The Top 10 Highest-Rated K-Pop Albums, According To Pitchfork Reviews

A compiled list of the highest-rated K-Pop albums by the American online music publication Pitchfork has recently earned attention, with some of the hottest acts from K-Pop’s 1st-4th generation represented.

Check out the top 10 albums from the list below!

10. Red Velvet’s “Queendom”

Red Velvet’s “Queendom” mini-album | SM Entertainment

Red Velvet‘s long-awaited 2021 mini-album, Queendom, was the 10th highest-rated K-Pop album with a rating of 6.7/10.

9. BTS’s “BE”

BTS’s “BE” album cover | @BTS_twt/Twitter

BTS‘s 2020 studio album BE was the 9th highest-rated album on the list, with a Pitchfork rating of 7/10.

8. BTS’s “Love Yourself 轉 Tear”

BTS’s “Love Yourself 轉 Tear” album cover | BIGHIT MUSIC

BTS again earned a top spot on the list, ranking 8th highest-rated K-Pop album with their 2018 studio album Love Yourself 轉 Tear. The global group earned a rating of 7.1/10.

7. Girls’ Generation’s “FOREVER 1”

Girls’ Generation’s “FOREVER 1” album cover | SM Entertainment

Girls’ Generation‘s highly-anticipated album, FOREVER 1, celebrating the group’s 15th anniversary after a 5-year hiatus, ranked 7th highest on the list. Their comeback album received a rating of 7.2/10.

6. TWICE’s “Taste Of Love”

TWICE’s “Taste Of Love” mini-album cover | JYP Entertainment

In 2021, TWICE released their 10th mini-album, Taste of Love, featuring the fresh summer hit “Alcohol-Free.” The mini-album received a rating of 7.3/10, making it the 6th highest-rated release on the list.

5. 2NE1’s “Crush”

2NE1’s “CRUSH” album cover | YG Entertainment

2NE1 released their second and final studio album, CRUSH, in 2014, and the buzzworthy release had the LA Times declaring that “K-pop has turned a corner in America.” CRUSH also earned a Pitchfork rating of 7.3/10.

4. f(x)’s “4 Walls”

f(x)’s “4 Walls” album cover | SM Entertainment

4 Walls was f(x)‘s fourth studio album, which was released in 2015. The trendy and genre-bending songs on the album earned global critical acclaim, and 4 Walls received a rating of 7.3/10 with Pitchfork.

3. Red Velvet’s “ReVe Festival 2022 – Feel My Rhythm”

Red Velvet’s “The ReVe Festival 2022 – Feel My Rhythm” album cover | SM Entertainment

The ReVe Festival 2022 – Feel My Rhythm is the fifth special release mini-album from Red Velvet. The title track, “Feel My Rhythm,” had listeners around the world dancing along. The album received a 7.4/10 rating from Pitchfork.

2. NewJeans’ “Get Up”

NewJeans’ “Get Up” mini-album cover | ADOR

NewJeans‘ second mini-album, Get Up, made an impressive global impact, despite being released just days ago. Already, Get Up has Pitchfork declaring that NewJeans’ second mini-album “cements them as one of the most interesting K-pop acts working today.“ Get Up earned a Pitchfork rating of 7.6/10, making it the 2nd-highest-rated release.

1. Seo Taiji And Boys’ “Seo Taiji And Boys”

Seo Taiji And Boys’ “Seo Taiji And Boys” album cover

Seo Taiji and Boys was a pioneering Korean music group from the ’90s, shaking up the industry with their globally influenced music and unique sound. Their debut album was the highest-rated on the list, earning an 8.3/10 rating.