There are a number of acts who have debuted in the past few decades and have dozens of song ratings on this blog. I thought it would be fun to lay these ratings out in chronological order, line-graph style, and take a macro view of their careers so far. Then, similar to my “Underrated K-pop” features, I can average their ratings into one mega-score and place them in a pantheon alongside other acts.
As always, this feature has some rules of its own. I’m including any “Song Review” ratings as part of this graph, including Japanese releases and collaborations with one other artist. I’m not including Buried Treasures or solo/sub-unit releases. For the ratings themselves, I’m using the most current number on this blog, so if a song was part of a “Risers and Fallers” or “Legendary Songs Inauguration” post, that’s the rating you’ll see displayed here. That means there will still be a few ratings here and there I find slightly inaccurate, but it’ll mostly reflect my up-to-date feelings.
Finally, these scores are completely subjective. Feel free to agree, disagree and argue (that’s part of the fun!), but know that this chart reflects the opinion of only one person (me).
Check out NCT DREAM’s placement on the ULTIMATE ARTIST RANKING page!
NCT DREAM: A Career In Song Ratings
The Breakdown
Highest Rated Songs
Lowest Rated Songs
Imperial Phases
Chewing Gum -> We Young (2016 – 2017)
Beatbox -> ISTJ (2022 – 2023)
Slump Phases
None
Rating Average: 8.27
Overall Trendline:
The Bias List // K-Pop Reviews & Discussion 
the way smoothie is just dragging the line down like its abt to snap 😭
LikeLike
if I’m not mistaken, it’s lowest rated NCT song he’s ever covered. Forget poppop and baggy jeans, we have this masterpiece of art
LikeLike
To be honest though, outside the chorus, which more puzzles me than infuriates me, nothing else was overwhelmingly terrible, I’d probably give it a 6.5-7. I’d say Baggy Jeans is honestly worse.
LikeLike
To be honest though, outside the chorus, which more puzzles me than infuriates me, nothing else was overwhelmingly terrible, I’d probably give it a 6.5-7. I’d say Baggy Jeans is honestly worse.
LikeLike
To be honest though, outside the chorus, which more puzzles me than infuriates me, nothing else was overwhelmingly terrible, I’d probably give it a 6.5-7. I’d say Baggy Jeans is honestly worse.
LikeLike
why tf did my comment get duplicated 3 times?!???
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, poppop was tied as well but it rose for him (how the hell that song managed to rise will always be a mystery to me) and if we’re including solos as well, then Taeyong’s 504 is the lowest 😭
LikeLike
I just wanna say thank you for doing this, Nick. NCT Dream is my favorite unit because their discography is the best one in my opinion. Glad you did this for them.
So sad that Mark left NCT just before they announced the 10th anniversary comeback. But I’ve seen this all before with B1A4, Beast, and BIGBANG… so… it’s okay.
LikeLiked by 3 people
the way I was expecting a massive 10 year anniversary comeback for DREAM 😭 only to be met with the most shocking news. I wish he only left the company at least but I understand his decision and hope nothing but the best for him.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Are there any previous songs that have risen to a 9 since their release? I know BTTF probably did given how high up it is in the top 50 for last year:
LikeLike
they’ve really been so consistent and that’s why they’re my favorite NCT unit. Smoothie is obviously the single lowest point of their music but the album was very solid like the rest of their discography. hoping for a great 10th anniversary comeback from 6DREAM.
LikeLiked by 3 people
DREAMSCAPE is the best K-pop album of all time.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes! Dreamscape is peak music and doesn’t receive the recognition it deserves
LikeLiked by 3 people
It’s up to us to spread awareness! I think the main problem is that it takes a few listens until it really dawns on you how great it is.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Amen! My enjoyment of it has only grown with time as I realized how cohesive the whole project is on top of the songs each being so great. Legendary album 🙌
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for reminding me, I’m off to listen to it right now 🫡
LikeLiked by 1 person
that album yes, and also the mini DREAM()SCAPE (read as dreamescape). 2024 is peak artistic Dream.
LikeLike
Hello Future and Rains in Heaven are both 10/10 to me 😤 overall an awesome career for Dream! Top tier kpop discography especially if you add b-sides. Their last 3 albums especially have been basically no-skip for me, it’s ridiculous
LikeLiked by 3 people
that’s so valid
LikeLike
This made me remember the smoothie song, and I was happy without that memory.
LikeLike
Smoothie really ruined Dream’s discography, Hot Sauce is at least weirdly hype while Glitch Mode is kinda cute, but Smoothie is just bleak and sooo not Dream in any ways.
LikeLike
I’m probably the only one on this blog that actually likes smoothie lol (8.5/10). I like the way the song shifts (particularly in the versus that are very playful). It has this experimental R&B-pop feel idk how to describe.
With that said, my favorite by dream song is BOOM (9.25/10) I really like how they sound in this song, and I prefer their more mature sound over their bright sound.
LikeLike