutely made me wanna cry. MAGA.
Also, if you don't already know Da Pump, you definitely should have, because "Rhapsody In Blue" is the cream. Honestly, we were so floored at Da Pump's breakout comeback.
Also, if you don't already know Da Pump, you definitely should have, because "Rhapsody In Blue" is the cream. Honestly, we were so floored at Da Pump's breakout comeback.
Ciara - "Level Up"
Next level.
Janet Jackson - "Made For Now"
Kylie Minogue - "Dancing"
Vince Staples - "Fun"
John Mayer - "New Light"
Apparently, I have a soft spot for sad sack men singing about their sad, sad feelings... Drake with some Cosby moves over Casio bloops staring at his silent cell phone. Mayer in a pizza stained two week old pajama outfit acknowledging his loser status and begging for a first chance. These are obvious fictions, but playfully, painfully, self-aware.
ELECTRONICA/EDM/DANCE or whatever you want to call it
Jensen Interceptor & Assembler Code - "Drum Rack"
Wicked Bump
Moodymann - "Pitch Black City Reunion"
Sepehr - "I Just"
House on Acid but not like Acid House and also Deep but not Deep House yet a little tech-y but not... I just give up.
Next level.
Janet Jackson - "Made For Now"
Janet's Wakanda moment. Except for the fact that Janet has always been Wakanda.
Somehow Kylie as a digital cowgirl is the perfect fit you never knew you needed.
Vince Staples - "Fun"
John Mayer - "New Light"
Apparently, I have a soft spot for sad sack men singing about their sad, sad feelings... Drake with some Cosby moves over Casio bloops staring at his silent cell phone. Mayer in a pizza stained two week old pajama outfit acknowledging his loser status and begging for a first chance. These are obvious fictions, but playfully, painfully, self-aware.
ELECTRONICA/EDM/DANCE or whatever you want to call it
Wicked Bump
Moodymann - "Pitch Black City Reunion"
House on Acid but not like Acid House and also Deep but not Deep House yet a little tech-y but not... I just give up.
Isabella - Penchant Disenchant
CURIOSITIES
CURIOSITIES
Jason Lee - "Sax in the City"
Sleazy Saxness
