This year K-Pop showed no signs of stopping and music felt like it was being released left and right. There were many albums I particularly enjoyed this year as many groups were releasing some of their best work, so this was a hard list to make. Below, you'll find my list of the best albums of 2020, in my opinion.
20. NONSTOP - Oh My Girl
Oh My Girl had a nonstop year for them especially with this album. This album features catchy title track, Nonstop and the hit song (and one of my top tracks of the year) that everyone seemed to cover, Dolphin. But then there's also the fun b-side, NEON, that really ties this album together. NONSTOP is full of spunk and cute fun that's ready to be enjoyed.
19. Awaken the World - WayV
WayV made a Mandopop masterpiece with Awaken the World. With the incredible title track, Turn Back Time, this album opens with a bang. And that power doesn't falter with b-sides like the hip-hop influenced Bad Alive, and the bass-heavy Unbreakable and Domino. This album also has some nice softer tracks like After Midnight (which has to be one of my favorite b-sides ever), and Only Human. Awaken the World is absolute perfection and WayV really knew what chords to hit on their first full length project.
18. Love Synonym #1: Right For Me - Wonho
Wonho proved himself to be the king of duality on Love Synonym #1. There were the sexy moments he gave us on this record with songs like the title track Open Mind and With You. But he also provided some tearjerkers with songs like Losing You and I just. As a debut album, it's a strong album to put forth and he certainly delivered. With an even sexier album promised in 2021, I wonder how he could outdo such perfection (but I'm sure he will).
17. [12:00] - LOONA
[12:00] is a girl group masterpiece from the powerful girl group, Loona. With the dance-pop tune, Why Not? the girls start this album strongly. But with the equally dance-able Hide & Seek, and rap heavy, OOPS! these girls carried themselves well throughout this album. Even during the softer moments, like the 80's influenced Voice, Loona still knew how to bring a force. This album really defines LOONA for me.
16. Candy - Baekhyun
Baekhyun is the powerhouse of EXO, the subunit EXO-CBX, and SuperM and this man certainly doesn't know how to stop and why would we want him to with an album like this. This album is full of R&B twists and turns. The title track, Candy, opens the album with a cute dance-y track. But it's songs like the b-sides R U Ridin'? that features a smooth beat and cool bass and indie-influenced and guitar heavy Ghost that really bring this album together. This album showcases really showcases Baekhyun at his most powerful.
15. LIVED - ONEUS
Dark concepts are my favorites and Oneus really know how to deliver when it comes to them. Lived is truly the epitome of this year's dark concepts. Title track, To Be or Not to Be, made it onto my top tracks of the year because of how insane it is but the album doesn't stop there. Dead or Alive (which has to be up there for one of my favorite b-sides) features some powerful vocals and a dreamy synth that carries through the entire song. Then there's the closer, Come Back Home that is as equally insane as the title track. There's no words I can use to describe how much this album slaps.
14. Minisode1 : Blue Hour - TXT
Deciding my favorite TXT album this year was quite a feat for me as they've truly had quite the year. The Dream Chapter: Eternity is a magical masterpiece that almost feels like a dream. But Blue Hour really takes the concepts from that album and turns the dial up to 100. While short, it feels like you're taken on a journey through a dreamscape. The openers Ghosting is a powerful 80s inspired song with dreamlike vocals and Blue Hour, the title track, is a fun disco tune for the ages. There's also songs like the child-like Wishlist and Way Home that's full of 808 bass drums that bring this EP together. This album is a magical journey waiting to be taken.
13. NCT RESONANCE Pt 2 - NCT
Resonance Pt 2 features all the tracks that NCT gifted us on Pt 1 like Make A Wish (Birthday Song) that was on my top songs of the year, and b-side bops like Nectar by WayV and Deja Vu by NCT Dream, and packaged them with some new tracks. Songs like the title, 90's Love, and absolute bop, Work It, make really great additions to the already amazing tracklist. This album is made to be danced and jammed out to. If you're looking for a good time, then this album is for you.
12. HJZM: The Butterfly Phantasy - A.C.E
A.C.E are unappreciated kings and after an album like this I wonder how they aren't more popular in the K-Pop world. This album is another one that showcases strong duality. The opener Golden Goose is a song all about being powerful with an incredibly powerful chorus and catchy raps. Title track, Goblin (Favorite Boys), immediately follows that with an even more powerful chorus and more powerful raps. This is a song all about being the best and they aren't wrong. Then there's also soft tracks like the beautiful ballad, Stand By You that has some of my favorite vocals ever, and Clover, that could make any fan shed a tear. This album is criminally underrated and I hope more people give it a chance.
11. Never Gonna Dance Again: Acts 1 & 2 - Taemin
Taemin is a K-Pop God and so picking my favorite album he's released this year is like committing a crime. These albums also tell a story (with Act 1 being the dark side and Act 2 being the lighter side) and so it feels weird picking a favorite. Act 1 features bops like the powerful title track, Criminal, and a Korean version of one of my favorite Taemin tracks, Famous. But it also features the piano driven songs like Strangers (which has to be one of my favorite b-sides), and Clockwork. While Act 1 has the powerful title track, Act 2 certainly has the more powerful b-sides. Tracks like the most beautiful Heaven, Pansy, and Identity really carry this album through. This isn't to discredit what a powerful title track, Idea is though. These albums truly are a masterpiece.
10. Breath of Love: Last Piece - GOT7
This album is a late one but it definitely deserves to be on this list. Spanning 10 tracks, this album is truly a gift. With the title tracks, Breath and Last Piece, this album starts strong with some fun bops. But the fun doesn't stop with songs like Born Ready and I Mean It also being some fun tunes with the latter being an insanely romantic song that makes me blush. The closer We Are Young really ties it all together with an emotional twist for fans (at least it made me cry). This album is a great ended to the year.
9. KAI - Kai
This is another late one that had to be on this list. Kai who is also a member of EXO and SuperM, made his debut and damn did he come out with a bang. If you look up sexy in the dictionary you'll only see a picture of this album. The title track and opener, Mmmh, really tells you what you're in for with his sexy chorus. But it's b-sides like the synth-heavy Nothing On Me (one of my fave b-sides), and hip-hop influenced, Reason that really drive the sexiness of this record home. Kai really brought his A game for this record and that's why it's in the top 10.
8. Eyes wide open - TWICE
K-Pop royalty, Twice, made an album for the ages. While the title track, I Can't Stop Me, didn't make it onto my top tracks of the year (I opted it for More&More instead), I can't deny what a bop it is. It's 80s influence and dance-y beat really make this song incredible. And that tone is throughout the album with songs like Say Something. But this song also features some hard hitters like Hell In Heaven and my personal favorite Go Hard that certainly goes hard. Twice are Queens and this album really proves it.
7. The Book of Us: The Demon - Day6
One of my favorite K-bands, Day6, really gave fans a treat this year with this record. This album feels very reminiscent of the indie pop I grew up around and love. Opener, Day and Night really starts this album off with a pop flare that I love. Heavy guitars are also present like in songs Stop and 1 to 10. I can't forget the title track, Zombie, that is a softer pop tune that is also enjoyable. This album is full of great tracks that I can't hate a single one. Day6 really knew how to deliver with this record.
6. Map of the Soul: 7 - BTS
It wouldn't be a list about K-Pop without BTS and for good reason because they are the Kings and Map of the Soul: 7 is an album that really defines 2020 for me. Featuring the songs that made Persona, Intro: Persona, Boy with Luv, and Dionysus, the album has a wonderful extension. Every member gets a solo with my personal favorites being Suga's Interlude: Shadow, and Jin's Moon. Then there's the unit songs with my favorite being the rap-line's UGH!. But it's all brought together with ON, that was one of my top tracks of the year. Map of the Soul: 7 is BTS' best.
5. ZERO: FEVER, Pt. 1 - ATEEZ
Ateez have only been around for two years but they really knew how to put forth a good album since their debut but Fever Pt. 1 is truly a masterpiece. The title tracks, Inception and THANXX are two opposite sides of a coin with Inception being a beautiful, softer track and THANXX being an absolute bop. Both are absolutely incredible and really showcase their duality. Then there's the b-sides like the absolute bop, To The Beat, and powerful Fever. This album really defines Ateez.
4. EQUAL - WOODZ
WOODZ can do it all and this album proves it. Equal is full of powerful raps and vocals from this unique vocalist, and it's brought together with the fact that he wrote and produced it all. Songs like Lift Up, Accident, and NOID, really showcase his amazing vocals. Title track, Love Me Harder, gives us a sexy twist. And this album features some big names too like K-R&B singer, Colde on the soft R&B track Waikiki, and rapper, punchnello, on the hip-hop track, BUCK. EQUAL is full of surprises and Woodz delivers on every single one of them.
3. Fatal Love - Monsta X
Where do I even begin with Fatal Love? This album is virtually perfect for me as it's got it all, powerful raps, vocals, sexy tracks, soft tracks, hard tracks, what more could you want? The title track and opener, Love Killa, was one of my favorite of the year for many reasons that include; I.M's sexy rap, catchy chorus, incredible vocal delivery from all the vocalists, the hook that Jooheon delivers at the beginning 'I'm sorry did I make you anxious.' This album starts off strong but is only made strong with the latin-inspired, Gasoline (갈증) and absolutely mad, BEASTMODE and rap-heavy Stand Together (대동단결) that hit the album at this peak. But there's also the softer tracks like Nobody Else that features their vocalists at their best and Sorry I'm Not Sorry that closes out the album with a nice breath. Fatal Love is Monsta X's best.
2. Panorama - LUCY
Lucy were one of top debuts from this year and this album is one of the reasons why. This band is already unique as it is but their sound is something that I've been dying to hear. Panorama is the album I've been waiting to hear and you'll feel the same when you take a listn. It's indie pop influences are strong especially on the fun opener and title track, Jogging and summer-y Watermelon. Then there's the soft, lo-fi track, Enough, that feels perfect for a night drive in the summer. The closer though, Flare, is why this album is at number 2. This 6-minute track has 3 different sections that all flow well together. It's got it's soft spots, it's fun indie spots, and the 'I want to see this song at a concert and chant along' spots. Flare is Panorama's cherry on top. It's a perfect song for an already perfect record.
1. IN LIFE - Stray Kids
I said it when Stray Kids (spoiler alert) topped my top songs of 2020 list, but man have they had quite the year and In Life is just the child of that. In Life is Go Live's repackage so it has all the great moments from Go Live like the absolutely incredibly iconic title track God's Menu, rap heavy Easy, and chanty, TA and put them together with new tracks that made a great album even better. Title track, Back Door, is just as incredible as God's Menu with it's heavy bass and catchy chorus which is why (spoiler alert) they both topped my top songs of 2020. Then there's the opener The Tortoise and the Hare that really showcases all their rap skills and their insanity with slow parts and fast parts all tied together into a crazy 4-minute song. Then there's the tracks like We Go and Wow that are perfect for any party and the catchy, Any, that really bring this album together. It also helps that this album is all produced by them so it's feels even more insane. Stray Kids are proving themselves to be the leaders of the 4th generation of K-Pop and In Life is just proof of that.
Commentaires