Music

While listeners can expect polished production and some of the year’s catchiest melodies from ZEROBASEONE, the sensational boy band’s latest shows depth and range that deserves a deeper listen. Opening tracks “Solar POWER” and “Feel the POP” hop through changing tempos and genres while the high-flying falsetto in “Dear ECLIPSE” and tender harmonies in “HELLO” deliver a noticeable maturity in both the performance and lyrical matter from the Boys Planet stars.

As one of Korea’s most in-demand idols, actors and models, Cha Eun Woo could have easily rested on his resumé of accomplishments and only pursued music with his boy band ASTRO. Instead, Entity shows an artist eager to reach further and show new sides of himself. Lead single “STAY” shows his penchant for storytelling through song, with the hauntingly beautiful track invoking as much emotion as a Korean drama. The sophisticated, five-track EP allows for more experimenting from Eun Woo, flexing his falsetto and R&B sensibilities on “U&I,” as the playful “Fu*king great time” lets out an unexpectedly explicit side of Eun Woo’s nuanced and compelling musical identity.

While most of the 12 members of LOONA linked up together in different groups like Loossemble and ARTMS (who also appears on this list), Yves decided to move forward solo with one of the most unexpected but exciting transformations in K-pop when she signed with PAIX PER MIL, the label led by indie producer millic. Not only does LOOP’s clubby title track see her weave her honeyed vocals through Lil Cherry’s hyped-up rap sections, but the rest of the EP delivers versatility for the “new” singer: “DIORAMA” is a dreamy slice of electro-R&B iciness, “Afterglow” is an all-English, emotional rush of rock and closing track “Goldfish” is an acoustic guitar and piano number to showcase Yves’ raw and tender vocals.

The promising boy band from HYBE’s KOZ Entertainment, BOYNEXTDOOR feel like they’re finding their home on their third EP. Not only is lead single “Earth, Wind & Fire” a genre-hopping spark of lightning (that slightly recalls some of the best work of Block B, the boy band of ZICO who founded KOZ), but it also feels like every track on HOW? takes an unexpected yet satisfying twist or turn at some point. Even the 1:40-long outro track “Dear. My Darling” evenly breaks up the track so that all of BND can rip over the bluesy rock production, with Jaehyun even packing some high falsetto belts into his four lines.

The boy band’s first release after completing their mandatory military duties revitalized seemingly A.C.E with even greater ambitions. My Girl : My Choice includes the nuanced drama on their electronic-pop declaration “Effortless,” heartfelt R&B balladry on “Angel” as well as a lighthearted soul for “My Girl” — releasing all three singles with English versions, to show that A.C.E’s plans for world domination are still intact.

Released before Dynamicduo’s 20th anniversary in May, the Korean hip-hop legends closed out their celebratory 2 Kids On The Block series with a strong smattering of crossover pop-rap hits. The nostalgic ’90s production influences in the lead single “PITAPA” recalled the work of DJ Premier (a past collaborator of Dynamicduo), while speaking to the pair’s global ambitions as they move towards a third decade. Spotlighting a mix of established and rising talents featured through the feel-good record, a standout like the Bewhy-assisted “Love Myself” lets the rising MC share his admiration for the K-hip-hop pioneers, as the Crush-featuring “Fly or Die” brings Dynamicduo’s signature words of aspiration, all for an album worthy of the significant milestone it helps celebrate.

As MARK told Billboard ahead of the release of DREAM( )SCAPE, “I think we can kind of express how it’s still NCT DREAM and sometimes we can also have bad dreams.” True to the group leader’s word, the EP marks the outfit’s most experimental yet, as NCT DREAM tweaked its signature idealism for tracks that also recognize hardship and offer an empowering message. The septet tackles topics of anxiety, fear and confinement, with the single “Smoothie” acting as a clever way to blend up all those worries and make something deliciously healing for a sweet final product.

Since EPEX debuted with the timely first single “Lockdown” in 2021 amid the global pandemic, the eight-member boy band has continuously delivered honest messages to its generation, speaking to the highs and inevitable lows in one’s daily life. The group’s first full-length Youth Chapter 1 : Youth Days stays true to the group’s message, with eight tracks touching on a range of emotions and genres. The sentimental “Graduation Day” first introduced the LP (recalling some of the best K-pop boy band material from the mid-’10s) and marked a reflective moment for the group, before they go on to explore ideas of anxiety, love and adolescence throughout the LP. As they encourage listeners in the anthemic singalong bridge on lead single “Youth2Youth”: “We can change and reverse (You can be a star)/ We can all be diverse (You can bе on top)/ Don’t you worry, let me see your bright light.”

Coining a new nickname on one of Quiz’s standout tracks, “Singer-songwridol” sees Jeong Sewoon embracing his status as a representative K-pop idol who is also a singer-songwriter, at peace with the sometimes juxtaposed sides he shows as an artist, but ultimately proud of his musicality. The confidence carries Sewoon throughout the eight-track record. Yet the most unexpected moment comes in the crossover English track “sharpie,” a collaboration with indie rockers Nightly, which could easily make its way onto U.S. pop and alternative radio.

An exploration of avant-garde electronic and pop elements, DALL reunites original LOONA producer Jaden Jeong (whose music helped create the group’s cult pop following) with five of the group’s bandmates, for a project that feels like it picks off where LOONA’s best work left off. The innovative production and otherworldly songwriting on the LP’s 11 tracks — including its crown jewel fifth single, “Virtual Angels” — lets Heejin, Haseul, Kim Lip, Jinsoul and Choerry into a playground of experimental pop that feels like only the beginning of the group’s true boundary-pushing potential.

Nakseo singles “LTNS” and “Groovin” were already two of the best R&B/K-pop crossover cuts upon release, with a majority of the iKON member’s first full-length experimenting with elements of guitar, electronic and dance music throughout the LP. Written entirely by DK, Nakseo feels like a true expression of an artist comfortable in himself, but still leaving the LP’s final tracks like “??” and “Genre” a little more open-ended to indicate there’s far more for the singer-songwriter-producer to show in the future.

For the K-pop rock band’s first release as a quartet, Fourever comes with a powerful message within the first minute. The opening track and lead single “Welcome to the Show” is a thrilling, stadium-sized anthem to show that DAY6 is ready to play top festivals worldwide. But just in case that doesn’t convince you, the peppy synth work on “The Power of Love,” the pounding punk influences of “Get the Hell Out” and the eerie coolness of the double voicing and piano work in “Sad Ending” will do just that.

If a 24-member K-pop girl group sounds like too much to handle, tripleS prove not only how accessible a listening experience that can be, but also how satisfying. For the first time, every member of the ambitious, two-year-old girl group project assembled for this massive album delivers an incredibly satisfying range of styles. The lead single “Girls Never Die” is not just an empowerment anthem for the next generation but ingeniously ensures that each member gets the moment to shine. Then “Heart Raider” mixes garage, hyperpop, and bubblegum K-pop elements, before “White Soul Sneakers” takes the group into Afrobeats territory — marking just a few highlights from this 10-track journey.

ATEEZ kicked off another epic era with the first part of the group’s Golden Hour series, delivering one of its catchiest singles to date in “WORK.” But as the catchy song lures fans in, the tribal beats and chants on “Blind,” the reggae groove of “Shaboom” and the sentimentality of “Empty Box” make this EP a musical trip around the world, as well through a range of emotions. ATEEZ’s Coachella set feels like just a warm-up for what the group will deliver on their upcoming stadium tour, with these new Golden Hour songs’ live performances being a must-see.

Not only does Born to Be deliver some of ITZY’s most ambitious tracks yet with the maximalist title track, anthemic lead single “UNTOUCHABLE” and rhythmic-yet-dreamy “Mr. Vampire.” But for the first time, the ITZY members all sing and co-write solo songs to give us new insight into each of the girls. From the unexpected electro-R&B grooves of Chaeryeong’s “Mine” to the sweet synth-y gem “Blossom” from Lia (gifted to fans on the LP even as the star is on hiatus for her mental health), ITZY’s fifth anniversary in 2024 is all the more special with this project, which lets the group’s members finally share and extend themselves more creatively.

Trust Me showcases the youngest GOT7 member’s evolution as an artist, blending R&B and hip-hop influences with smooth vocals and introspective lyrics. Including some of Yugyeom’s best collabs, like 2023’s “Ponytail” with Sik-K and the LeeHi-featuring “Say Nothing,” Trust Me lives up to its name, with the 14 tracks proving the decade-long wait for his first full-length album worth it as a complete, cohesive project. The set highlights Yugyeom at his artistic peak, beginning with the bossa nova single and opening track “La Sol Mi,” and continuing as with the swirling ’80s synthesizers of “SHINE,” the effortless hip-hop hooks of “1 Minute” and more delightful turns, as you fall into one of the best album listening experiences from Korea this year.

Beyond any sci-fi connotations that one might conjure up when listening to virtual boy band PLAVE, ASTERUM: 134-1 album shows proper musical depth with heavy involvement from all five members in the songwriting, production and instrumentation. (PLAVE’s five members utilize motion-capture technology to track their movements and expressions displayed by computer graphics.)

The smooth reggaetón influences on album opener “Watch Me Woo!” quickly set an intriguing soundscape, before moving into the album’s centerpiece in rock-pop single “Way 4 Luv.” Later tracks “From” and “Our Movie” keep the sentimentalism of the lead single: “From” highlights the group’s harmony and falsetto work over stark piano production and “Our Movie” brings back up the tempo with a snappy R&B beats paired with shout-along choruses. The highly clever “Virtual Idol” even directly addresses those who might not think of PLAVE as “real” enough. Instead, it uses a singalong, hip-hop production to declare the group’s worth in a self-empowerment anthem for fans.

Kicked off with a personal ode to friendship in pre-release single “I Got You,” With YOU-th not only delivered two of TWICE’s best singles in years (with “I Got You” and lead single “One Spark”) but also showcased the group’s exciting future in further experimentation. The Chaeyoung-penned “RUSH” sounds like a girl-group spin on PinkPantheress while “BLOOM,” written by Jeongyeon, not only has TWICE’s members weaving together high-soprano and low-alto ranges, but also bringing new dimension to their deliveries with the vocal affects.

Ending the Billboard 200-topping album with “You Get Me,” which was written by Dahyun (the third track written entirely by one of the TWICE members), brings the opening message of “I Got You” full circle as the group sings, “’Cause you get me/ Oh when I’m with you, I’m the best me” — showcasing the true love and friendship within TWICE, with the group still hitting milestones nearly 10 years in.

While co-starring with BTS member V in the music video for the lead single “Love Wins All” brought additional global attention, IU’s latest project proved more than worth the hype. A powerful ballad single with “Love Wins All” set the stage for IU to deliver a generous offering of inspirational K-pop, where she promises she’s “gonna go to win” over grooving percussion on “Holssi” and offers an aspirational synth-pop stunner with “Shopper.”

Clearer than ever on The Winning, IU never seems like she’s chasing trends, but instead takes what’s trending and puts her spin on it to make it truly timeless. This is perhaps best seen in “Shh..,” which combines Hyein of NewJeans (in her first-ever song feature) with the Korean rock band singer Wonsun Joe, plus narration from 86-year-old Korean music legend Patti Kim.

In his latest solo effort, RM again examines his identity and emotions, with one of 2024’s most ambitious records across any genre. Right Place, Wrong Person is an intimate outlet for the BTS leader to experiment musically and candidly share his thoughts. Just like how the video for main single “LOST!” opens with a nametag declaring “INSIDE NAMJOON’S BRAIN” (RM’s birth name is Kim Namjoon), RPRW shares the superstar’s larger questions.

Songs like the nearly six-and-a-half-minute pre-release track “Come back to me” or the blend of cultures, languages, sentiments and sounds on “Domodachi” (featuring Little Simz) don’t feel crafted for mainstream mass appeal, but instead feel more like spaces for the rapper-singer to reflect and release himself from the hardships of life — and maybe even his own mind. Without the immense pressure of leading the world’s biggest pop group, RM sounds liberated to express all aspects of himself: his anger, his hope, as well as his confusion, excitement, love, loneliness, mania and so much more.