This year has been a great year for Korean Music. We've had some good comebacks and some bad comebacks but for the most part, lots of music was released. Sadly some of that music was very mediocre. Well here are 21 very Disappointing Albums of over the 100 Albums I've listened to. There is no particular order of mediocrity.
1. Crush - Interlude
This album was not disappointing at all. Crush showed us a different version of him with the vocals, rapping, genre and producing of the tracks. Even though it is vastly different from his debut 2014 album Crush On You, it was a good piece. After a couple listens I was able to understand the point of the album and really enjoy each song. The songs themselves are well crafted. The only thing I don't like about this album is that it's an EP and not an LP.
This album was not disappointing at all. Crush showed us a different version of him with the vocals, rapping, genre and producing of the tracks. Even though it is vastly different from his debut 2014 album Crush On You, it was a good piece. After a couple listens I was able to understand the point of the album and really enjoy each song. The songs themselves are well crafted. The only thing I don't like about this album is that it's an EP and not an LP.
2. Cosmic Girls - Would You Like
The OG Girl Group of Starship is SISTAR. Everyone has been waiting or wondering when or if Starship would debut a new girl group. Cosmic Girls were born and Exy leading the group with the rapping, I honestly thought this group would be good. Don't get me wrong, the group is okay but nothing special. Their debut album was mediocre and didn't show us anything except for a couple of the member's dance moves. Other than that there is nothing memorable about the album.
The OG Girl Group of Starship is SISTAR. Everyone has been waiting or wondering when or if Starship would debut a new girl group. Cosmic Girls were born and Exy leading the group with the rapping, I honestly thought this group would be good. Don't get me wrong, the group is okay but nothing special. Their debut album was mediocre and didn't show us anything except for a couple of the member's dance moves. Other than that there is nothing memorable about the album.
3. Cosmic Girls - The Secret
I was actually excited about this album even with the intention that this may be the last time I listen to this group. I was excited because maybe things will be different but I was wrong. I thought this album was better than the last in the sense that it had a theme and structure but the songs except for Secret were still mediocre even with the producers they worked with. How do you make a Giriboy song boring?
4. April - Spring
I enjoyed the debut album by them so I was excited to listen to this album. I honestly don't remember any song from this album. The album itself is almost like a ghost. It was released and then no one heard from it again.
5. Akdong Musician - Spring
Can I just say how much I love 200% and Play? Spring felt like a very watered down version of AKMU and that is not cool. I was shocked that I wasn't enjoying the album by such a talented and great duo. Another album where I don't remember a single song.
6. Chance The Rapper - Coloring Book
I enjoyed the production on this album a lot. Not only did he have bangers but he had songs for everyone on the mixtape. The thing was that it didn't deserve all of the hype people were giving it. It was a solid project but that's it. Going into it 3 weeks after its release, I thought I was in for a ride but it was just a brisk walk, maybe even a nice jog. It was good but not great.
I enjoyed the production on this album a lot. Not only did he have bangers but he had songs for everyone on the mixtape. The thing was that it didn't deserve all of the hype people were giving it. It was a solid project but that's it. Going into it 3 weeks after its release, I thought I was in for a ride but it was just a brisk walk, maybe even a nice jog. It was good but not great.
7. Giriboy - Mechanical Album
Now these songs were not boring, they were really fun and upbeat for some and really dark for others and even though I enjoyed the production and lyrics of the album, it didn't do much after. It was a solid album but it isn't as memorable as I wanted it to be. I liked the twist of adding electronic and pop sounds but even that couldn't make this album stand out among the many other Hip Hop albums released that month.
Now these songs were not boring, they were really fun and upbeat for some and really dark for others and even though I enjoyed the production and lyrics of the album, it didn't do much after. It was a solid album but it isn't as memorable as I wanted it to be. I liked the twist of adding electronic and pop sounds but even that couldn't make this album stand out among the many other Hip Hop albums released that month.
8. Domo Genesis - Genesis
I keep going back and forth with my friend over if this album was good or not and honestly I don't know any more. The production was nice but the interludes were too long. The rapping was solid but it doesn't live up to what we all know Domo can do on a track. the features were meh and overall the album was "just cool" and nothing more or less. I enjoy his mixtapes more than I enjoyed this, which is his first LP.
I keep going back and forth with my friend over if this album was good or not and honestly I don't know any more. The production was nice but the interludes were too long. The rapping was solid but it doesn't live up to what we all know Domo can do on a track. the features were meh and overall the album was "just cool" and nothing more or less. I enjoy his mixtapes more than I enjoyed this, which is his first LP.
9. AKLO - Outside The Frame
First album The Package was great. The second album "The Arrival" was great. Third album "Outside The Frame" was mediocre. I cried after the 5th time I listened because I realized not only was it boring but I didn't like it. I really cried. The production was nice but the overall mood, theme, and rapping was so mediocre. It got to the point where I asked myself, what is he rapping for?
10. Sik - K - FLIP
Ask my friends and they will tell you that I am a TrifeGod, but the trifling shit Sik-K said on some of these songs was too much for me. This felt like a fuckboy album. If a fuckboy made an album this would be it. The only song I like is "Nowhere" with Loco. It felt so annoying, boring and just plain whatever. I know Sik-K is better than this but he failed to live up to my expectations.
Ask my friends and they will tell you that I am a TrifeGod, but the trifling shit Sik-K said on some of these songs was too much for me. This felt like a fuckboy album. If a fuckboy made an album this would be it. The only song I like is "Nowhere" with Loco. It felt so annoying, boring and just plain whatever. I know Sik-K is better than this but he failed to live up to my expectations.
11. Heize - And July
I was never and have to be a Heize fan. On Unpretty Rapstar I said "she's decent but nothing special" and with And July I'm saying the same thing. And July was all over the place with the genre and nothing flowed together. Shut Up and Groove and And July were cool because Dean was apart of it. Heize isn't bad but she's not that amazing either. She can sing and rap but she's not at a level of "oh shit that new Heize dropped".
I was never and have to be a Heize fan. On Unpretty Rapstar I said "she's decent but nothing special" and with And July I'm saying the same thing. And July was all over the place with the genre and nothing flowed together. Shut Up and Groove and And July were cool because Dean was apart of it. Heize isn't bad but she's not that amazing either. She can sing and rap but she's not at a level of "oh shit that new Heize dropped".
12. Kisum - MUZIK
I was so disappointed. This was so mediocre that I am ashamed to have been hyping Kisum since before Unpretty Rapstar. The album just felt "meh". It wasn't bad but just "meh".
13. 4TEN - Jack Of All Trades
I know that I am repeating myself here. This was another album where I can't remember a single song from it.
14. Twice - Page Two
Page Two is better than The Story Begins but not by much. I liked a couple songs here but for the most part it was dull. Nothing stood out vocally or musically, and the harmonizing is poor. I thought this would be the album that made me love Twice but I was wrong. TwiceCoaster: Lane 1 was not good either.
Page Two is better than The Story Begins but not by much. I liked a couple songs here but for the most part it was dull. Nothing stood out vocally or musically, and the harmonizing is poor. I thought this would be the album that made me love Twice but I was wrong. TwiceCoaster: Lane 1 was not good either.
15. Got 7 - Flight Log: Departure
I thought this album was good, but just good. Nothing stood out besides the pretty good producing some of the members did on the tracks. Even with their second LP Turbulence coming out later this year, it was also just good. Got7 have yet to top their first LP, Identify.
I thought this album was good, but just good. Nothing stood out besides the pretty good producing some of the members did on the tracks. Even with their second LP Turbulence coming out later this year, it was also just good. Got7 have yet to top their first LP, Identify.
16. Tiffany - I Just Wanna Dance
Tiffany isn't that great of a singer but given the right tracks, she can sing her ass off. I thought the tracks on this project were well crafted but lacked any identity for her and aren't really memorable. The first 3 tracks, which includes the club song, I Just Wanna Dance, are good but the rest is forgettable. I didn't even listen to this project for more than 3 days. Hopefully Tiffany can come back stronger.
Tiffany isn't that great of a singer but given the right tracks, she can sing her ass off. I thought the tracks on this project were well crafted but lacked any identity for her and aren't really memorable. The first 3 tracks, which includes the club song, I Just Wanna Dance, are good but the rest is forgettable. I didn't even listen to this project for more than 3 days. Hopefully Tiffany can come back stronger.
17. Monsta X - The Clan Part 1: Lost
I was lost with this EP as I surprisingly didn't care for it at all. I honestly do not remember a track from here by name. Luckily they made up for that with their fourth EP, The Clan 2.5 Part 2: Guilty. I enjoy all of tracks from 2 but part 1 is amazingly forgettable.
I was lost with this EP as I surprisingly didn't care for it at all. I honestly do not remember a track from here by name. Luckily they made up for that with their fourth EP, The Clan 2.5 Part 2: Guilty. I enjoy all of tracks from 2 but part 1 is amazingly forgettable.
18. SISTAR - Insane Love
The fact that there is a SISTAR album that isn't summer themed and written and composed by some of the members but failed to be good, is baffling. I waited damn near 3 years for a serious SISTAR album but was greeted to " something". I don't know what exactly that something is but it's a watered down SISTAR that failed to be SISTAR. The only good song is Insane Love. I AM A HUGE STAR1 BUT THIS ALBUM IS TRASH.
The fact that there is a SISTAR album that isn't summer themed and written and composed by some of the members but failed to be good, is baffling. I waited damn near 3 years for a serious SISTAR album but was greeted to " something". I don't know what exactly that something is but it's a watered down SISTAR that failed to be SISTAR. The only good song is Insane Love. I AM A HUGE STAR1 BUT THIS ALBUM IS TRASH.
19. Sonamoo - I Like You Too Much
I was excited for this release as I have high hopes for this group and I thought it would be better than their second EP. Nope. This group, despite all of the talent they have, continues to spiral down into a pit of "I Don't Care About This Group Anymore".
I was excited for this release as I have high hopes for this group and I thought it would be better than their second EP. Nope. This group, despite all of the talent they have, continues to spiral down into a pit of "I Don't Care About This Group Anymore".
20. Unicorn - Unicorn Plus/The Brand New Label
I only care about one song, and that one song is Sun Shower. The other two songs are okay at best.
I only care about one song, and that one song is Sun Shower. The other two songs are okay at best.
21. Red Velvet - The Velvet
The Velvet isn't a bad album but it doesn't live up to the hype that we all placed upon it as well as the great album that "The Red" was. It just didn't. The tracks had good singing on it as well as good lyricism and producing. The entire EP is good but doesn't quite live up to what we know Red Velvet can do when it comes to albums.
The Velvet isn't a bad album but it doesn't live up to the hype that we all placed upon it as well as the great album that "The Red" was. It just didn't. The tracks had good singing on it as well as good lyricism and producing. The entire EP is good but doesn't quite live up to what we know Red Velvet can do when it comes to albums.
There were honestly more albums than this but I decided to keep it short. With that over with, do you agree with some? What are your least favorite or disappointing releases this year? Also check out my favorite 26 albums from the first half of the year part 1 and 2, as well as my favorite albums of the year overall on my Podcast Chicago K Pop.
Garser Dismuke is a writer for Blerdsonline.com as well as Garserspoetry.com
He releases his vast knowledge of Anime, Wrestling, K-pop and Poetry on the daily
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