2 days ago
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If you want to check out my rankings for other years:
2024 List
50-41 + Honourable Mentions // 40-31
30. ITZY – Imaginary Friend
After an inconsistent few years ITZY came roaring back in 2024 with some real gems. Untouchable stood as their most emblematic release but the achingly melodic Imaginary Friend was their crown jewel, injecting a sense of real vulnerability and emotion previously not highlighted in the groups discography. That airy, ascending pre-chorus is pure magic.
29. EVNNE – Badder Love
We all have our musical biases and the hyper-melodic pop of Badder Love is a major weakness of mine. And while I must admit there really isn’t anything revolutionary or groundbreaking about the track, its soaring chorus carries a sense of sincerity and heart that wins me over every time. And as I’ve said before, sometimes. there’s great strength in simplicity.
28. Rescene – Love Attack
A knockout chorus can really elevate a track to new heights and few this year were as incredible as Love Attack’s majestic layered centrepiece. In a musical landscape often dominated by chanted, repetitive hooks, a towering melodic chorus like this stands out like a sore thumb, channeling the maximalist energy of years past to deliver a complete standout.
27. Taemin – Horizon
Now this is just great stuff. Aggressive, pounding synth pop that doesn’t give you even a second to breathe. Taemin has graced us over the years with his fair share of pop marvels but few have ever gone as undeniably “massive” as Horizon. And while the track’s relentless energy can get somewhat exhausting over multiple listens, there’s just no denying how euphoric it can be in small doses.
26. Vahn (feat. BLKZEN) – Feeling
As the architect of much of NINE.i’s excellent 2023 musical run, I had high hopes for Vahn and his group this year. His unique vocal tone has incredible character and though 2024 came and went without much activity from Nine.i, Vahn himself massively delivered on my expectations with the emotive pop rock of Feeling. It’s a wonderful extension of the sounds previewed in last year’s (spectacular) Hurt, channeled through his own artistic lens. I cannot wait to see where he goes from here.
25. SF9 – Bibora
Channeling a propulsive deep house sound to excellent effect, SF9 continued to live up to their reputation as one of K-pop’s most consistent groups with the sleek early year standout, Bibora. It strikes an excellent balance, contrasting its thrilling driving beat with a more airy vocal performance to give the entire package a real sense of dynamics.
24. ARTMS – Virtual Angel
A magical listening experience, Virtual Angel stood as the strongest Loona adjacent release of the year with an arrangement to die for. The chopped-vocal loops that peppers the track are just magnificent, pulsing with futuristic energy that’s complemented by the gorgeous performance. It’s a wonderful dance between synth and vocal arrangement, invoking a (rather oxymoronic) sense of restrained propulsion that somehow works wonders.
23. G-Dragon – Home Sweet Home (feat. Taeyang, Daesung)
An electronic anthem that acted as a pseudo reunion for one of the most legendary Korean groups of all time, Home Sweet Home‘s trifecta of performers is almost worth the price of admission alone. There’s just no denying the power of such rich, unique vocal tones and it’s no more obvious than during the euphoric centrepiece. Sure the explosive production is to die for but you just don’t have the same song without GD’s iconic impish voice. And by the time all three performers come together for the climax, it’s almost like i’m back in 2015.
22. Riize – Love 119
The rare song that bypassed it’s chanted chorus to become one of the years most enduring hits, Love 119 came out at almost the very start of the year and stayed in consistent rotation nearly the entire time. What initially came across as cloying eventually evolved into endearing, bolstered by some truly great verses and a truely inspired interpolation of IZI’s Emergency Room. But as with most Riize tracks, its true calling card is the climax, which see’s lead vocalist Sohee deliver some wonderful adlib’s to really seal the deal.
21 – Just B – Daddy’s Girl (Explicit Version)
A classic pop rocker that heavily recalled the sounds of debut era 5SOS, Daddy’s Girl was a pleasant surprise made even sweeter by its bafflingly great explicit cut. Not only does it feel more natural but it brings the kind of camp that songs like this thrive off. And I’m not even being hyperbolic when I say that the chorus is unironically one of the best of the year. It just has the perfect balance between melody, weight and fun. It’s just such a good fucking time man.
20 – 11
English (US) · 