[JungleDisturbia]

Originally posted by qmpierre

For me, this year has been awesome, all my faves are/have been active so its nice to get to see them all the time compared to past years.

You must be beside yourself with all these LP releases from the drought YG had last year.

Originally posted by Belle

Taeyang doing PBR&B, stuff like AkMu smashing, stuff like "Some" demolishing idol groups, SNSD coming soft, 2NE1's 180 degree revival and subsequent snatching, BTS just...being great despite not at all looking like a good idea on paper (like who would have thought a bunch of trap wannabes would sound that great? LBR), Mamamoo coming out of nowhere to snatch

it all doesn't really fit the convention set by past years and I'm kind of with it

When you put it like that, a lot of surprising things have happened this year.

I'm glad you all think this year has been pretty good, I was expecting most of the reactions to say "this year sucks compared to 20XX". Even with the massive hiatus in April, this year has proven to be interesting.

My only problem is that a lot of the nugu minis have been disposable but I guess that's the case for other years, too.

[Belle]

tbh I've realized that if I cling to the past too much it will make me cynical about the present. It's great to appreciate years like 2008 and 2011 but I want to be able to appreciate now, too.

[Deuces]

Also Kiss&Cry debuted with one of the best K-Pop songs this year.

[olympiccairways]

It's been good I can't really complain about it because there has been some great releases.

All my faves released some amazing mini albums(BTS, Sunmi, and EXO) and k-hiphop/R&B is getting more exposure this year like Crush's debut album is my favorite album this year even though it's not really k-pop.

GOT7 have delivered with their mini albums and this year the debut of 4 member girl groups have all been great (Kiss&Cry, MAMAMOO, and Bob Girls)

SM is a mess this year but hopefully they get it together.

[Gossamer™]

This thread is too gay to function.

[Belle]

actually yeah, it's worth noting that SM is...uncharacteristically messy as hell

[JungleDisturbia]

Originally posted by Deuces

I'm quite content with K-pop so far. Aside from ScandelM ****ing up my fave their comeback, I have no real complaints tbh. Maybe it's me paying less attention, but there seems to be less nugu groups this year.

2015 will by the year country music takes K-pop.
Bookmark it bitches.

If this folky direction keeps moving forward (AKMU, BAP's "1004", etc) I actually think country-influenced k-pop isn't out of the equation. You might actually be onto something.

Originally posted by Belle

tbh I've realized that if I cling to the past too much it will make me cynical about the present. It's great to appreciate years like 2008 and 2011 but I want to be able to appreciate now, too.

This is true. Those years will be great and that music will always exist, so we might as well embrace the change and how music has evolved from our favourite releases in the past.

[8thPrince]

I don't think SM has been TOO messy though. Like yeah, they've totally dropped the ball compared to years past but Spellbound was an EVENT of a single and MrMr is the best lead SNSD has had this decade, when I view IGAB objectively. (I don't remember what other SM acts came back this year, though. )

[Jared]

2014 has been the year of BOPS and great music.

I'm excited for the 2nd round of comebacks in the 2nd half of the year.

[Deuces]

Originally posted by 8thPrince

I don't think SM has been TOO messy though. Like yeah, they've totally dropped the ball compared to years past but Spellbound was an EVENT of a single and MrMr is the best lead SNSD has had this decade, when I view IGAB objectively. (I don't remember what other SM acts came back this year, though. )

Umm...EXO kinda came back lol

[JungleDisturbia]

Musically SM have been great.

TVXQ - Experimental jazz-pop direction.
SNSD - Fans agree this is one of their better korean releases.
Super Junior M - "Swing" is one of my most played songs this year and the mini was solid.
EXO - Explored more R&B than they had before.

We had SM the Ballad too but I didn't really care for that.

But as a company and preserving their image they have been a trainwreck.

[Disco_Blisters]

I feel as though so far this year has delivered a great amount of solid singles from many artist and some just as great albums to accompany them as well. Slaymi, Dal Shabet, 2NE1, OC, Aftershcool,EXO, Jun.k, 15& just to name a few

I also feel this year has seen an increase of more break throughs with nugu groups
which I'm really excited for

[olympiccairways]

Originally posted by 8thPrince

I don't think SM has been TOO messy though. Like yeah, they've totally dropped the ball compared to years past but Spellbound was an EVENT of a single and MrMr is the best lead SNSD has had this decade, when I view IGAB objectively. (I don't remember what other SM acts came back this year, though. )

[8thPrince]

Midnight rearranged for the full group or Thunder would have been MUCH better comeback tracks than 'Sleeping Pills' sorry Overdose was a bop the first few plays, but the track only stays on one level. It's sort of like Ariana's Problem in that respect, they're very similar tracks when you think about it.

[JungleDisturbia]

Originally posted by 8thPrince

Midnight rearranged for the full group or Thunder would have been MUCH better comeback tracks than 'Sleeping Pills' sorry Overdose was a bop the first few plays, but the track only stays on one level. It's sort of like Ariana's Problem in that respect, they're very similar tracks when you think about it.

It's the opposite for me, the rise and falls of "Overdose" keep me replaying it over and over again. I don't get the "Problem" comparison though.

[Dark Horse]

has it really been 6 years since wonder girls released nobody

[Jared]

Speaking of Thunder, I always daydream about how much an MV with a sexy/mature concept would slay.

[8thPrince]

Originally posted by JungleDisturbia

It's the opposite for me, the rise and falls of "Overdose" keep me replaying it over and over again. I don't get the "Problem" comparison though.

I feel like they're similar because they try to mix R&B and Pop's commercial aspects, but not the aspects that make the genres good. So it makes for a flat listen. Problem is too much pop and the R&B sounds contrived, Overdose is a more "urban" song that incorporates pop music but lacks the spontaneity. It sounds staid to me. I'm a music snob though, so I'm probably the only person who cares.

[Rihductive]

Originally posted by JungleDisturbia

Now that we're almost at the midpoint of the year, what are your thoughts on k-pop this year?

2NE1 finally released their album which was totally worth the wait.
Since Happy and Scream don't count, each track is enjoyable and showcases their diversity in style!
The Come Back Home music video was visually great with an interesting story.
The girls are currently on a worldwide tour spanning a few Asian countries!

EXO's lineup is finally perfect, and just in time to promote Overdose
one of my favorite SHINee left overs with divine production.

Soshi's MR.MR. mini had another listenable track on it that wasn't the title song,
and it would appear that Taeyeon has finally found the solution to her stiff
execution of choreography on stage. A great year by all means!

[IamCY]

2014 has been so much better than 2013 for me. Only Girl's Day and a few others stepped it up last year, but this year has been filled with bops from AOA, GOT7, Stellar, Rainbow Blaxx, Dal Shabet etc. SM's had a quality releases and YG finally got his **** together.