As we head into the home stretch and say goodbye to 2023, we have a good chance to look at the output of some of the bigger names in K-Pop that skipped this year’s singles list; a few of them land here with unexpectedly stellar longer-form work.
Right after a year where all five LP entries came from soloists, the groups are back in full force after an unusually strong year, but it’s business as usual for the mini albums: 2023 brought a bloodbath of quality EPs and most of them came from girl groups.
Though all-English songs on albums are no big deal here, all-English song collections aren’t eligible, but I’ll give a quick shout-out to ex-SNSD vocalist Jessica’s unexpectedly great solo EP Beep Beep.
1-3 tracks = N/A
4-7 tracks = mini album
8+ tracks = full album
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VR BEST OF 2023 DISCLAIMER
This list represents my opinion only. I am not asserting any kind of superiority or self-importance by presenting it as I have. My opinion is not fact. If you agree with me 100%, go buy a lottery ticket. Respectful disagreement is most welcome.
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MINI-ALBUMS
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5. ASSEMBLE – TripleS
The whole song and dance around how TripleS functions mechanically is enough to give anyone a migraine, but their first album effort as a “full group” is a doozy; you just have to love the bravado that had to power the decision to do both the classy standalone tone-setting opening song AND the trendy nonsense-syllable salad designed to build up the title track. Rising thus sits comfortably in the Track 3 nook, where its inherent choppiness is improved by the warm, wide sound of Beam and the even choppier Before the Rise in almost equal measure.
Though the success of that little trick is the most standout characteristic of the EP, there is certainly more to enjoy here, as Colorful and New Look both push accomplished synth flourishes through the listener’s headphones in different flavours – the former buzzy and brash, the latter covered in gloriously city-leaning 1980s confidence. The Baddest serves as the palette cleanser between them, and the quality of the production ensures it comes out better than that threatening title – and some misplaced sing-talking – might suggest. Short-and-speedy closer Chowall lends the kind of symmetry I will probably always over-reward to the mini, and TripleS are off to the races.
4. OO-LI – Woodz
The man who can’t seem to leave this mini-album list alone brought more of the goods in 2023, although the way OO-LI shakes out is a bit different from Cho Seungyoun’ prior best. Rock influences continue to creep into his work – this 7-tracker feels fully half electric guitar-powered – but the more interesting characteristic on show here is that rather than a tracklist comprised of just hard songs and soft songs, OO-LI positions almost every track as a ‘builder’.
Only straight-roller Who Knows stays at one level the whole way through; the rest make sure to ramp up on their own individual terms. Smooth tunes like opener Deep Deep Sleep and closer ABYSS start with minimal instrumentation and add layers until they reach a fuller sound, while the choir vehicle Journey, saloon jam Ready to Fight and Nirvana-inspired Drowning go much harder with the marked goal of reaching a vocal tornado on the chorus and an absolute hurricane at the crescendo. No track goes bigger than the centrepiece, however: Busted is a stone-cold platinum star for Woodz’ career highlight reel, almost stopping itself dead in the final minute just to maximise the impact of a shred-and-growl finale.
Vagrant Rant 