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From BTS’ RM, J-Hope to PSY, NewJeans, Epik High, DPR IAN – 10 best Korean albums of 2022 that highlight supreme sonic diversity
The year 2022 has been a diverse year in terms of Korean music. It has been rewarding for supremely talented artists who ponder the past, and future, and reflect on life, memories and beyond. From comebacks of legendary artists like PSY and EPIK HIGH to solo releases by BTS members RM and J-Hope to rookies like NewJeans making breakout debuts, one could not have asked for more variety in music. There was something for every listener to pick from. From the subdued dances in the mellow sun, while The Rose’s Heal plays in the background to an extravagant ballroom dance with DPR IAN’s debut studio album MITO serving as a thrilling soundtrack, each album is a reflection of many moods and experiences of the artist who created them and the listener who indulged in them. Let’s take a look at some of the best Korean albums of 2022 across genres like R&B, hip-hop, alternative rock, alternative indie, dance-pop, rap, ballads and more! (The albums listed here are in no particular order. This list is not a ranking).
EPIK HIGH – EPIK HIGH IS HERE PART 2
EPIK HIGH IS HERE is the tenth studio album by the veteran hip-hop group Epik High. The album was released in two parts, the first one being released in 2021 and the second one being released in early 2022. The second part is titled Epik High is Here Part 2. While the first part focused on the struggles and obstacles faced by Epik High in their twenty-year-long career, the second part was more or less a celebration of their success. The album begins with a short prelude which announces that the trio is here and they are here to stay. As the album progresses, Epik High paints a sonically vibrant picture of how they rose to their current level. Using all cards in their arsenal, the hip-hop trio employs R&B, hip-hop, synth bass, electro-pop and even ballads to put out a picture of a life-altering journey.
BTS’s J-Hope is one of the most versatile artists of the third generation of Korean music. The rapper-dancer-songwriter-producer has stood firm on the tests of being a fine-tuned musician who knows exactly which words to pair with which form of music to appease the fans and also present his story to the world. The multifaceted artist surprised the fans with a rambunctious musical offering with his debut studio album Jack in the Box. The album comes more than three years after his first solo mixtape Hope World. Playing on the themes of Pandora’s Box, J-Hope speaks about passion, ambition, insecurity and anxiety in his album. While Hope World was a ray of sunshine, Jack In The Box is a cloudy rainy day. It is much closer to the artist as he presents a side of his personality which was largely unknown to the outside world. Being a rapper, J-Hope sticks to hip-hop music for his tracks, occasionally taking help of grunge pop and R&B. As the album progresses, it charts J-Hope’s rise as an artist and a human - right from getting his stage name, putting everyone else before himself, to finally learning to love himself and accepting himself as he is.
DPR IAN is one of the most promising musicians out there. After dabbling with different forms of music for a career of more than a decade, the Australian-Korean artist found a new voice once again with his solo venture as DPR IAN. His music has always had a touch of hauntingly beautiful experiences and his debut studio album MITO is no different. Helmed as a continuation of his 2021 EP Moodswings in this Order, the 12-track album is a sonic extravaganza. Experimenting with synth-pop, R&B, rock, and alternative rock as well, the English album speaks about love, greed and obsession. DPR IAN’s vocals are cocooned in a warm shell of music that reflects the inner workings of his mind and the character ‘Mr. Insanity'. There is a touch of insanity to the music for it reveals how strong an emotion can get.
The Rose as a group has had quite a tumultuous journey in music. From rising to popularity with their debut single ‘Sorry’, to a yearlong break from music and leaving their company, the then rookies faced a lot of ups and downs. But they kept going. Their break as a band was anything but temporary. During the time they were on a break, each member focused on their solo growth - both as a musician and an artist. Like a rose that blooms in spring with its soft, gorgeous petals and sweet smell, the group The Rose made a stunning comeback in 2022 with their 10-track album HEAL. The album is a collection of memories and ideas of romance. Sticking to their formula of presenting bilingual songs, The Rose displayed a great artistic palette once again. Spread on a canvas of genres like ballads, alternative rock and RnB, The Rose paints a breathtaking picture of romance, life and the living with their album Heal.
As a group, TOMORROW X TOGETHER has been quite promising in delivering quality music. The quintet has been instrumental in putting the emotional upheaval of a young adult in a very raw and artistic manner. The group’s latest musical phenomenon is their EP Minisode 2: Thursday’s Child. Using genres like punk rock, synth-pop, R&B and hip-hop, TXT has presented a story that incorporates all the emotional ups and downs that come with breaking up from a romantic relationship as a young adult. The EP charts the protagonist’s emotions as the protagonist goes from anger to denial, loss and acceptance.
BTS’s leader RM never fails to surprise his listeners with his musical genius. The juggernaut has been very vocal about his growth as a human and an artist and it has served as an inspiration for millions across the globe. The rapper-songwriter has always presented a different shade of his persona with each word he writes and sings. If one is looking for a shoulder to cry on, or even a warm hug, then RM’s music would do that for you. RM can write beautiful breath-taking lyrics that would give you respite to take a deep breath or two. With his second solo venture Indigo, RM presents shades of blue reflecting his life journey. Indigo is a record of his 20s and a candid introduction of who RM truly is. Each track portrays RM’s outspoken opinions, prevailing thoughts, reminiscence of the past and instant feelings. The title ‘indigo’ comes from the name of the natural hue that represents RM’s taste for natural things. Indigo also acts as an indication of the change in his thoughts, taste and tendencies since his last mixtape mono. which was visualized in black and white. The colour of ‘indigo’ is also visualized in the album’s cover art showing RM in a denim look along with a painting called ‘Blue’ by late Korean painter Yun Hyong Keun, whom he admires most. Despite presenting his journey, RM makes it possible for the listeners to find their crevice in the heart of his words and make a home for themselves. RM, who has said to have a lot on his mind, has found a way to deliver his story to the world and make the world welcome in his journey. RM’s Indigo paints the listener’s experience in rich shades of blue, be it a soft baby blue shade when listening to ‘Wildflower’ with Youjeen, or a deep dark hue when listening to Hectic. RM collaborated with artists like Tablo of Epik High, Colde, Anderson Paak, Kim Sawol, Mahalia and Paul Blanco for some of the tracks in the album. Each artist brings out the beauty of RM’s composition in their manner which enriches the experience. RM’s Indigo gives you the blues of life and the living, and at the same time gives you that warm hug in the form of a song.
JAY B, the leader of the K-pop group GOT7 and soloist, is one of the few artists out there who has a new musical personality with each new moniker. He is JB when he is with his buddies from GOT7, he is JAY B when he is solo and he is def. when he is solo but, in a mood, to create something very up close and personal. The artist def. has given the fans a plethora of music to groove to in the R&B, alternate pop and indie genres. With Abandoned Love, his second EP as def., JayB sings about a broken romantic relationship. His unique vocal capabilities allow him the room to envelop the lyrics in a mood that is hazy and quite peaceful. Romance and relationships are not easy paths to chart, when a relationship ends, it ends a certain aspect of your life that you were used to living every day. JAY B has learnt the art of articulating those emotions of grief, anger and hurt in songs that are well-matched with a melody that reaches the depths of one’s heart. He does not pick sides in his narration; he presents both sides of a relationship and pens a heartfelt ode to a wonderful time in one’s life.
When speaking of legendary K-Pop music comebacks of 2022, it wouldn’t be fair to leave out one of the most popular entertainers - PSY. His track ‘Gangnam Style’ shone a new light of recognition on K-pop music. It has been a decade since and there is not one person who is not aware of the hit track. Cut to 2022, and we have PSY once again to charm his way into our playlists. His 9th studio album which is titled Psy 9th was much more than a music comeback for it not only brought new music from the quirky hitmaker, but it also gave the fans something utterly unexpected - a collaboration with SUGA of BTS. Considering the type of music that SUGA is synonymous with, a collaboration with PSY was a delightful surprise. But the duo stood firm on their promise and gave the audience a stunning dance number ‘That That’. He brought more musical surprises with collaborations with Suzy, Jessi, Hwasa and Crush. The album is a complete joyride for fans who want to witness PSY’s acerbic music paired with profound lyrics compelling them to simply get up and start dancing.
It is rare to see K-pop companies make surprise debuts of groups. There’s usually hype created around a group before their debuts. But, much to everyone’s surprise, NewJeans, the first girl group under HYBE subsidiary ADOR, created a buzz like no other. With 2000s-style music and a quirky group name, the five-member girl group turned out to be trailblazers right from their debut. Their self-titled four-track EP caught the ‘attention’ for its retro and Y2K aesthetic in the visuals and the music as well. Latching onto the idea of throwbacks and nostalgia, the quintet appeased fans of all ages with relatable and delicious sonic crumbs spread throughout their song ‘Cookie’. The songs ‘Attention’ and ‘Hype Boy’ put the group on the map. When was the last time a song in the K-pop industry took the internet by storm like ‘Hype Boy’? From musicians to actors, music listeners to dancers – everyone was hooked to the song and the hook step. The songs plucked threads of the hazy and tropical beats that set a groovy tone throughout. The mini-EP served as a delightful insight into the type of music the girls would be presented with in the future.
SHINEE’s KEY – GASOLINE
SHINee’s Key (Kim Kibum) has always come up with a musical surprise with every release. The second-generation K-pop group’s member has had a successful venture as a soloist that presents a new side to his artistry with every song he releases. Key’s music is quirky, out of the box, and full of razzmatazz just like the singer himself. After a wait of over a year, Key released new music in 2022 with his second studio album Gasoline. The album can be almost dubbed as Key’s autobiography for he participated in the songwriting of several tracks. He employs up-tempo brass, and drum beats clubbed with electro and trap elements in the lead single. He also ventures into R&B and jazz for B-side tracks in the album.
Also Read: From NewJeans to LE SSERAFIM, TNX to Tempest – 10 glorious K-pop debut groups of 2022
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