2012 albums

Since i'm pretty indecisive i'm just going to list my favourite albums of the year in no particular order. I "stumbled on" k-pop in 2010 with the release of Lucifer and I genuinely just spent 2010-2011 getting to grips with it all (spells 'obsessively listening to shinee').
2012 has been a so-so year for k-pop, something akin to 72 groups debuted unfortunately I can't claim that most of them left a great impact as I can only count about 20.
This won't all be k-pop though, it's actually an equal mix and there will be a lot of "special mentions" because music prior to 2012 was pretty decent too man.

► Alive/ Still Alive - Big bang

This is my favourite offering from the group, especially after the slightly underwhelming "Tonight". There is a good variety on here~ from Fantastic Baby (which was played thrice at every bloody k-pop event I attended) to Blue (which makes me well up from no good reason).

Initially, I wasn't so keen on the concept (the masks/ hideous outfits/ frozen bodies) but i couldn't deny it's cohesive and is actually relevant to the premise of the album.
Standout tracks: Blue, EGO, Bad Boy, Fantastic Baby

► 1991 [EP] - Azealia Banks

This has really been her year, she released her mixtape "Fantasea" and subsequently released this EP with the popular "212". I just really like this girl, her style of rapping, her sass~ I can't wait to get a new full album from her this year.
Standout tracks: 1991, Liquorice
Special mention:  Luxury

► Electric shock - f(x)

I love f(x), i just wish SM did but before i turn this into another 'YOU'RE WASTING MY GIRLS' rant i'll focus on this mini. This came out in the summer and it was the perfect 'pick me up' music i needed to get me through my dissertation.
It's quintessential f(x)~ catchy lively tracks w. nonsense for lyrics & an eyesore for a concept but they manage to carry it all off as they usually do.
Standout tracks: Electric shock, 훌쩍 Let's try

► 2 4 : 2 6 - Beenzino

The first solo release from underground rapper Lim Sungbin aka Beenzino, who is also one half of 'Jazzyfact' and 'Hot Clip' amongst many things.
I'm going to give a massive 'special mention' to Jazzyfact's "Lifes Like" album, they don't use the term "jazzy" in vain, Zino actually raps over some honest to god (albeit remixed) jazz tracks and the result is some pretty chill 'head-boppers'. I really hope korean hip hop goes more mainstream, these artists deserves much more recognition.
Standout tracks: Nike shoes, Summer madness
Special mention: Friday move (TGIF), Always awake, 이쁜여자, She's there

► Press Play - BTOB

I'm afraid my attention was elsewhere when BTOB debuted shinee comeback but it's their second mini that really impressed me. W'o'w was a very aptly titled track, to me it's very reminiscent of the pop songs from the 90's with the funky keyboard~ i also enjoyed the choreography immensely (the well timed thrusting helps). They're a decent bunch of singers and seem to be influenced by the likes of boys2men, as a sucker for old school r&b i really hope their music continues to take that direction. Definitely a group to look out for.
Standout tracks: W'O'W, U & I,

► channel ORANGE - Frank Ocean

I have to admit I found this album slightly overwhelming on first listen with the 17 tracks (i've gotten used to mini's), it was probably a doddle~ after all his mixtape 'The Lonny Breaux Collection' has 65 songs.
This has received so many accolades as it should, the guys insanely talented and tbh there's nothing i can say about this album that hasn't been said before but I love him 8I
Standout tracks: Thinkin bout u, Sweet life, Pyramids, Lost
Special mention: We all try, Swim good, Bricks and steel, There will be tears, Blasted, Strawberry Swing

► Sherlock - SHINee

So at this point, it should be obvious → I'm a shamwow (super saiyan version of a shawol, refer to Rachel for more info) and whilst this mini wasn't their best (that would be ROMEO), it didn't deviate from their "usual style" and i liked it plenty. My problem was that there was essentially 3 variations of the same song on this already mini mini, hybrid remix my arse.
Sherlock itself is a very theatrical song and was made to be performed, the galavanting across the stage~the jazz hands~ kudos to shinee, they perform the /hell/ out of it
I've enjoyed the Japanese releases post Sherlock (nothing left to remake) and i'm interested to see what direction they take musically. (Secretly hoping there's lots of r&bnee, I miss it & Choi Minho if you are lying again about the comeback, so help me god)
Standout tracks: 알람시계 (Alarm Clock), Honesty, Sherlock
Special Mention: Keeping love again, Dazzling girl, 1000年、ずっとそばにいて…

► ぱみゅぱみゅレボリューションーきゃりーぱみゅぱみゅ

When i first heard her debut track "PONPONPON" i cannot tell a lie, i thought it was awful and garish buuuuuuuuuut it really grew on me, like bouncing around my room singing along to this on the top of my lungs "grew on me". There's something really endearing about Kyary and her music is fun and catchy. Can't wait to see her live next month.
Standout tracks: Drinker, PONPONPON, CANDY CANDY,
Special Mention: Fashion monster

► MAMA - EXO


When i said most rookies barely made an impression, it's probably because EXO eclipsed them all.
This is my favourite album of the year, probably one my favourite k-pop mini's in general. This doesn't mean this project is without flaw, i'm not too fond of the way SM is marketing them and although I understand why the sub-groups exists it still bothers me.
Anyway back to the mini, it's the "prologue" single 'What is love' that sealed the deal for me,Young Youngjin at his best (i'm such a sucker for some decent warbling).
The only thing i didn't like about MAMA (apart from the gaudy outfits, seriously SM hire new stylists) was that MAMA /was/ the promotional single. Whilst it's a 'meaningful song' and ties in with the extraterrestrial/ super being concept, it's just a little weak for me but that's just my opinion.
So now to twiddle our thumbs and wait for the follow up, fingers crossed it contains practically all the teaser music, especially 'Baby don't cry' ... and 'Beautiful' or somebody gonna get a hurt ...real bad.
Standout tracks: What is Love, History,
Special mention: Baby don't cry

So that's it for albums, there are still a bunch of singles i genuinely loved that deserve some fanfare & attention but this would go on forever if i tried listing and nobody wants that~ so peace.