Russian Roulette; Red Velvet (2016)

Russian Roulette is a love letter to the 50’s and 60’s; all of the different combinations of doo-wop, synth, and other vintage genres create a sugary pop explosion with a delightful bit of sour woven in here and there for good measure.

Best Songs: Lucky Girl, Bad Dracula, Russian Roulette

House On A Hill; Eric Nam (2023)

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Best Songs: House On A Hill, Hypochondriac, Exist

The Most Beautiful Moment In Life; BTS (2017)

The conclusion to BTS’ The Most Beautiful Moment In Life series, Young Forever at some points feels like a war between two sides: the brash, ultra-confident group in the singles, and the gentler, introspective one that comes out in the b-sides, but the best of all mix them together perfectly.

Best Songs: Butterfly, Save Me, Autumn Leaves

Melting; MAMAMOO (2015)

Though no one needs to be told what great performers Mamamoo are, Melting may be the best showcase of their strengths. Working in jazz, R & B, blues, and a very moving ballad, the album is made to be on the stage.

Best Songs: Cat Fight, I Miss You, You’re The Best

Conception: Kyr; VIXX (2016)

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Best Songs: Butterfly Effect, Fantasy, Shooting Star

My Voice; Taeyeon (2017)

Taeyeon’s first full album is just as strong as you’d expect it to be, gliding effortlessly between acoustic pop, sensual jazz, and ballads that break your heart and put them back together again. A 16-track behemoth, My Voice shows that Taeyeon truly is one of a kind.

Best Songs: Fine, When I Was Young, Time Lapse

DYE; Got7 (2019)

Five years into their careers, Dye features what’s probably Got7’s best single, but doesn’t just stop there, backing it up with five other tracks that range from Latin pop to distorted electro, but work best all together.

Best Songs: Not By The Moon, Trust My Love, Love You Better

MOVE; Taemin (2019)

Though most known as an incredible dancer, Move establishes that Taemin has a very versatile voice, which excels both in the sultrier, confident songs that have become his trademark and the more vulnerable, emotional ones that truly give him the chance to prove his talent.

Best Songs: Love, Move, Rise

Warning; Sunmi (2019)

Short but incredibly affecting, Warning manages to cover fame, self-doubt, depression, female friendship, and sexualization in just under twenty minutes, and stays cohesive the whole time, as well as featuring three of her biggest hits.

Best Songs: Heroine, Black Pearl, Siren

You Never Walk Alone; BTS (2017)

Even without the incredible Spring Day as its title track, You Never Walk Alone is a fantastic album. Introspective and at points painfully honest, it covers topics from depression to grief, and has found its way into the hearts of queer people all around the world.

Best Songs: Spring Day, Stigma, Not Today

The Story: Collection 1; Jonghyun (2015)

One of only five albums by the late, great Jonghyun of SHINee, The Story: Collection 1 is a moody yet ultimately hopeful release that was inspired by the stories he was sent while working on his Blue Night radio program, and tackles love in all its many complicated, beautiful forms.

Best Songs: U & I, End Of Day, Maybe Tomorrow

Love Me Right Repackage; EXO (2015)

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Best Songs: Love Me Right, Playboy, Lady Luck

Gravity; Taeyeon

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Best Songs: Find Me, Here I Am, Spark

Indigo; RM (2021)

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Best Songs: Lonely, Still Life, Wild Flower