Top 50 Singles of 2015: 5-1

5. Seventeen - Mansae



If they wowed me with their debut, I was utterly floored with this follow-up. It's like a whole year's worth of pop energy wrapped up into three minutes.

4. Shinee - View



It's hard to imagine a better beat this year. Initially, I thought it sounded too European, but this song turned out to be the biggest earworm of the year. Every time it comes on in a playlist, it feels like it's summer again.

3. BTS - I Need U



A true turning point for this fast-rising group, and their highest entry ever on this countdown. It has so much more emotional heft than any of their previous singles, and that electro sledgehammer that rounds out the chorus drives it all home. Truly a timeless, genre-less pop song.

2. Super Junior - Devil 



From the emotional to the unstoppably fun, Super Junior managed to release the best, most effortless single of their long career. Some songs just lift your spirits when you hear them, and it's impossible to stay sad or upset when Devil comes on. Sometimes simplicity and a killer hook is all it takes to forge a masterpiece.

1. Kat-Tun - Dead Or Alive 



Never has a Japanese track hit the top spot on my countdown, and I'm so happy that Dead Or Alive is the one to do it. I'm a sucker for dramatic, orchestral production, and this track is damn near symphonic in nature. I first heard it about a month after it was released, and was intrigued but thought the lack of a strong backbeat was somewhat unfortunate. Then, a few months later, the song appeared in a random playlist and those opening fifteen or so seconds just blew away everything I had been listening to that day. So grand and majestic... so BIG. Since then, it's been the track to beat all year, and nothing's been able to fully match up. It really is a transcendent piece of pop music, with all the bells and whistles I go crazy for.

Top Albums and Mini-Albums of 2015: Number 3

ALBUMS

3. Shinee - Odd/Married To The Music



A Shinee release is always something to get excited about, and then they went and repackaged an already brilliant album into an even more brilliant rerelease. Though not quite up their with the groups best 2013 releases, Odd showed us many new sides to the group that let them reconfigure their sound just a bit. It also resulted in two of the year's best singles, as well as some left-field gems that could have easily taken over airwaves as well.

MINI ALBUMS

3. BTS - The Most Beautiful Moment In Life (Part One)



BTS released two mini albums this year, though they kind of function as one multi-part concept. Their first, released back in April, is the stronger, with a non-stop barrage of flawless tracks. From the upbeat silliness of Boyz With Fun to the dark and touching I Need U, the album is balanced perfectly between moods and really ushers the group into a new status and sound. It's definitely one of the more unique and characteristic albums released this year in Korea.

Top 50 Singles of 2015: 45-41

45. Shinee - Married To The Music



A funky, Michael Jackson inspired summer track that feels indebted in one way or another to the best of every decade's music trends.

44. Infinite F - My Heart Is Beating



Infinite's lightest and poppiest subunit debuted with this cotton-candy confection that's almost too sweet, but it's anchored by a wallop of a hook.

43. Bigbang - Sober



Bigbang released more singles this year than any other k-pop artist, and this rock-influenced track stood out with its anthemic hook and crunchy guitars.

42. Lovelyz - Ah-Choo 



The high energy "cute concept" was strong with girl groups this year in Korea, and Lovelyz was a chief example. This is their most addictive single yet.

41. Janet Jackson - No Sleeep 



The legend returned not with a bang, but a quiet storm of a single that hearkens back to the moodiest music of her past.

K-Pop Halloween: Day Three

In the infancy of this blog, I used to post a lot of Halloween-themed songs during the month of October. After a few years, that feature started to dwindle a bit. After all, there are only so many Halloween songs out there! But, to better reflect the changing tastes of the blog, I thought it would be fun to feature some Halloween-related tracks from Korea (and maybe one from Japan). Halloween isn't big in Korea, but I like to think these horror-themed songs could stand right alongside Thriller or Monster Mash!

Shinee - Nightmare
Shinee's Misconceptions of Me has several tracks that would fit the season, but this opener hits all the right notes with its dark, synth beat and slinky chorus.



Park Jung Min - Devil
Jung Min's 2012 album Midnight Theatre is almost a Halloween album unto itself, especially when he integrates a dramatic church organ so completely into the dance beat.

Shinee - Married To The Music

I came back from the awesome experience that was KCON 2015 just yesterday, and it really made me even more obsessed with K-Pop than I was before. I didn't think it was possible, but I was proven wrong. Even better, when I returned from the convention, there was handful of new releases waiting for me. The one I was most excited for was Shinee's new single. Their View, despite initially underwhelming, has wormed its way up to my most-played song of the year so far. I'm not sure that Married To The Music can top that. It's just not as catchy. However, its overall sound inches closer to what I love and expect from Shinee's music. It actually sounds kind of like a slightly less awesome version of Exo's Love Me Right, which was released two months ago. In other words, it's heavy on the MJ-inspired funk. The real reason I wanted to mention it, though, is so that I could post the fun and crazy music video. It's so bizarre, yet you can't turn away. You've just gotta watch it.

Shinee - Woof Woof

K-Pop royalty Shinee released a new album yesterday, and of course I was super excited for it. The band had an awe-inspiringly massive 2013 musically, but have been focused on solo endeavors since. The album is solid, if not completely the version of Shinee that I love best. Their new single, View, is an instantly catchy summer dance track. It's very good, and I like it very much, but it also feels kind of basic and... familiar? Actually, it's an example of a trend in k-pop that I'm not too thrilled about. Entertainment companies in Korea have always looked outward for songwriters, hiring many from Europe and the States. In the past, these songwriters have given k-pop artists their most experimental, genre-mashing singles. Of late, though, a lot of these imported songs are sounding like... well, imported songs. View was written by UK songwriters, and it sounds very much like a UK dance track. I like it better than those UK singles, because I like Shinee better, but what drew me to k-pop in the first place were its differences from Western pop. It has its tropes and trends, but it also takes more risks than a lot of Western mainstream music. Take Woof Woof, a track on the latter half of the new Shinee album, as an example. It's another European songwriter, but the entire sound and composition is... weirder. Somehow they take a genre I usually hate (big band/swing) and transform it into a modern dance production. The fact that I love this is a testament to just how awesomely and energetically it's been arranged. Oh yeah, and that mammoth chorus helps. It's not necessarily the specific sound I'd want from a group like Shinee, but I admire its adventurous spirit and balls-to-the-wall bombast.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Top 20 Albums of 2014: 18-17

18. Shinee - I'm Your Boy



Another release that may just as well have been a Japanese compilation of singles, the factor that elevates this album slightly is the inclusion of several new tracks -- all of them brilliant. Honestly, I probably would have ranked it higher had I not been familiar with so many of the songs already through single and b-side releases. Still, the album stands as an exclamation mark to the group's jaw-droppingly prolific and awesome 2013.

17. Epik High - Shoebox



I'm usually not much for straight up rap, and this album is much more of that genre than Epik High's last release, but the tracks here have a poetic, character-filled flow to them. The cavalcade of guest vocalists definitely helps give the album a more diverse feel, though the tempo is usually firmly in the "mid," save for a few bursts of energy here and there. It's a great late Fall/early Winter album.

Taemin - Danger

"It's my show time"

This is the new Michael Jackson single we've been waiting for, and it comes from Korea and... not Michael Jackson. It makes sense, though, since Korea is one of the places that still gives a crap about the Jacksons' sound (another reason why I love K-Pop). Taemin is a member of the amazing group Shinee, and he's actually the first to go solo. He's the youngest member, known especially for his dancing. With Danger, he gets to show that off, as well as pay tribute to his idol, MJ. This song had me from the first verse. It's produced by Danish genius (and favorite of this blog) Thomas Troelsen and you can definitely tell. Those "bom bom bom" bits in the verses are among the best pop song pieces I've heard all year. It truly is what Michael might have sounded like had he gotten his start in this era. Like most of k-pop, it also benefits from the ridiculously cool music video, so I'm posting that today rather than just the song. Enjoy!



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the mini album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Top 20 Albums Of 2013: 4-3

4. Natalia Kills - Trouble



Going in to the new year, Natalia Kills was not on my radar. Like the other uninitiated, I think I stupidly considered her a pale imitation of Gaga. Shame on me. In September, she put me right by releasing an album of personal, melodic pop with a definite edge. It eclipses her debut by leaps and bounds and feels like a real statement, carving her own place in the pop landscape. On first listen, I knew that it was good, but it kept pulling me back over a period of weeks, revealing new highlights each time. This is the hallmark of an album with staying power, and it’s going to be hard for her to top.

3. Shinee - 2013 Studio Albums



Let’s see…. In the past twelve months, these guys have released nine singles, three albums and one EP. Hardest working band on the planet? I wouldn’t doubt it. The most impressive thing about this feat is that every release has remained remarkably consistent. So much so, that I didn’t feel it was right to separate their 2013 oeuvre. If I were to, I’d be sure to highlight their first album of the year, Dream Girl, a collection of fizzy, neon future pop with one foot firmly in the past. But then came Why So Serious, and later the lamely titled Boys Meet U, with its awesome psychedelic opener and summery title track.

Top 50 Singles Of 2013: 15-11

15. Avicii - Wake Me Up



The EDM track of the year, easily. Represents an amazing new hybrid of dance, country and soul that enthralled everybody, n every country, this year.

14. Shinee - Why So Serious?



I love it when K-Pop goes rock, and the electric guitars and goofy ad-libs made this the Shinee single to beat in 2013.

13. Martin Rolinski - On The Run



More of this, Martin! I'm here for the fist pumping chorus and skyscraping beats. A total anthem.

12. Studio Killers - Jenny 



Four singles in, Studio Killers released what may be their highlight. Whip-smart lyrics married to a laidback, funky electronic beat

11. Robin - Boom Kah 



Robin Packalen came back in a big way with this track. It shouldn't be good, but somehow he always manages to take the best of the current pop landscape and make it into something incredibly joyous.

Top 50 Singles Of 2013: 20-16

20. Anton Ewald - Beggin'



The big breakthrough of this year's Melodifestivalen. Some have called it out as not having much in the way of melody, but I've always defended it as the massive pop song it is.

19. Haloo Helsinki! - Huuda! (Shout!)



An unexpected gem from Finland. That sledgehammer beat made this a rock band to really pay attention to, no matter what language they sing in.

18. Girls' Generation - I Got A Boy



K-Pop's most intriguing experiment of 2013. A single whose structure is so complicated and multi-faceted that it nearly becomes its own album medley.

17. Shinee - Dream Girl 



The single that kicked off Shinee's extraordinary 2013 run. Pure, vibrant pop with a chorus so big it echoes from the rooftops.

16. Ola - Maybe 



Ola's always been a favorite, but this is when he started making music that really registered beyond pure pop. It's just huge.

Shinee - One Minute Back

Quite recently, Korea's Shinee have become one of the most prolific groups ever. Let's see... since this time last year, the guys have released seven singles, three albums and one EP. That's a lot for a pop group, and the great thing is that their music has't suffered. It's remained remarkably consistent and adventurous. The group has released some of the best K-Pop of the year. Their new mini-album/EP is out now and, while it took me awhile to fully come around lead single/title track Everybody, I'm firmly there now. The rest of the songs on the album are some of the most experimental they've recorded. I'm obsessed with the intricate production of One Minute Back. It takes awhile to get used to, as the tempo and mood changes often, but again it's that production that keeps me coming back. I love the drums in the first verse. It's very Michael Jackson, were he still alive and recording now.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Shinee - Password

I know a lot of you are probably wondering why this mostly-Euro-centric blog has been upping the K-Pop content over the past year. You may think it's just a phase. I thought it would be too, but I am fully invested in Asian music, now. Obviously, I've still got way more English-language stuff on tap, but I can't ignore some of the awesomeness coming from the east. And for this year, top of the list in Awesomeness goes to Shinee. They've done something remarkable in releasing three (!) albums of stellar quality over the past six months. First there were their double Korean releases, Dream Girl and Why So Serious, and now they've put out their second full-length Japanese album. So, technically, this is J-Pop. While being a bit ballad heavy, Boys Meet U is an excellent collection of songs -- better than Why So Serious, in my mind, but not quite as amazing as Dream Girl. The guys (or rather, the production team behind them) are really experimenting with their sound. I love the ferocious dubstep-meets-punk Kiss Yo. But Password, which opens the album, is even more impressive. It's full-on electric psychedelia. The spacey instrumental in the hook reminds me of the 70's (particularly ELO and Elton John's stellar Funeral For A Friend). The melody is equally grandiose. Even if you've been unimpressed with the Asian music I've been posting the last few months, check this out because it's different and very, very cool.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Shinee - Why So Serious?

I told you I would write about Shinee's new single as soon as it was released! I was immensely impressed with their first album of the year and its accompanying single, Dream Girl. Why So Serious doesn't sound like either, but that's no bad thing. I love the track's rock-elements, which are taken to an almost cheesy level of bombast. The verses are a bit of a mess, but that chorus is clear as a bell. I love how the melody lifts in unexpected directions, speeding up and slowing down. It's a real interesting choice for a lead single. I haven't listened to the entirety of the new album yet, but what I've heard so far isn't hitting me as strongly as the last one. I'll give it time to grow, but so far it sounds slower and less interesting overall. We'll see. Many are claiming that this track is the worst on the album. At this point, I'd say the exact opposite.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.

Shinee - Punch Drunk Love

I've been meaning to post a track from these guys for awhile now. I am deep in my somewhat newfound love for K-Pop, and one of the things I noticed very quickly was that (even more than the western market), albums by K-Pop stars are very uneven. Most of the time, I only really like the single and maybe one or two other tracks. Shinee's new album, Dream Girl: The Misconceptions Of You, completely bucks that trend. From start to finish, it's incredibly strong. Punch Drunk Love is the perfect K-Pop song for those who don't like (or are unaware of) the genre. This is mostly because, despite the language, it doesn't sound Korean at all. It's a summery, Michael Jackson-esque slice of retro funk pop with an impossibly strong melody and harmonies. I credit that to co-writer Thomas Troelsen who, as founder of Danish pop act Private, has written more than his share of MJ-inspired tracks. This is one of his best, and a good indication of what the rest of the fantastic album sounds like. It's Exhibit A in why Danish + Korean = Awesome.



(Music posted for evaluation purposes only. If you like what you hear, support the artists. Buy the album here. Follow me on twitter and facebook.