Ranking all f(x) albums

 

Ranking all f(x) albums and EPs

The rules for this new feature.

Any release with more than 4 full tracks is eligible. Thus, EPs are counted for the feature.

When an album is repackaged, I will count whichever version is better.

f(x) has a legacy as one of K-Pop's most experimental idol artists, and they released some amazing albums and EPs over their brief career. Their last three studio albums are generally considered the best, but they have basically no bad full-length or minis. Thus, I will rank all of the two EPs and the four studio albums.

Make no mistake, a low ranking here is still excellent. f(x) are arguably amongst the best album artists of the 2010s, and the top 4 are all classics.

6. Electric Shock

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The 5-piece's second EP, Electric Shock is perhaps best remembered as the album where the lead single Electric Shock was released. That song is arguably f(x)'s most iconic and for good reason. That said, the rest of the album is pretty solid. Beautiful Stranger especially builds on a classic K-Pop groove for a thunderous mid-tempo. The other 4 songs are fine, especially Jet. But the rest are somewhat weaker than the two aforementioned pieces. Even so, it is far above the average early 2010s K-Pop album. 

5. Nu Abo

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Like Electric Shock, Nu Abo starts out with an incredible title track which the rest of the album has a hard time living up to. The difference here is that Nu Abo is better than Electric Shock, and the rest of the album holds up better than the rest of Electric Shock. The two tracks following Nu Abo are somewhat underwhelming, but Me+U revitalizes the energy. The final song, Sorry (Dear Daddy) is one of f(x)'s few pure ballads, and it holds together well and stands as one of f(x)'s early highlights.

4. 4 Walls

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Titled 4 Walls, f(x)'s 4th album, and their first one as a four-piece comes in at 4th place. Many would place this higher, even arguing it should come in first. The album is solid, and the only one f(x) really released as a trendsetter group. The UK Garage and Deep House influences in the album would soon become ubiquitous in Korea. The electronic groove in this album makes it arguably the least experimental f(x) piece. The absence of Sulli and her influence (RIP) was another factor. The album is consistent, almost too much. The songs somewhat canceled each other out at first listen. But after a while, each song shines in its own light. Papi, Deja Vu, Rude Love, and of course, 4 Walls all are excellent dance tracks, up there with f(x)'s best.

3. Hot Summer

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Pinocchio was already a solid album when it was repackaged as Hot Summer, led by a remake of the Monrose song of the same name. The repackage just made it better. In a way, it is the album that really cemented f(x)'s identity as experimental artists who were able to sell really well. As far as Freshman full-length albums go, there have been many much worse than this. Pinocchio is a track with all the future f(x) signs, strong vocal hooks, edgy and experimental production, excellent Luna vocal moments, and a fragmented stomp percussion. The album as a whole has some great moments, many of them strange and experimental dance tracks. Still, the album's best moment comes from the ballad Beautiful Goodbye, which culminates in a massive chorus. The album only has two real duds, Gangsta Boy and the SHINee collaboration in Lollipop.

2. Red Light

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While credit was given earlier to 4 Walls for trendsetting, Red Light's shadow over K-Pop is large. The title track's eclectic trap beats were way ahead of the trend, and still, sound very different from how everyone else uses them. But the whole album stands way ahead of its times, and unique. MILK opts for a tabla-based beat, a rarity in international pop as a whole, Spit it Out's glitchy hyper-pop stands as unique within the group's discography, Dracula is a fun and slightly ridiculous track perfect for Halloween, and Vanace is a perfectly fun song for a beach drive. However, the crowning jewel of the whole album is Butterfly, an experiment in ambient music with SMP influences, which is both fascinating and strange. The album's biggest strength also happens to be its one fault. It does so much in so little time, that it can be overwhelming in the first few listens, but subsequent ones amaze more and more.

1. Pink Tape

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And here it is. Not only one of the best K-Pop albums of the decade, not only one of the best albums of the decade but one of the best albums of all time. Pink Tape masterfully moves from genre to genre, while retaining thematic consistency. A true piece of art-pop, and a showcase of what happens when an artist goes far left of the center. Title track Rum Pum Pum is quintessential f(x), with a clever lyrical analogy (comparing first love to a wisdom tooth), strong vocal moments, and wonderfully weird production. This single alone is strong enough, and a good summary of the whole album, but arguably all songs but one would make amazing singles (and I'll get to that track in a minute).

Step is a wonderful dance track with an amazing refrain in the center, Signal is nostalgic, and at the same time something new, Goodbye Summer is a great slowdown from the madness, and there are several better tracks in the album, from Pretty Girl's punky production, and Airplane's massive EDM drop, the album is stuffed to the brim. But it never feels crowded. Instead, it feels each moment is well-placed and well planned by the producers and songwriters. The lyrics remain fresh and engaging throughout as well, peaking with Rum Pum Pum and continuing to avoid slouching throughout.

The album's greatest moment, though, is the second track Shadow, one of the best songs in recent memory. From its eery off-kilter production to the swinging beats, to the high-pitched vocal performance, it is clear something is wrong. The lyrics are very obsessive, and the image is creepy, one of horror told through the eyes of a stalker. This song alone is an experiment but improves in the haunting album, which jumps thematically, giving a full 360 worldview of love. The album is definitive, and one of the greatest musical moments of the past decade.

Top Image Source: Daily K-Pop News