10 Years of K-pop Retrospective: Top Albums of 2022 - The Finale

Picking up right where we left off from the songs list, I really wanted to save these lists for after I completed the retrospective but the finale has now been brought forward and I will continue the retrospective after these go out. 2022 as been an amazing year for K-pop in terms of music, especially for albums. While I may had over 50 songs to choose from for the songs list, I had around 40 or so albums to choose from and these took the longest to finalise. Albums this year has been phenomenal that narrowing it down to just a top 22 took so much time and deliberation. But after all that, I have not made my definitive list for the top albums of 2022.

As always, a fair warning that these are my personal favourite albums of the year and not the most popular or most successful albums. My criteria for majority of these albums is that I have to like all the songs included in some way shape or form for them to be automatically included which they were 20 of, some being multiple albums from the same artist. However, some of them were cut as they were from the same artists and for the sake of variety I decided to cut the ones where I had a clear favourite among the multiple albums from one artist. The others were chosen from a pool of potential albums where I did not like every single song but I liked most of them enough to want to put them in. This does not mean there isn’t any repeated artist but I tried to cut down the repeats and only included multiple albums from the same artist if I truly couldn’t decide which one I liked over the other.

22. LIMELIGHT - LIMELIGHT

Favourite songs: Eye To Eye, Paradise, Cha Cha, StarLight

It is not everyday that a pre-debut group gets to release music, let alone a pre-debut mini album with videos for all songs but Limelight did exactly that. Aiming to be a girl group without any limits on the number of members, 143 Entertainment has started a very ambitious project and it is good to see that they have the money to support this idea with lots of content and more members incoming by the time they officially debut next year. With that being said, while it is no surprise if a pre-debut group can have a good single before debuting, having a pre-debut album that is this well done is an amazing feat.

StarLight is the main title track of this album and for a pre-debut title track, it is amazingly well done. Taking after the sort of cosmic pop sound that other girl groups like IZ*ONE, WJSN and even Apink would do, the song takes a familiar sound that people have heard before and does so with such a distinct way that does set them apart from others in the same style. Eye To Eye, which is the other title track, is more of a western style pop song with the electronic backing track but is done so well. For how much of a typical song this is when compared to others in the west, this is still produced so well with how pleasing the instrumental is to the ears. The other B-sides, Paradise and Cha Cha, are both such great compliments and contrasts to the title tracks. The former is more dance oriented with a very interesting beat drop while the latter is much cuter and more upbeat with a more swing type beat. While this is not even their official debut, the company has set such a high bar for their debut and I am personally looking forward to what they have planned for the debut next year.

21. EPEX - Prelude of Love Chapter 1. ‘Puppy Love’

Favourite songs: 작은 언약식 (The Vow), 첫사랑의 법칙 (First Love’s Law), 사랑歌 (Hymn To Love)

EPEX is the latest boy band to debut under C9 after CIX and while they may not have many hits in my book, they have at least a song or two from their albums that I do enjoy. So I was pleasantly surprised at how much I did enjoy this mini album for how short it is. While not not their strongest album, it is one that is quite enjoyable. Hymn To Love, which is an interesting title to say the least, is the title track and while they have done upbeat, lighter songs before, they somehow managed to turn this upbeat song into something more hard hitting. Starting off with a circus type sound, it quickly turns into a more dance type song that has quite the hit in its chorus. Using an array of brass sounds and synths, they managed to maintain a sort of upbeat, happy image while having a song that carries a lot of weight for them to pack some punch into.

The rest of the album is much more happier and lighthearted as opposed to the heavy depth and punch the title track holds. First Love’s Law is much more mellow and pop oriented song that has more variety compared to a lot of other songs in their discography. Love Bomb is also similar in the sense that it is a more happy pop oriented song but this song has more impact with its sound as the instrumentation has more depth in it’s happy nature while First Love’s Law is more mellow and plays with its dynamics more. The Vow, which is my personal favourite song, has something quite special that I can’t put my finger on. It is definitely the most mellow song on the album and has quite the soft mix of pop rock added in but it is also a song that feels very sentimental and heartfelt despite the elements it has. It truly is one of those love songs that I truly just love because of how sweet and heartfelt is sounds with a composition to back it. While EPEX has a long way to go from having an amazing discography, they have definitely caught my eye with how pleasant this album is.

20. ONF - Special Album [Storage of ONF]

Favourite songs: Runaway, GUCCI, Traveler, Your Song, My Song

Even after all the Korean members have gone off to the military, ONF still manages to release content for the fans. Releasing a special album, an archive of sorts as these songs were prepared while they were also preparing for the Goosebumps album and their concert near the end of last year. While half the album is remastering's of their older songs, the new songs added are all wonderful and is the epitome of all the different styles that ONF are capable. Your Song, which is the title track, shows off the brighter upbeat side that they’ve often done in an upgraded way. With more dynamics to play with, the song takes a mix of electronic and pop rock elements and turns into such an uplifting and happy song that can definitely make the fans happy while waiting for their return.

The other songs on the album are all upgraded versions of the different sounds they’re known for and it it truly is one of the most definitive albums they have to show off their style. Runaway is more EDM focused dance track that has the signature style of the Monotree producing team, who often works with ONF for many of their past songs. The song has many interesting textures and synths that created this interesting soundscape that only ONF can truly pull off. GUCCI is probably of the most intense songs they’ve done and this is coming from the boy band who doesn’t often do intense songs. It is definitely meant to be apart of the weird side of them as they have often done songs that are weird and very different. This song is very out there considering their discography as the different textures and the more intense EDM style makes this one hell of a trip to listen to.

Traveler and My Song are both the ballads of the album and while ONF has done amazing ballads before, these two are probably the most complex and intricate ballads they’ve done to date. The former is slightly jazzy and has the most intricate sound design while also spicing the song up with many interesting chords and harmonies while the latter is very Disney-like, with the orchestral instrumentation and the many different rhythmic and texture changes. While we still have a year to go until ONF returns to us, we have this amazing album that is full of amazing, well-produced songs that captures the essence of ONF to keep us occupied until then.

19. Golden Child - Aura

Favourite songs: Replay, Purpose, 3! 6! 5!, Knocking On My Door

Despite only releasing one album in Korea while being occupied with overseas promotion, Golden Child managed to make this one album be amazing. While they have done many amazing songs in the past, this is probably the few times they’ve made an amazing, well-rounded album where no song falls short. Replay is a very intense song for a title track as the mix of the intense EDM backing track mixed with the rock elements make it a very intense listening experience. Pair that with the equally as intense vocal abilities of the members, this song is truly an experience that pushes Golden Child’s musical style to the limits.

The rest of the album follows an electronic style but every single song is well-rounded in its production which makes this a very well rounded album. Knocking On My Door and 3! 6! 5! are both upbeat songs but the former is more mellow but is still quite funky in some of its sections while the latter is more upbeat with a mix of a electronic with hints of pop rock but both songs are fun listens. Miracle is a classic style and sound by Woollim artists, having a funky electronic sound that is slightly retro while still having enough variation in it to keep things interesting. Purpose is a song I’d like to refer to as an EDM ballad as it is quite slow but still has an electronic instrumental and a beat drop for the chorus, albeit a mellow one. Golden Child hasn’t been very active this year in Korea and their music has been faltering for me as of late but this album has shown me that they still have what it takes to be amazing if given the right set of music.

18. (G)I-DLE - I Love

Favourite songs: DARK (X-file), 조각품 (Sculpture), NXDE, Reset

(G)I-DLE has had a very successful year to date with their first full length album doing well in Korea but my personal pick will have to go for their second comeback of the year. While the first album has had many standout tracks, this album is the better overall album in my ears which is probably why it won out. NXDE is probably their most interesting title track and probably one of the most unique songs in K-pop not just by concept but also by song. Taking inspiration from Marilyn Monroe, the song uses a more 60s style jazz style but done with more modern production and composition. Combining the jazz elements with the distorted strings and different synth samples create a very interesting and very unique sound sound that will truly stand the test of time.

The B-sides also play a role as the they have mentioned that the album should be listened to in reverse order to understand the story but for the sake of the list I’ll go in order of the track list. Love is a simpler and more straightforward song with some pop rock elements but acts as a good compliment to the overall album sound. However the songs produced by Minnie and Yuqi are the highlights after NXDE as title track. Change and Sculpture are the songs produced by Minnie and while both songs are different in style and genre, Minnie has grown so much as a writer that her songs are almost immediately recognisable by sound. Change is another more mellow and slower song but one with a lot forward momentum and has a darker alt rock sound. Sculpture is probably the most interesting Minnie has done as she takes this funky and groovy style and manages to switch the rhythm entirely and makes it more swung. While surprising at first, she really manages to make it work incredibly well.

Reset and Dark are both produced by Yuqi and while she does have a particular writing style, these songs still manages to elevate and make her style of writing much different. Reset is an acoustic pop ballad and while Yuqi’s style in ballads is apparent, this is her most cleanest and most well produced ballad. Dark, my personal on the album, is one of the darkest song the girls have ever done, in terms of pure soundscape and atmosphere. The production on the song is meant to sound much darker and have more unsettling elements as heard through the different synths and chord progressions through the song. The song is a real standout song in many ways and definitely delivers on what it aimed to be. While this album is far from their most impressive, they have definitely evolved in their sound and is one of the most well rounded and most evolved album in terms of how they’ve been producing for themselves.

17. HIGHLIGHT - After Sunset

Favourite songs: Paper Cut, S.I.L.Y (Say I Love You), Alone, Privacy

After making their return last year after coming back from the military, Highlight has had a very eventful year since then by having releasing more albums and even solos. Despite having a signature sound that works out very well in their favour, this album in particular has used a different style than what we’re used to hearing from them and while many different sound changes has backfired on many artists, this one in particular has given them a unique type of evolution. Alone has a much darker but very groovy soundscape and while this type of groovy, funky bass line song has been done many times, they still managed to make it interesting enough to keep my attention. Having a very distorted opening before settling into the funky groove had me worried that I wouldn’t like it at first but the song had lots of dynamics and the added funky guitar in the chorus spiced up what could’ve been a boring funky bass line song.

The rest of the album uses sounds and styles which has been dwelled into but is now done in different ways. Paper Cut and Privacy are both EDM focused songs but are both done in different ways and focuses on different aspects. Paper Cut is more mellow at first and has a certain groove to it before the chorus hits where the energy is raise and a layer of sound explodes. The song uses a range of different sounds and samples to create the different dynamics throught the song. On the other hand, Privacy which was produced by member Gikwang, introduces the main instrumental hook first and focuses on maintaining a constant texture while giving the hits in the song more impact.

S.I.L.Y and I Don’t Miss You are also produced by Gikwang and perfectly captures his essence as a producer but also adds some variety to his style of music. The former is more along the lines of chill-hop and is quite upbeat in tone despite the more bare and chill instrumental and production while the latter is more along the lines of slow and sexy RnB but is more harmonically focused while the song’s textures and rhythm are quite consistent. Despite the album being quite the departure from their usual sound, they still managed to try new things while still being within a familiar area and it will be quite interesting to see how they want to tackle new things in the future.

16. OH MY GIRL - Real Love

Favourite songs: Drip, Replay, Eden, Dear Rose, Sailing Heart

Oh My Girl has returned to my lists with a full album and while this may not have been their most impressive comeback to date, they still managed to release some amazing songs in the album and have made an overall solid comeback. While the title track may feel a bit too safe, the rest of the songs on the album have definitely followed after the evolution of the last album where they have taken their already familiar signature sound and build upon it. Real Love takes a more older retro jazz style and incorporates it into a modern song and adds enough changes to make it interesting. Using a very interesting horn timbre and sample and adding in spices of variation during the verses and the bridge, they have made a surprisingly mellow song with not a lot of energy but has enough texture changes to keep my attention.

With the likes of Ryan Jhun being apart of most of the production for the album, the album does have a very similar style throughout but still has enough variation throughout to help make it standout on its own. Parachute, Kiss & Fix and Blink all follow a similar style, being very much western influenced in writing and style, but they all add something different in doing so. Parachute is more mellow and has a disco influenced style done in a modern production while Blink also has a funky style but is more upbeat and and has a fuller instrumentation to maintain the energy. Kiss & Fix is probably the most western in terms of production as it is very bare and thin in its instrumentation and focuses a lot on the vibes and mood. Eden, which is one of my favourites among these western styled songs, also takes the thin and simple instrumentation but adds enough interesting elements to somehow keep my attention. With such a simple guitar line and vocal chops mixed together to create a very simple beat drop, this song may be too boring for some but I somehow find the song very pleasing to the ears and becomes an easy listen.

Dear Rose is a more EDM pop focused song and is quite upbeat and happy despite the instrumentation. It is very reminiscent of older pop EDM but has quite the catchy melody and has a good, well-rounded production to support the nostalgic electronic backing track. Sailing Heart is the ballad of the album and while Oh My Girl is not known for their ballads, this is a well written one. Done with the help of Monotree, they have made a ballad that takes full advantage of the instrumentation and adds some very interesting dynamics in the track. Drip and Replay are the true standouts for the album and deserves all the praise for how different they are for a girl group like Oh My Girl. Replay takes a very rough and scratchy bass synth sound and paired with the distorted vocal lines, this is a song that truly stands out stylistically as a relatively more intense song in their discography. Drip, which is my absolute favourite from the album, is probably of the more interesting songs they’ve ever done as it combines many elements and throw the listener in for a ride. Starting with a more ominous string sound, the song immediately takes a turn and has a more bouncy beat for the verses. Along with a lot of interesting chord changes for between each section, the chorus takes another turn as it not only switches style but also rhythm as it feels almost completely different. Oh My Girl will always have good music and while not all of them will be hits, there will always be something for everyone in their albums somehow.

15. LUCY - Childhood

Favourite songs: 놀이 (PLAY), Opening, Knowhow, 10sec, Foul (파울), You & Me (넌 혹시, 난 괜히), Ending

Lucy has always been one of those bands that I know and have listened to their title tracks before but have never bothered diving into their albums until this year, which is shocking because I loved all of their past title tracks before. Play is the song that I loved so much that I had to listen to all of their past albums immediately after and I have a newfound appreciation for Lucy. Play is a song that is both very nostalgic yet very comforting in its writing and overall soundscape. Having very mellow verses with the soft piano line and the slow buildup with the other instruments help create this dramatic yet freeing and nostalgic. Having a violinist within the band definitely helps expands their dynamics when creating music.

Lucy’s music can easily be described as very comforting and healing as they explore the concept of childhood both in their lyrics and music as well as different concepts of life that people go through. As this album is very long with 15 songs, I will do my best to review these songs or at least my personal favourites as concise as possible. Knowhow is a very interesting start to the album as it has some interesting percussion choices and the slightly distorted violin adds an interesting taste to this otherwise upbeat and happy song. 10sec is also another happy and upbeat song but is more straightforward and has an interesting groove to its catchy nature. You & Me is an interesting song given the nature of the band but the song has a more chill-hop feel while using the band instrumentation and production to it. It has a more laid back beat to it which is quite sparse in texture and composition but it makes for an interesting addition to the album.

Opening is a personal favourite of mine as the song very much resembles how an anime opening and it is not just because of the title. The writing and composition has this grandiose nature to it, very fitting as a backing track to a long winded adventure. The dynamics of the song also plays into this as it has its mellow moments but also has quite dramatic hits to accentuate the nature of the song. Foul and Ending are both a sort of rock ballad songs but they do pull off the style in different ways. The former is more of a standard rock ballad that has its own set of elements and dynamics that is somewhat nostalgic while the latter is definitely the more interesting sort of ballad as it has a mix of the anime ending and K-drama OST sounds. Lucy has been a real sleeper hit for me as I enjoyed the vast majority of their discography, albeit very late, and I encourage everyone to listen to them and to give their albums a chance.

14. YENA - Smartphone

Favorite songs: Smartphone, WithOrWithOut, Make U Smile, Lemon Aid

As the only solo album on the list, Yena’s the only post IZ*ONE solo that I have loved since the start and has released not just one but two albums that I absolute love from start to finish. While both albums are amazing and are filled with amazing songs, my one pick between the two will be Smartphone. Smartphone as a song personally feels like an upgrade to Smiley as I feel like she embraced more of the Disney styled pop rock. Starting with a set of video game styled synths, the song feels more full with the instrumentation as the guitar lines feel like they have more edge to them and the dynamics seem to hit better here.

The rest of the album sounds like a parallel to the Smiley but has upgraded in terms of production and composition. Make U Smile is the ballad of the album and starts everything off which may seem odd but I personally enjoy the way the album has been arranged. The song is more of a traditional K-pop styled ballad with as it has all the the standard elements and instrumentation but it is still well written and produced. WithOrWithOut is the epitome of pop rock from the 2010s and it is definitely one of favourite examples of this being done in K-pop. The entire instrumentation feels so full and well done while the writing feels so familiar but not cheesy or cringe by any means. Lemon-Aid is a vert upbeat and happy song but it has a lot of funky elements thrown in and the bubblegum-esque nature of the production and composition makes for a very interesting mix. The synth selection fits very well with the song while the funky guitar and bass line adds little sprinkles of variety in the song. U is another upbeat song but has more variations in it which makes it the more interesting song. The horn line in the beginning mixed with the faster rhythms is expected given the nature of the song but the pre-chorus has some interesting chord choices which definitely spices things up. Despite being part of the later half of the IZ*ONE girls to debut afterwards, she definitely delivered with both albums and has been the few exceptions to solo music from someone who isn’t even my bias.

13. Red Velvet - The ReVe Festival 2022 - Birthday

Favourite songs: Birthday, Zoom, 롤러코스터 (On A Ride), Bye Bye

Red Velvet’s latest release has already made its way into my list despite being one of the latest albums on here. As mentioned in the songs list, Red Velvet has had a very eventful year and this has been some of the best they’ve ever done since 2018/2019. With so much being done this year, you would think that not all of them could be hits but in this case, all songs and albums this year were hits and Birthday is the latest one to hit the scene. Birthday is a song that truly goes back to their roots on the Red side with such a wild and wack style for the song. Having a more circus/clown style to the soundscape, the song takes a very wide range of elements and instrumentation to truly cover all grounds. From the all the different synths and samples used in all sorts of different ways, the song is truly one of their most ambitious songs ever and truly delivered on what it is to experience Red Velvet’s wack side.

For how short the album is, it is concise enough to truly showcase a new side to the sounds we already know of from Red Velvet. Bye Bye has this RnB-esque style to it while also being quite sinister in sound. The weird harmonies together with the fact the song is most probably in minor makes for a very distinct soundscape and one they play into very well. Zoom also plays into the sinister sounding soundscape but is more funky while also being playing with its dynamics a bit more. Parts of its instrumentation stands out a lot in certain sections and they’re willing to go beyond and play with the vocal harmonies more. On A Ride is a song that follows the Birthday style of weirdness and has more of a circus style to it than Birthday. On A Ride has a very dynamic play as the beat drop chorus is very bare but also quite striking while the verses are more full and has more in its textures. Celebrate acts as the closing ballad for the album and while Red Velvet has done many different ballads before, they still managed to do something fresh within their discography. The song has the 90s/early 2000s style of RnB ballad to it and while it’s not the first time they’ve done it, it is definitely done in a different enough way to stand out among their ballads. Red Velvet has found new ways to revitalise their sound and this is just proof that this truly is the golden age of Red Velvet.

12. ONEUS - Trickster

Favourite songs: 덤벼 (Bring It On), Mr. Wolf, 두 눈 빠지도록 (Firebomb), Skydivin’

While not one of their most impressive albums, ONEUS has made quite the well rounded album with sounds they’ve done before while also creating sounds they haven’t and it is interesting to how they play at it. Bring It On is an interesting title track considering the rest of their discography as they tend to do more mature, sophisticated sounds while only occasionally doing something more hard hitting. The title track has elements of circus music as heard in the post-chorus with the horns and it plays well into the joker concept. But the rest of the song is much harder while also still having some very interesting chord changes and textures. The beginning verses have much more impact while the pre-chorus is more melodic and builds up the song but chorus is a blend between the two, being more melodic under a more impactful instrumentation.

The rest of the album has a mix of simple sounds they’ve done before while the others are very interesting sounds they’ve yet to tackle but has done an interesting take of. Skydivin’ is a simple pop rock type of song with the instrumentation and composition but it still has an odd nostalgic feel for me personally. While not the most engaging song, it is definitely a fun listen. Fragile is more chill and relaxing as it has a modern pop RnB beat with how laidback the instrumentation is. It is very simple too but it also makes for an easy listen. Firebomb is one of the more interesting songs on the album as it is stylistically reminiscent of a song Hitchhiker would produce in terms of production and composition. The song is funky and groovy in its verses but the chorus beat drop takes the case as one of the weirdest sounds ONEUS has in their discography. The distorted horn sound used as a beat drop is very much something Hitchhiker would do but this is a more tame version of what he would do. Mr. Wolf is easily my favourite song as it has this mischievous and cunning soundscape to it. With the deeper synth creeping in and the composition during the chorus, it has this creeping motion to the sound which plays into the wolf concept the song has. ONEUS has done much more impressive albums before but this one is one of their most well rounded albums and gives the listener a more balanced experience.

11. Xdinary Heroes - Overload

Favourite song: Hair Cut, X-MAS, Crack In The Mirror, Zzz.., LUNATIC

Xdinary Heroes is one of JYP’s most ambitious projects to date, a rock band with a very edgy alt sound. While many people may turned off by this, I personally welcome the change they bring to K-pop as all their songs are very different not just from each other but also in K-pop as even their simpler songs can have a sense of freshness to it. Hair Cut is one of the most out there rock songs I’ve heard in K-pop even considering all the other bands in the scene. With a very distorted instrumentation since verse 1, the song aims to be one of the most unconventional things I’ve heard this year in terms of style and production. Even the chorus is very unconventional as it is very bare bones and minimalistic while still being distorted as it only has the lone guitar line and heavy percussion playing.

While both albums they released this year are amazing and I would’ve added both in, my pick has to go for the Overload album as I feel that not only did they go even edgier and embraced more of their style but they have also improved tremendously as writers and composers since the first album. Zzz.. is the most lighthearted song they’ve done and probably the weirdest in terms of lyrics and concept. It’s composition also supports this as a lot of the melodic writing and tonal center seems to not be fixed and keeps wavering and the production goes in hand with how unserious the song is while still giving the punch needed. Lunatic and Crack In The Mirror seems to embrace the older rock style but both songs have their differences. The former is much more impactful within its contained soundscape and maintains a fixed level of energy and punchiness with what it has established while the the latter has more grunginess within its sections and has more variety in its dynamics and textures while also enunciating the hits when its needed.

Ghost is an interesting song as it has this old school black and white movie type of tone while doing so in a rock style. The song is very free flowing and doesn’t have a sense of gravity or depth in the chorus or for even most of the song. X-MAS which is my personal favourite among the B-sides probably is on par with Hair Cut with how weird and unconventional as it seems to be the most complex song on the album. Having a very creepy, unsettling whisper and harmonies as the start, the song has a more theatrical yet haunting feel to its sound. While doing so, the song can still play with its melodic and harmonic layers which adds another level of uneasiness to it. Xdinary Heroes is quickly growing to be a personal favourite with how unconventional they are and with how much they are improving in such short time, it is only a matter of time until they explode in populairty.

10. CRAVITY- 1st Album Part 2 [Liberty: In Our Cosmos]

Favourite songs: Boppin’, POW!, Adrenaline, 좋아하나봐 (Maybe Baby), Flip The Frame, Chandelier, Outro: In Our Cosmos

Cravity is one of those boy bands who always had good music but has never really made that specific album that is truly their best, until now. The second part of their first full album is a much lighter sound compared to all the darker sounds they’ve been trying for the past 2 years but is one of their best. Adrenaline is a title track that is lighter in sound but has enough punch in the composition and production to not make it a typical upbeat, fun song. With its bright atmosphere and sound, the song also makes use of these bouncy funky elements to make it groovy and happy. I personally feel like making happy songs is their strong point but blending it with the full, well-rounded production of their darker and harder songs is the right direction for them to go.

The rest of the album also takes a tonal lift and is much lighter but that doesn’t mean these songs can pack a punch either. POW! is a great follow up after Adrenaline as it has this groovy, hip-hop style bounce to it while still having some lighter electronic elements to it. Much like the title track, the combination of these elements make the lighter songs much more impactful. Boppin’ fully takes more of the electronic side of the RnB/Hip-Hop elements and turns it into a more dynamic song that is melodic yet also carries a lot of energy forward. On the other hand, Maybe Baby is the most lighthearted and straightforward song on the album. It is simple and sweet and has such a lighter but still groovy texture compared to the other songs.

Chandelier and Flip The Frame is probably the more interesting songs based on its melodic and harmonic writing as well as the overall production. Chandelier does have this sense of dissonance as the instrumental has a much lower sound while the vocal line constantly stays in a higher register. While they’re not singing in falsetto, the constant singing in Major while the bass synths play at a lower sound does create an interesting soundscape. Flip The Frame has this futuristic funky sound to it as the verses while the choruses are contrasting a lot. While it starts much lower and makes the beat fade out and fall down as it goes on, the melody also lifts up and they sing in a higher melody. This pairing of songs make this the most interesting ones on the album in terms of production and composition. Even the outro of the album is something to take not of, as short as it is. With such a simple guitar melody and an amazing EDM beat for the drop, the song closes off the album in such a memorable way even when it mellows out for the end of the outro. Cravity is on the right track to creating amazing music and while they’ve always made great music, this is the album that truly finds the perfect balance for them.

9. STAYC - YOUNG-LUV.com

Favourite songs: I Want U Baby, Same Same, Young Luv, RUN2U

STAYC has made it onto my lists for a third year in a row since debut and has finally made it onto the albums list. With the help of Black Eyed Pilseung producing for them, STAYC has constantly been on the rise with great music and even if the songs don’t hit, they’re still consistent with their entire discography. RUN2U is an interesting song considering their discography as it is has a different style of upbeat and is somewhat funky with the bass synth line. The beat drop is also interesting as the main sample in the hook has a weird timbre while the main synths is forward moving while still going up and down the scale. The overall style and sound of the song is quite different than everything they’ve done and makes for an interesting addition to their music catalogue.

The rest of album is also quite different and interesting looking back at their past albums but nothing out of the realm of possibility. Same Same is very much a trendy type of song with very RnB/pop elements. It is quite catchy and simple while having a simple yet great production behind it. 247 and Butterfly are both within the same vein of jazzy/RnB slow songs but both are executed quite differently. The former is more upbeat and groovy and has going on with the instrumentation while the latter is more mellow and laid back and focuses a lot more on the harmonies and the melodic writing.

In terms of style and genre, Young Luv is the most different thing STAYC has ever done. Taking a more darker but not intense pop rock style, the song presents a different side of the girls both in terms of sound and vocally. While not having the most varied instrumentation, what we do have sounds incredible and is produced well enough to fit the girls. I Want U Baby is my personal favourite as I didn’t expect STAYC’s take on sexy RnB to be this well done and produced. It has all the standard elements of sexy RnB with the synths and slow and mellow soundscape but everything about the composition and production is clean and well done. STAYC is a name in K-pop that will most probably keep thriving as even their ‘worst’ are well done so as long as they’re consistent with their quality, they will never go anywhere.

8. Fromis_9 - from our Memento Box

Favourite songs: Blind Letter, Rewind, Up And, Stay This Way, Cheese

Another girl group that’s kept appearing on my lists consecutively, Fromis_9 has been keeping consistent with their funky and groovy sound and while it would’ve been stale by now, they still find ways to freshen up their sound and still keep me engaged. Stay This Way is the summer version of their funky sound and it is still well done. The instrumentation and writing is very much fit for the summer and even the bridge adds some sprinkles of variation to keep the song engaging. While this is my least favourite among the funky title tracks, it is still a good song and is well produced.

The rest of the album has some of the most well rounded sounds they’ve done yet and is the most consistent throughout. Up And is member Jiheon’s first song written for the group and just like the other member’s attempts at writing, it fits well within their sound like a glove. Upbeat and happy, the song uses an interesting percussion sample to emulate this sort of sound that personally reminds me of seashells. The song is straightforward but it delivers on being such a simple, happy song. Cheese is another happy song that is more groovy and funky. The song has more variation in it’s dynamics with its more muted bassline chorus before spicing it with some interesting chords before the rest of the chorus continues. These two songs make for simple and easy listening but not boring ones.

Blind Letter and Rewind are both my favour songs on the album as it helps the girls explore a different style of music they’ve yet to tackle. Blind Letter, done with the help of singer-producer ADORA, the song has a more and very light pop rock feel and style to it with the guitar line. The song only has light pop rock elements as it is also very much melodically and harmonically driven in both the pre-chorus and chorus. The pairing of all these elements make for a very mellow yet forward moving song that is done differently than their other songs. Rewind, while not the most different song they’ve done, is one of their most well executed songs in this style. Having a funky yet classy and mature style to this electronic track is one of the most well done attempts they’ve done in this style. Fromis has always done great amazing and while they have strayed from their style at the beginning, they are evolving and maturing in ways that fits them well and their music is big proof of that.

7. HIGHLIGHT - Daydream

Favourite songs: Seven Wonders, Daydream, 밤안개 (Night Fog), Play, 될 대로 되라고 해 (Whatever), Don’t Leave

Highlight makes another appearance in my lists with my personal pick from them this year. Daydream is an album that only brings back their signature sound in a new light but also new sounds that they’re more than capable. While After Sunset is an album of them trying new things, Daydream is them revitalising themselves in new ways while still keeping their original essence. The song Daydream has the signature style they’re known for as this more mature and sophisticated sound while also being very vocally focused. The song also has this warmer timbre of a horn sample acting as the hook and has a more mellow backing track while still being upbeat. The song is the epitome of their older sound and while it may sound outdated to some, this is what means to have a style done in a modern context.

The album takes many familiar sounds and redoes them with modern production while some other songs uses all new styles they have yet to do as Highlight. Even following the classic Beast style of focusing on ballads, they manage to even make that trope of theirs fresh with this album. Night Fog is the most different from these as it seems to take more acoustic pop approach but still being quite upbeat. With a more bare atmosphere, it manages to convey the feeling of fog through just the sound. Our Eyes is also a more pop rock sort of ballad but has this upbeat energy to it based on the composition while Lovely Day follows the same sort of happy, upbeat pop rock ballad style but is more swung rhythmically. All My Life acts as the ending ballad to the album and is quite fitting as it is the slowest song on the ballad, also having an acoustic pop style but having a more engaging melody and building upon itself.

As for the new sounds they’ve tackled, it does also include a lot of upbeat pop rock while also tackling some electronic focused songs and while they have done it before, they do take more new takes on it. Don’t Leave and Classic are both prime examples of what I meant by upbeat pop rock as they do sound very reminiscent of older songs from the 2010s but the latter has a more of a disco twang to it while the former has a country twang to it. Play also has some pop rock elements to it but is more on the pop side of things and being more straightforward. Whatever does have some pop rock elements in terms of some instrumentation and writing but the production is more of a normal electronic pop song and makes for a simple and fun listen. Seven Wonders, which is my personal favourite, is the most different song on the album and is the more EDM focused. It does have a sort of understated nature to the composition and production and is more sleek and mature in terms of style. As I’ve said in the B-sides list for them, they would’ve been amazing at these type of songs if they didn’t specialise in ballads. Highlight will always be special to me and it is great to see them release an album that is so much like them yet also start to try out different sounds.

6. NewJeans - 1st EP ‘New Jeans’

Favourite songs: Hype Boy, Cookie, Attention, Hurt

NewJeans is another big girl group to take the industry by storm and with a debut of only 4 songs, they are have the shortest album to ever make it this far on my lists. With videos for all songs that they’ve been promoting, the marketing on them has spared no expenses as each song not only has the production to back it up but also the mainstream presence. Officially Cookie is the debut song but Attention was the first song revealed by them so we will go in order of reveal.

Attention was first revealed out of nowhere, releasing the music video out of nowhere, and has taken the country by storm. The song has an old school 90s RnB pop influence to it, from the beginning sample to the RnB chords being sprinkled throughout the song. The song is very much melodically and harmonically driven as the not only the vocal lines but the composition of the song itself is also very much driven by it and makes this the most interesting song on the album. Hype Boy was the second song released and has become my personal favourite song while the dance has been a big trend worldwide. The song takes a more EDM focus while still having RnB style writing over it which makes this an addictive song to listen to. While the instrumental is relatively simple, with many of the samples being looped with an addictive instrumentation, the song is still melodically driven in its vocal line at least. With a constant but still engaging and well produced instrumental, the song’s vocal direction is the main highlight of the song.

Hurt was next in line to be released and even as the slowest song on the album, production on it is top notch and was not spared a single expense. Also taking a 90s RnB inspired style, the song is quite bare bones but focuses the most on their actual vocals. With a simple percussion and piano line together with some samples and harmonies, the song is quite chill and laid back which provides the perfect backing track to showcase their vocals without being a ballad. Cookie is the last song to be revealed and is the official debut song and while there were controversy surrounding the lyrics, the song is well produced and deserves praise on that. Having a more RnB/Hip-hop style, the song is the simplest out of the 4 but that doesn’t mean the song is boring either. The bouncy synth line used makes for a very addicting groove and is still able to be upbeat and active despite the simplicity. NewJeans will be one of the next big things in K-pop and with the production for such a short album, quality will never be an issue as they continue on.

5. CLASS:y- Class Is Over/ Lives Across

Favourite songs: Surprise, Up, Divin’ Into You, Classy, Super Cool, Tell Me One More Time

After finishing the show My Teenage Show as the winning team, Class:y is a girl group that had a surprisingly amazing debut. While it may be cheating to put two albums as one entry, they are labelled are 1st Mini Album Part Y and Part Z, I am willing to accept these two together as one album as they were revealed at the same time. Shut Down was the official debut while Classy was the follow up for the second part of the album. Shut Down is a Bollywood inspired song and while many of them never stick with me, this is probably the one time it does. The song doesn’t try to make the Bollywood style the main attraction and makes it a support to the main song which makes the song feel more impactful. The different percussion and string instrumentation definitely levels the song up in terms of power and helps it stand out.

The first part of the album is very well rounded and well produced, as this was another album mainly produced by Ryan Jhun. Up, being my favourite song from the first part, is much more fun and upbeat and has some wacky elements to make it different from other songs. Starting with the panning of the synth line, the song takes a very different approach to a happy song. The different synths and samples makes this song very engaging to listen to. Tell Me One More Time is a funky and groovy type of upbeat song that has as disco influence on it. The funky bassline and guitar line paired with the horn line makes the song sound very lively and acts as a great accompaniment to the overall album, having a more straightforward song that is easily digestible to the average listener. Super Cool is the most different song on the album as it has a darker sound compared to everything else and focuses a lot on the vocals of the girls, both in vocal ability and how their voices blend in with the instrumental. This song in particular together with Tell Me One More Time shows off their vocal capabilities the best. Feelin’ So Good is the closing song of the first part and acts as a nice happy ending song, catchy and still groovy while being on the same production level as the rest.

As for the second part, Classy acts as the title track and shows a different side to their capabilities. Having a more electronic backing track, the song is groovy and has a lot more dynamic compared to the first part. The production on all the different textures and samples are clean and well done which shows off the sounds in the song well. Surprise, which acted as both a pre-debut song and a song from the show, is probably the most interesting song they have done yet. The song plays with the different textures and sounds well and gives each section its own sense of impact from the starting instrumental to the melodic moments in the pre-chorus to the amazing and well-done rap break for the second verse. The song has a sense of playfulness in the tone that lends itself to nature of how the song was made. Divin’ Into You is another well done song that is exceptionally clean and has an amazing composition. While simple, the song has an engaging and upbeat instrumental and shows off their vocal capabilities the best on this part of the album. While the first part of the album shows more variety and is very well rounded, the second part has an overall style and sound that flows together well and is done amazingly well. Class:y had a phenomenal debut and it would be hard to top a collection of songs that is this well done overall.

4. Kep1er- TROUBLESHOOTER

Favourite songs: Dreams, Downtown, THE GIRLS (Can’t Turn Me Down)(Remastered), We Fresh, Lion Tamer

Kep1er is another girl group from a survival show, being the winning team from Girls Planet 999, and they have been my personal rookies of the year. Each album they’ve released has been amazing and they keep amazing me with all the music they have done, including their Japanese debut, and while all has been amazing, my ultimate pick for their album will be the Troubleshooter album. We Fresh is another one of those controversial songs that many people don’t really like, much like a lot of Kep1er’s discography, but I feel like is their wildest song yet. With a pop rock style foundation with a mix of weird EDM samples and style, the song takes all the weirdest turns possible with what is available. Both the rock sound and weird samples vary in terms of intensity and style but they both fill up the space and soundscape so well and adds so much variety that just one listen is never enough.

The rest of the album, while not as wild, has a similar style and becomes the most overall well balanced album they’ve done yet. Lion Tamer follows after We Fresh and the same sort of energy and momentum is followed as well. The song has more bounce to its sound yet still has a sense of depth to leave an impact as it progresses. The song also has a lot of interesting chords sprinkled through the sections and while the chorus feels a bit too bare, the melodic writing and production makes up for it. Downtown is definitely one of the more different songs they’ve done as it had this electro-jazz feel to it in its composition but has a modern and upbeat production. The song maintains a consistent momentum and rhythm but the textures and instrumentation adds enough variation to keep its energy as it moves forward. Each hit in the song also feels like it has purpose as the entire rhythm and momentum feels very enunciated at every turn it keeps progressing.

Dreams, which is my personal favourite song, has the hands of full8loom behind its production which automatically means the production will be too notch. Personally seeing that they specialise in more synth based pop songs, the instrumentation is very fitting and production on the entire song is clean. Despite maintaining a consistent texture throughout the song, the song still has dynamics to play with the different synths and finds other ways to keep this soundscape interesting and engaging. The song also incorporates a lot of harmonies done simultaneously with the main vocal like so this becomes one of the more vocally intricate songs they’ve done, with how the melodic and harmonic writing interacts with each other. The Girls (Can’t Turn Me Down) was their finale song when they were on the show Queendom and while I may have had my own gripes with most of the finale songs, Kep1er’s song still managed to be a personal second favourite for a reason. The song does have the soundscape and tone needed for a finale, being very intense with all sorts of different sounds to stand out, but the song does get better as it progresses. Together with the intense samples are a lot of parallel chords throughout the song to help contrast the darker soundscape. While the first chorus feels a bit lacking, they learn to build upon that when the second chorus hits and managed to end the song with an absolute bang. Kep1er has had one of the most interesting discogrpahies within their first year and it never fails to amaze me this far so I will be looking forward to even more of what they’re able to do.

3. Stray Kids - MAXIDENT

Favourite songs: Give Me Your TMI, Case 143, 나 너 좋아하나봐 (Can’t Stop), Taste, Super Board, 식혀 (Chill), 3RACHA

Stray Kids have had a very eventful year since their victory on Kingdom and they’ve grown even more in the last year. While they have made many songs and album within the past year, the Maxident album has been the most well rounded and brought out the best in all the different sounds they’re capable of. Case 143 is far from your average love song as it is intense and has so much going on in each different section that it almost becomes too much to handle. The song contrasts itself with the harder hitting synths and percussion during the rap sections to the more melodic vocal sections in the pre-chorus and bridge to even the chorus where it absolute defies all expectations on what they would do. With the deeper voices paired with the lower horn and percussions, the song throws expectations out the window with this section alone. This song has to be one of the most ambitious title tracks they’ve done to date and it will be very hard to outdo a song like this anytime soon.

The rest of the album takes more styles that Stray Kids has done but does them in new refreshing ways to make this album a very enjoyable experience. Chill, as the title suggests, is a more laid back and mellow song but still has that Stray Kids energy that makes it pop a lot in even the most mellow of songs. The song takes a more RnB/chill-hop approach which makes for a relaxing but still engaging listen. Give Me Your TMI is my personal favourite as it takes the typical sound we know from them but uses all sorts of different sounds and still making it sound more cohesive. The mix of the weird dubstep samples with the deep bass line and a guitar line gives the sense of instability within a cohesive and controlled momentum which makes it a very odd song to listen to but still engaging and interesting. Super Board is another interesting song that uses a funny sound effect and turns it into such an intense song that with phenomenal production. The deep bass synths and other EDM elements create such a well rounded and full sound that carries itself all the way to the end. While the pre-chorus and bridge adds the contrast needed by stripping down the textures and allowing the vocals to shine, the song loses no energy and can pick up right where it left off.

This album also brought back the sub units and while the past few albums did so too, this one brought back the fan favourites of 3RACHA and the dance and vocal units. The song 3RACHA which is performed by the 3RACHA unit is a trap/hip-hop song that is very much rap focused and while these type of songs usually turn me off, the execution and lyricism really sold me on it. With a darker and intense sound, the song allows the rap line to express themselves in a new dignified way compared to their pre-debut days. Taste is a song done by the dance unit and is the most interesting unit song on here. Having a sexier and mature sound, they combine the sexy RnB elements in their tone and melodic writing with very impactful EDM chorus that also showcases their vocal skills in a new light. Can’t Stop is the vocal unit song and while there’s only both of them on it, they fill up the space and sound so well. With a pop rock sound, the duet has made a feel good song and while the textures doesn’t vary much, the chords and harmonies sprinkled in will definitely spice the song up enough to keep your energy up high till the end. This album has been some of the most well produced and most interesting songs Stray Kids have done to date and while people can say that about their other albums, I personally feel like it would be hard for them to top this one.

2. Billlie - the Billage of perception: chapter two

Favourite songs: Mcguffins ~ who’s the Joker?, B’rave ~ a song for Matilda, my B = the Birth of emotion, $UN palace (Stroop effect), RING ma Bell (what a wonderful world), B@ck 2 where we Belong

Billlie has returned to my list with an even higher ranking than last year. Billlie has been on an amazing roll since their debut near the end of last year and each album has something so unique while also improving their overall style and sound. This album in particular is the near perfect album that they’re capable of and shows off all sorts of different styles that Billlie hasn’t done before but they make it sound natural and embrace the style as their own. Ring Ma Bell is their first attempt of doing a rock styled song and while it could use more commitment and edge in sound, they definitely the right idea and are on the right track. The production on the instrumentation is clean and the composition is very much reminiscent of older punk pop music while still adding the K-pop flair and the girls definitely did the song justice.

The rest of the songs is where the album truly shines. My B starts off the album right with such a weird and wacky sound in terms of style which is definitely what Billlie is known for and are amazing at doing. The dynamics and instrumentation of the song is immaculate as the different synths and dubstep elements are used very creatively and gives the song a sense of entropy. The different chord changes and the usage of the different elements make the song somewhat unpredictable yet still hitting all the right spots to truly make this a Billlie song. B’rave acts as the promoted B-side and presents a different side the girls have yet go show. With a much sexier and mature sound and tone, the song doesn’t fall into the hole of just sexy but makes an effort to be interesting and very fulfilling in its sound. The vocal production mixed with the syncopated keys and synths during the chorus makes the song sound full and delivers at what it is. Mcguffins is my favourite song on the album which is an odd choice considering the style of the song. With a guitar line playing a sort of scale, the song is hyper and has a constant momentum but doesn’t fall into the hole of being all about the style it is inspired from. The different synths and chord changes in both the pre-chorus and second verse adds so much variety in what might’ve been a stagnant song. The song also shows off their vocal skills in a different light as the constant energy keeps the song moving in all sorts of directions.

Sun Palace seems to act as a parallel to their song Moon Palace while having a similar musical style to their song called A Sign. The song has a more mellow soundscape and textures but the harmonic writing is where it truly shines as the different chords that pops in adds a lot of flavour to the song while it is rhythmically stagnant. Back 2 Where We Belong acts as the closing ballad song and as we see from the past 2 albums, this also acts as a fan song. Even as an acoustic pop song, the song is never boring and plays into its production well much like the rest of the album. The chorus has a lot of depth in its percussion which contrasts with the softer, mellow verses. This album is the near perfect of the year as Billlie truly delivers on all fronts whether it’s a wacky sound or something more mellow and they will truly be on the forefront of amazing music.

1. Red Velvet - The ReVe Festival 2022 - Feel My Rhythm

Favourite songs: Feel My Rhythm, Beg For Me, In My Dreams, Rainbow Halo, Bamboleo, Good, Bad, Ugly

Red Velvet has returned yet again as my top album of the year. Everything about this album has been immaculate and perfect in its production, even for songs I wouldn’t normally like has sounded amazing on this album. The album has the signature Red Velvet sound in all sides and style done to their utmost best. Feel My Rhythm is the perfect blend of orchestral pop and the signature wacky Red Velvet style and nothing could’ve been more perfect to signal their return. With the orchestral sample at the beginning, the song immediately goes wacky with all sorts of weird samples and EDM elements. The two sides of the song are in perfect harmony throughout the song and nothing could’ve sound more perfect than this. Even the sprinkles of weird EDM in the song helps polish the song and adds so much character to the sound. This is the type of song that Red Velvet excels at and it is great to see a song that perfectly captures their essence and capabilities.

The rest of the album also captures the capabilities of the girls in perfect balance without going overboard on any front. Rainbow Halo is more upbeat and happier and plays with this mellow but still groovy soundscape. The instrumentation on the song is very constant in its dynamics but the instrumentation makes up for it with not only the choice of chords but the added saxophone and the solo becomes the perfect cherry on top. Beg For Me is a sassier type of song from the girls but still has their character without being too different for them. With much deeper sounds from all the instrumentation and even the harmonies in the chorus, this song would fit right in with their Velvet side. Even with the deeper sounds, they’re still able to deliver vocally in the chorus and give the song a sense of balance within their sounds.

Bamboleo and Good, Bad, Ugly are the type of songs I wouldn’t have enjoyed otherwise but Red Velvet somehow found a way to make these songs enjoyable for me. Bamboleo is very much a disco-inspired song and while it has been overdone at this point, Red Velvet still manages to make it enjoyable even when following the style quite closely. The vocal harmonies mixed with all the different synths create such a pleasing sound to the ears that I dismiss the fact it is a disco song. Good, Bad, Ugly is meant to be the slow song the album and while I hardly enjoy these slower, happier type of swung styled songs, Red Velvet finds a way again to make me enjoy it. Both songs deliver on the vocals and paired with the instrumental creates such a pleasing sound sonically that anyone would enjoy it. In My Dreams is the phenomenal end to the album on all fronts. The mix of the toy box styled instrumental with the rising vocals creates such a theatrical chorus that it would shake anyone and the soundscape from its impact. The song has this melodramatic flair while being sophisticated that it fits the role of an ending song perfectly. Red Velvet has always been one of those girl groups with a phenomenal discography and even if it’s not entirely perfect, they definitely do know how to make perfect songs and this album is one of the best that they have to offer. With how well rounded and produced this entire album is, it is not surprise that this ultimately became my album of the year.

With that I have made it in time for the end of 2022 with my top albums of the year. This was an incredibly hard list to make, not only because writing took so long but because selecting these albums was some of the hardest I’ve had to go through. With that thought, this is probably the list I’m the most proud of, not only with my choices because of how much I had to say for all of it. It may not completely comprehensive or concise or even correct at times, but it is the most honest one I’ve made so far. Now that the year is over by the time this is out, I wish everyone a happy new year. May this year be more positive and eventful and everyone be safe and healthy. As always to sign out, in case I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening and good night.