best of MARC's best of '18 // last round of albums

[JonginBey]

While I prefer The Story of Light Ep.3, Ep.1 has a couple of gems  

 

GOT7 stays getting slept on, but they truly deliver album wise 

[TayRianaPH]

Okay, yes at Got7's recognition here  They must have been JYP's best act now, not TWICE  Their quality just aren't comparable but the GP is good at reversing praises  

 

Warning may be my SOTY too.  Addict still has me bald at every listen  An opener!

Sunmi really cemented her status as the main female solo pop girl with that effort!  

 

RBB deserved more, for sure.  

[potent]

I listened to Ella Mai's album cause Boo'd Up is one of my favorite songs of the year but it didn't quite stick with me, most of the tracks were good but there also weren't many standouts. I agree with Gut Feeling being one of the best though.

 

Bloom  an amazing album, I truly wasn't expecting that

[Tom Vercetti]

Sunmi delivered with Warning

it's funny to see a majority of atrl in an uproar over the pharrell side of sweetener when it's not even that bad. 

[2NE1Kmagic]

sweetener, Warning, and Ella Mai

[Alaska.]

Bloom, Sweetener, Warning  

 

I haven't listen to SHINee a lot this year besides the title tracks they released, it's sad because they used to be my second favorite kpop group. I guess someday I'll be in the right mood to listen to TSOL in full

[madonnas]

RBB was so solid. Sassy Me is like in their top 10 album cuts!! 

[M A R C]

@JonginBey @ralani @2NE1Kmagic @Tom Vercetti @Alaska. @Cotton @Kid A @Rider @Sailor Star @Jet @Chemical X. @rocky. @RobDeWittBukater

 

This is round 2 of albums and the ending of my Best of '18. I do appreciate all the support and love from you all.

[M A R C]

 

KEY // FACE

 

Despite me not liking the buzz single and the lead single, knowing that Key came from a group who breathes quality i still had faith that he would deliver, and for sure he did. The korean Troye Sivan provided all of the gay bops i needed like Honest, Imagine, and Easy to Love. Those songs alone makes this one of SM's best solo efforts. Also i did enjoy the heavy dance production on songs like Chemicals, This Life, and I Will Fight.

 

 

Zion.T // ZZZ

 

Generally i'm not really that into Zion. T's music but the collab he did with Red Velvet's Seulgi for the lead single made me curios to hear what he had on this ep. I wasn't disappointed at all, i was shocked at how many tracks i actually liked. Before this release i only used three songs from him but he really blew me away with the production. The production in songs like Sleep Talk and My Luv both have a Frank Ocean vibe to them while songs like Uh Huh and Malla Gang sound like something Vic Mensa would've released in his early years. Overall the album was great and i'll be looking forward to his next project.

 

 

j-hope // Hope World

 

I'm not even joking when i say i've been going back to this album more than anything BTS has released this year. I'm glad J-Hope still kept the past BTS sound and quality i fell in love with the first time i heard them. I really enjoyed the entire production of this album and i'm usually not 100% here for J-Hope's rapping skills but he really intrigued me on this project. The first three tracks on the album is a 1-2-3 PUNCH. Hope World (track) is one of the best album openers this year, i really enjoyed the instrumental on that one and P.O.P was really really amazing too. The steel drums incorporated in the instrumental was a nice touch.

 

 

Mariah Carey // Caution

 

Skinny legend shut my wh*re mouth when i said Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel will be her last good album. After Elusive Chanteuse i wasn't really expecting much from Caution but i was surprised at the immaculate production. It had that modern R&B sound but you could still tell it was Mariah based on the signature lyricism. Highlight tracks for me was A No No, One Mo' Gen, and Portrait. I enjoyed everything else but those three tracks seem to stick with me the most. But this is easily one of the best R&B albums this year, hopefully she wins some Grammys for this in 2020.

 

 

BoA // ONE SHOT, TWO SHOT

 

This year BoA showed no sign of stopping, she was able to prove that she can keep up with the younger generation and also outdo them in quality as well. From the title track to the ep itself everything was perfect and on point. I enjoyed the R&B-ish vibe the album tracks like Your Song and Always, All Ways had. I also loved the dream-like production on Everybody Knows.

[M A R C]

 

The Internet // Hive Mind

 

Will The Internet ever release a bad album? Will Steve Lacy let me suck his d**k?

Everything The Internet touches turns to gold, they're one of the best musical groups of all time. Alternative R&B at it's finest, and this album is the testament to that. Loved the production and cohesiveness, and the flow of the tracks and the placements topped Ego Death in my opinion. I'm still mad Hive Mind didn't receive not one Grammy nom, but then again it's the Grammys so i'm not too shocked.

 

 

Red Velvet // Summer Magic

 

Power Up might've been too grating for some, it actually grew on me obviously by the placement in my singles list, but they delivered with the EP. It's one of their best efforts imo, if you take out With You. But the 1-2-3-4 PUNCH after is better than some full albums i've heard. Starting with Mr. E, the verses remind me of Zoo and then when the chorus kicks in it's unexpected and takes you into a different realm. The whole structure of the song reminded me of Ice Cream Cake. Mosquito is a song only intellectuals will understand, the verses is classic quirky and weird Red Velvet and the vocal colors during the chorus remind me of their vocals on The Red album. I also appreciated the f(x) tribute on Hit That Drum, the production was very similar to something they would do which made it an automatic bop. Lastly Blue Lemonade, which would've STOMPED on the competition if it was a title track, is easily the best K-Pop album track this year. The way how they emoted their vocals during the chorus makes it one of Red Velvet's best songs. Overall this ep did not disappoint.

 

 

EXO CBX // Blooming Day

 

Once again EXO CBX remains the best subunit. I just love the contrast of the style and vocal techniques from the main group. Just like their previous effort Blooming Day's production was very clean and had a bit of funkiness. The whole vibe of the ep was very fresh and different. I enjoyed everything from start to finish, not one song was skip-worthy. Thursday in particular which was one of the many highlights from the album, actually reminded me of something Red Velvet would've released for their Velvet sound. I really loved that mid-tempo track, honestly never really heard a boy group song like it.

 

 

NCT 127 // Regular-Irregular

 

This album is one of the most cohesive efforts from boy groups this year. I loved the direction they were going for with this album. Despite the lead single Regular lacking replay value, the album served quality up and down. It's really up there alongside the Limitless and NCT #127 ep's. The album being divided into two parts Regular and Irregular is a nice touch i liked. Some artists would've failed at that formula, but NCT pulled it off perfectly with the way how the track placements actually went with the two part concept. Also the production on the interlude that transitions the album reminded me of the production from Janelle Monae's The ArchAndroid.

 

 

Jonghyun // Poet I Artist

 

Knowing that this was his last and final album, and Poet Artist turning out to be his best effort was really a bittersweet moment for me. It was hard to get around to listening to the album, but the fact that a masterpiece like coming out of a tragic time brought me to tears.This whole project really proved his immaculate talent and artistry and the uniqueness he obtained. He wasn't just an idol but an artist and there will be no other like him.

 

 

EXO // Don't Mess Up My Tempo

 

Another quality album under EXO's belt, at this point i'm not surprised. Everything was excellent from beginning to end. My highlight tracks is Gravity, With You, 24/7, Bad Dream, and Damage. Gravity is what Power should've been and wishes to be now, the instrumental is amazing and the vocals on the song are A+, one of EXO's best songs. With You has a fast paced production which does slow down at points and during those points the production gives off more of an R&B vibe, so i loved every single moment of that. 24/7 takes me to another dimension every time when the chorus comes in, i really do feel like i'm high up in the clouds during that moment. Bad Dream's production is unique i really like the flute-like sound that played throughout the chorus. And lastly Damage, you either love it or hate it. I loved it on my end, it's a messy all over the place thot bop and Suho's line during the unexpected bridge is my all time favorite highlight on the album.

 

 

Janelle Monae // Dirty Computer

 

Just like EXO and The Internet, the immaculate and stunning quality isn't surprising at this point. Miss Monae delivered yet another cohesive effort that deserves every single bit of acclaim it's been receiving from the critics. From the Emotion Picture to the album itself everything was on point. Loved the Electric Lady but Dirty Computer really stomped on ha. The whole album really had a deep message about the homage to women and the spectrum of sexual identities. As Janelle states "the album is divided into three categories: Reckoning, Celebration, and Reclamation" And i can honestly say that the flow of the album put truth to that statement. Dirty Computer is her second most cohesive effort behind The ArchAndroid. I really loved this project because i related to the message and i understood the vision. This project really stamped Janelle as one of the greatest artists of all time.

 

 

H.E.R. // I Used to Know Her: The Prelude & Part 2

 

H.E.R. really proved that she is the best new artist. After the masterpiece that was her self-titled she refused to take her foot off my neck with not one but two ep's this year. Each ep being divided by different moods. I really appreciated the more laid back elements in Prelude and the more R&B heavy elements in Part 2. So far H.E.R. has proved that she's a genius that is here to stay and i'm excited for what's to come next year. She deserves every bit of success and acclaim coming her way.

[Jet]

Though RBB the song is trash, the album is fire as usual  

Sweetener also  

[RobDeWittBukater]

Wow so many albums I love on that list, most of all of course Poet | Artist  but also Dirty Computer, Caution, Blooming Days, Face and One Shot Two Shot!

[potent]

Caution and Dirty Computer, talent winning

A No No is my favorite from Caution, it really sticks in my head

[-mUsIcLoVeR-]

Janelle, Troye, Ariana, and The Internet  

[madonnas]

WTF bitch!  MIAMTEC is way way way better than memoirs!!  Her two 10s album are better than any of her 00s albums (Besides Glitter..MAYBE). 

[Navyofbadgals]

the graphics also stan Dirty Computer  

[TayRianaPH]

Summer Magic was a hit-or-miss for me.  

NCT 127 R-I is PHENOMENAL for my taste tho!  

EXO/EXO-CBX both released great work  

Loving the Jonghyun acclaim! A KPop King we deserved!

Comment on ym Best Of too!