A follow-up post will come for the second half of the year.
K-pop already moves quickly, with groups producing one to two albums per year, plus additional web content for fans. But global quarantine allowed many artists to focus on creating new work, experimenting on their usual styles without the grind of touring. Narrowing it down to five to avoid including every single album, here are my favorite productions of the first half of 2021.
#5 – VOID. by jeebanoff
I was introduced to this album via the single I MEAN I MEAN., an incredible piece on its own. The whole album works as one unit, blending together perfectly with each track still acting as its own unique component. Listening to this chill masterpiece inspired me to research jeebanoff and showed me the artist he is, as each of his works is chronological: his style evolves as he does.
#4 – The Book of Us: Negentropy – Chaos swallowed up in love by DAY6
I’m a bit biased when it comes to DAY6, as they are the ones that got me into K-pop and are still my favorite Korean group. It might be a surprise to see them as low as #4 on this list, but that just shows you the quality of musical content coming out of Korea.
This album is the culmination of The Book of Us, a five-album series spanning the last few years and even two groups (including their subunit, Even of Day). It’s the resolve of a romance, the chance to move on but never forget, leaving each track a bit nostalgic and bittersweet. The lyrics grip you per usual and the music continues to push the boundaries of convention. From Wonpil’s falsetto belting bridge in You Make Me to YoungK singing in his lower register in Only, the group brought in new vocal prowess to show us they are always working on bettering themselves.
#3 – Hello Future – The 1st Album Repackage by NCT Dream
Despite debuting five years ago, NCT Dream only just now released their first full album to the delight of fans across K-pop. Now a permanent group of seven members, Dream has found their groove in the NCT universe and proven their maturity with all members now adults.
The repackage of their first album adds three new songs that round out the Dream sound and lets fans know they are growing up but will never forget their roots. Balancing bops and anthems, Hot Sauce and Hello Future encourage listeners to learn the fun choreography and hum the chorus throughout their day. And if ballads are more your speed, Dream’s talented vocalists can help you stare wistfully out the window and daydream of future plans.
#2 – Atlantis – The 7th Album Repackage by SHINee
SHINee’s back. Once again proving why they’re one of the top performers of K-pop’s second generation, SHINee’s repackaged 7th album includes three new tracks to ease the listener into summer. Atlantis is perfect for any road trip playlist while Don’t Call Me makes you want to scream at an ex you don’t even have. The whole album fits together, showing us how SHINee has evolved with the times while still holding to their own sound.
#1 – The Chaos Chapter: FREEZE by TOMORROW X TOGETHER
With each new release, TXT continues to prove why they’re at the forefront of the fourth generation, pushing convention to show they’re capable of any style. FREEZE is the most mature album yet, leaving the Dream chapters behind and embracing the Chaos chapter head on. Anti-Romantic eases you in with a ballad, bridging to a rock anthem in I Know I Love You, pumping up with the fully-English Magic and culminating in the scream-at-the-top-of-your-lungs bop, Frost. If you’re the type who likes all music, this is the album/group for you.
KPOP 101 