1. IU, Palette

For too long, K-pop stars have been disregarded for crafting albums filled with fluffy, throwaway pop cuts with little esteem for deep-digging stories. IU's Palette album was the year's shining example of the power in personal K-pop with a release that employed loads of different sounds and stories to share insight about the star beneath the gorgeous gowns and pristine makeup. From the first lyric of intro track "Dlwlrma," IU shares that "This is a secret," laying the groundwork that the listener is about to embark on a personal, special journey with her. We dive deeper into her brain on the lead single "Palette," to learn about the preferences of the woman IU has grown into today, while songs like "Jam Jam" and "Ending Scene" explain what life and love are like when you're one of the most talked-about stars in a music scene.

Palette is a rare glimpse into what life is really like for an entertainer in K-pop -- which is characterized by big smiles and glossy productions – and IU isn't afraid to showcase the moments of self-doubt, worry and gloom, and them explain them in the music styles and genres she sees most appropriate. "I'm truly fine," she declares on the hook of "Palette," and an album like this -- with its many ups and downs -- proves the importance of a musician exploring these different aspects of real life and expressing them in the ways they know best in order to, ultimately, be just that. Music is a powerful tool and while the K-pop scene may be a goldmine of glittering pop and gorgeous visuals, its stars are still human. An album as impressive and sonically diverse as Palette proves why injecting an artist's personal experiences into their music can lead to their greatest work yet. -- J.B.