#jeff benjamin

[dlstmxkakwldrlarchive]

Partly for the prolific volume of projects artists release each year and partly for the fluid definition of an album (running anywhere from three to 13 tracks), an annual ranking of K-pop albums is never easy. As South Korea continues to extend its global musical influence, certain projects transcend hit-song compilations, presenting larger visions and conceptual narratives.

In 2023, stars like V, WOODZ and ONEW used their latest solo projects to share the music that inspires them at their core as artists and let listeners settle into sonic worlds they’ve developed.

[...]

First Place: Onew, Circle The First Album

While it’s somewhat criminal to think that 15 years after ONEW’s debut with SHINee in 2008 we only just received his first full Korean album, the singer-songwriter himself would say that now was the perfect time for Circle. A musical journey unlike anything released this year, ONEW shared that he had attempted to record the album’s title track before dropping his Dice EP in early 2022, but felt it wasn’t at the level of perfection it deserved and held onto the song. ONEW then involved himself in every aspect of Circle‘s production process, from meticulous mixing and mastering to tuning, beats, recording and mastering, attesting to the singer-songwriter’s dedication to artistic expression.

The single “O (Circle)” opens the album with an intriguing blend of electronica and strings, while its gospel-tinged chorus emphasizes lyrics about the circular nature of life and how memories, feelings and dreams are all fleeting. The 10 tracks on Circle develop unique transformations from start to finish: the breezy melodies in “Cough” are paired with loneliness-themed lyrics and a melancholy instrumental breakdown, while “Rain on Me” starts with aggressive acoustic guitar strumming before transitioning into an atmospheric, percussive ballad. Sweet surprises abound, too: ONEW scats on the jazz-rap hybrid “Caramel” and gives a glimpse into his indie-rock side on “Parachute.”

The album’s effortless flow is anchored by ONEW’s famously solid yet understated vocals. As Circle concludes with the tender piano ballad “Always” which addresses themes of loyalty and resilience, the listener wonders if it’s an allegory for ONEW’s public journey through health challenges, including vocal cord surgery. Even without any writing credits on Circle, ONEW’s presence is undeniably felt in this seamless collection that boasts an emotional depth brought on by 15 years in the game. That’s the kind of introspection you can’t rush or doctor through A&R but need to cycle through and arrive at when the moment is right. From scheduling this album’s release to the messages on the final track, time is definitely on ONEW’s side to deliver such a project. — J.B.

source

[8ightisfate]

[kep1er-net]

Jeff_Benjamin: Congratulations to @official_Kep1er on making their debut on the @Billboard's World Albums chart with #TIPI_TAP! Dropping the album on a global release day of Friday seems to have helped them gain some edge on the U.S. charts! 💪

[dailykoreanpop]

[230927] Jeff Benjamin's official twitter update:

Hongjoong of @ATEEZofficial attends the @Balmain Womenswear Spring/Summer 2024 show for Paris Fashion Week The ATEEZ leader was recently named a member of the French luxury fashion house's "Balmain Army" which includes all its ambassadors and muses

Credit: Jeff__Benjamin

[fantauno]

in 2024……

[bingobongocheerio]

(Click for better quality)

[strangerathecinema]

silly community textposts pt. 2

[emetoph0b1a]

DRUNK JEFF👀🩸

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I wanna snap your legs so bad atm ಠ⁠ ⁠೧⁠ ⁠ಠ-Ben

｡⁠◕⁠‿⁠◕⁠｡-Jeff

HAAAaa-Em

[kachowkins]

my acrylic paint markers came in today so i decided to draw these guys on the cover of my sketchbook ^^

[incorrectcreepypastafam]

[autistic-barbie]

Community text posts

[dlstmxkakwldrlarchive]

[UPDATE] Jeff Benjamin, Billboard Columinst, listed his Grammy 'Big Four' categories in K-pop

■ Record of the Year — O (Circle) ONEW

■ Album of the Year — O (Circle) The First Album ONEW

■ Song of the Year (Songwriter Award) — O (Circle) Kim Eana

[saltpepperbeard]

"I actually thought about, uh, opening an inn."

[nope-nora]

Richard Siken, “You Are Jeff” | Donna Tartt, The Goldfinch | R.F. Kuang, Babel: An Arcane History | Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story | Benjamin Alire Saénz, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe | Maggie Stievater, Call Down the Hawk | Olivie Blake, The Atlas Paradox

[fantauno]

Biter

messy bonus: