2 days ago
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If you want to check out my rankings for other years:
2024 List
40 – aespa – Live My Life
A deviation from the experimental industrial pop sounds that have thus far marked their career, Live My Life came as a revelation for aespa. It’s a real throwback to the melodic pop rock songs of the early 2010’s with a fantastic hook and even stronger performance. This is a great single and one that’s even better live.
39. ZEROBASEONE – Sweat
Bolstered by an emphatic “rum pum pum padam” hook, Sweat launched ZEROBASEONE into an early kpop summer standout. It’s got energy in spades and sometimes that’s all you need for a great seasonal effort. .
38. Moon Byul – Touchin’&Movin’
Bouncy pop-funk wrapped up in an undeniably taut yet rhythmically free-flowing fashion, Touchin&Movin is a full realisation of the potential only really hinted at in Moonbyul’s previous releases. The subtle plucking of the rhythm guitar alongside the maximalist nature of the production work in perfect tandem to deliver one of the most joyous songs of the year.
37 – Dragon Pony – Pop Up
It’s been a while since a K-rock group have really caught my attention but if Pop Up is any indication, then Dragon Pony are one for the future. This exactly the kind of life affirming sound that I love so much and while that anthemic chorus is oh, so good, the vocal performance is what truly pushes it over the edge.
36. Young Posse – Ate That
Easily one of my favourite tracks of the year from a pure production standpoint, Ate That takes 90’s hip-hop (in my mind specifically Tupca’s California Love) as a template and just runs for the rafters. One part homage, one part parody, there’s no denying just how hard this undeniably fun this track is. And at its core, isn’t that why so many of us came to love K-pop in the first place?
35. 8Turn – Like A Friend
Released just a few weeks ago, Like A Friend has already gone on to be a daily musical driver. The slight hint of sentimentally that underpins the expansive melody of the chorus coupled with the gorgeously tuned new-jack swing production is just musical catnip to my ears. In many ways it reminds me of a more finely tuned produce song which adds another nostalgic layer to an already delicious treat.
34. EPEX – Youth2Youth
EPEX have gone through a number of sounds throughout their career but the emotive Youth2Youth might be their strongest yet. For much of its first half, it plays a wonderful push and pull game with the listener, alternating the momentum of its verses, pre-chorus and hook in quite interesting ways before absolutely exploding around the half way point with a thrilling chant and even more potent climax. If you want to play with song structure, this is how you do it.
33. TXT – Deja Vu
While TXT have gone down the angsty pop rock route in the past with even greater results, Deja Vu once again proved that few groups are as consistent in the genre as them. And while I initially wasn’t fully on board with the break up in momentum between chorus and verse, there’s just no denying the strength of that hook and the wonderful crystalline synths that pepper it. Time has done nothing but made this even more potent.
32. ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – APT.
Utter ubiquity coupled with some real star power can really do wonders for a track and APT. outmanoeuvred its initially potentially cloying hook to absolutely rule the world for much of the second of the year. Western collaborations in K-pop have come and gone with mixed results but I dont think it would a far fetch to say this is the first time it’s truly hit big. And to be completely honest, when you’ve one of the best and most singable pre-chorus melodies of the year, a few chanted “APATEU APTAEU”‘s go quite freaking hard. This is just so damn fun.
31. Red Velvet – Cosmic
One of the most critically acclaimed K-pop releases of the year, Cosmic stands as Red Velvet’s strongest and most assured release in years. From the fantastic Midsommar inspired music video to the heavenly strings that butress the gorgeous layered vocals of the chorus, it’s the complete package. But as great as all that is, it would be a crime to talk about Cosmic without mentioning its transcendental bridge, which takes Cosmic from just another great song to a clear career standout.
30 – 21
English (US) · 