Before the Bias List‘s Top 50 songs countdown in December, it’s time to take a mid-year survey of the k-pop landscape in 2017.

Compared to 2016, this year has been somewhat underwhelming. But that doesn’t mean 2017 hasn’t had its share of highlights. Unsurprisingly, my list includes a number of acts that overlap with last year’s Best Of. Younger groups have again taken the spotlight, with only one veteran idol making my top five. But we’ve still got plenty of heavy hitters making comebacks in the second half of this year. I’m optimistic that 2017 will give us plenty to talk about when all is said and done.

What are your top five?

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First, some honorable mentions:

(my lists count Dec. 2016 as well)

Astro – Baby (full review)

Laboum – Hwi Hwi (full review)

Pentagon – Pretty Pretty (full review)

Produce 101 Season 2 – Pick Me (full review)

Teen Top – Love Is (full review)

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TOP 5 SINGLES

(in alphabetical order)

G-Dragon – Untitled, 2014

The return of a k-pop legend, and not a moment too soon. Untitled strips back the hip-hop swagger for an enduring, emotional melody. (full review)

GFriend – Fingertip

Though it under-performed when compared to their biggest hits, Fingertip amped up GFriend’s core sound with a deliriously energetic does of electronic funk. (full review)

NCT Dream – My First And Last

NCT 127 can have its hip-hop driven experimentation, but the sunny melody of Dream’s My First And Last is this year’s purest pop moment so far. (full review)

Seventeen – Don’t Wanna Cry

Shifting sounds for a dramatic, downbeat EDM performance piece, Seventeen proved once again that they can make any genre their own. (full review)

Snuper – Back:Hug

The year’s most underrated single, and a brilliant example of weaving trendy production elements into a classic pop melody. Sweetune have struck gold once again. (full review)