1. Newjeans - OMGWith Ditto out of the equation, this was a no-brainer. An impeccably produced whimsical earworm
of the highest caliber by FRNK that started another slam dunk year for Newjeans. Can't wait for
what's next. This song, it's about you baby.
2. Newjeans - Super ShyI was worried at first about bringing in new songwriters and producers, but Frankie Scoca (A+
credentials, btw) & co did an excellent job with preserving the Newjeans sound while injecting
new kind of cute, manic energy into it.
3. Aespa - Better ThingsWhile I embrace the wacky chaos of Aespa's usual sound, Better Things is just a perfectly crafted,
utterly enjoyable, relaxing and chill tune that refuses to leave my headspace even now. So good.
4. IVE - MineA nearly flawless little gem. It's kind of cute, it's kind of dark and melancholic... all of its parts
come together really well... I love it.
5. Billlie - NeverthelessBillage 3 was an amazing ep, all of its songs competing for spots in my top 10. Nevertheless
stands out with its incredible beat and unique vocal melodies. Perhaps it ends a little abruptly,
but it doesn't detract much.
6. Newjeans - ETA250 was the star of 2022 (well, if we count Ditto, the star of this year as well), and ETA is another
banger from the offbeat k-edm mastermind... we can go whenever, wherever he likes.
7. IVE - Blue BloodBlue Blood is one of the standout tracks from IVE's wonderful debut album and serves as perfect
opener... it's dark and echo-y, a pulsating beat with just the right amount of strings thrown in...
it sets the mood, it's a whole vibe.
8. Aespa - Welcome to My WorldThis is probably the most epic song of the year, the theme song of Kwangya. A beautiful, grandiose
tune with just the right dose of the patented Aespa weirdness.
9. Chuu - HowlLAST MINUTE ADDITION. I literally only listened to this EP for the first time two days before counting
the votes and I was struggling with the idea of adding this song to the top 10 this late. But it's just
too good. The entire EP is a really pleasant experience with some very unique approaches and Chuu's
vocals are just doing things I'm not used to hearing in a kpop release. Howl admittedly should be a
little longer, but everything from the Imogen Heap (Imogen Chuu?) intro, the synthpop stylings and
Chuu singing her ass off make this a must-have on my list.
10. XG - Left RightFor the longest time I thought this was released in 2022, glad I re-checked... anyway I listened to
XG quite a bit in 2023. And now that we relaxed the rules a bit and consider it "kpop enough", it
makes my top 10.
11. IVE - Shine with MeIt's a ballad, I know. I assure you I'm okay tho, no need to call the paramedics, everyone calm down.
It's just so good...
--
In the running / Good stuffAespa - Drama, I'm Unhappy, Spicy, Thirsty
Billlie - Enchanted Night, Various & Precious, Extra-Ordinary, The Soul Savior
Chuu - Howl, Aliens, Underwater, Hitchhiker
(G)i-dle - Paradise
Ive - Holy Moly, Baddie
Jeon Somi - The Way
Jihyo - Killin' Me Good, Room, Talking' About It
Jo Yuri - Bitter Taste, Hang On
Kep1er - Back to the City
Kiss of Life - Sugarcoat, Bad News, Nobody Knows
Le Sserafim - Perfect Night
Limelight - Honestly
Lovelution (tripleS) - Speed Love, Girls' Capitalism
Newjeans - New Jeans, Cool with You, ASAP
Nmixx - Love Me Like This, Roller Coaster, Paxxword
Odd Eye Circle - Je Ne Sais Quoi
Pixy - Falling, Flip a Coin, Hide & Seek
Purple Kiss - Sweet Juice, Autopilot
Red Velvet - Chill Kill, Will I Ever See You Again?, Underwater
Tri.be - Stay Together
TripleS - Rising, New Look
XG - Shooting Star
I was suffering from severe kpop fatigue by the last months of the year so my reviewing dwindled...
I may have missed a banger here and there but one can only go through so much lmao...
http://dakodako.net/review/?year=2023Still, while I was reviewing, it was a big help and I'll probably continue the process once I get my
interest level back up again. Maybe when there's more Newjeans stuff, or something fresh, new
and exciting
(Babymonster... no... nope... not yet at least )TL;DR1. Newjeans - OMG
2. Newjeans - Super Shy
3. Aespa - Better Things
4. IVE - Mine
5. Billlie - Nevertheless
6. Newjeans - ETA
7. IVE - Blue Blood
8. Aespa - Welcome to My World
9. Chuu - Howl
10. XG - Left Right