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TIME Magazine unveiled its year-end roundup of standout K-pop releases, awarding nods to 10 songs and 10 albums.

While the list is unable to encapsulate the diversity of K-pop in a single sound or theme, the American news magazine explained that all the mentioned songs and albums “offer comfort and catharsis, as feelings of normalcy give way to fear and questioning and then back again.”

In no particular order, ENHYPEN's “Fever,” SEVENTEEN's “Rock with You,” and aespa's “Savage” were some of the most notable song entries in the list.

STAYC and Weeekly, who had just debuted last year, were each granted a spot on the list with their songs “ASAP” and “After School,” respectively.

TIME Magazine also gave recognition to Stray Kids' full-length album NOEASY for its thunderous sound and distinct storytelling, as well as IU's Lilac for showcasing the singer-songwriter's “masterful vocals” in narrating her own experiences across her 10-track album.

TOMORROW X TOGETHER's The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape was lauded for having several songs worthy of best K-pop song of the year, namely “LO$ER=LO♡ER,” “Anti-Romantic,” and “0X1=Lovesong (I Know I Love You),” among others.

SHINee's Atlantis and TWICE's Formula of Love: O+T= <3 also earned praise in the year-end list, noting the South Korean acts' ability to produce magnetic music through the years.

See TIME Magazine's full '20 Best K-pop Songs and Albums of 2021' here:

Songs

1. “Cinema,” CIX
2. “Love So Sweet,” Cherry Bullet
3. “Fever,” ENHYPEN
4. “After School,” WEEEKLY
5. “Advice,” Taemin
6. “Pirate,” Everglow
7. “Feel Like,” Woodz
8. “ASAP,” STAYC
9. “Rock With You,” SEVENTEEN
10. “Savage,” aespa

Albums

1. Waterfall, B.I
2. Querencia, Chung Ha
3. Atlantis, SHINee
4. NOEASY, Stray Kids
5. End Theory, Younha
6. The Chaos Chapter: Fight or Escape, TXT
7. Lilac, IU
8. Devil, ONEUS
9. Formula of Love: O+T= <3, TWICE
10. ONF: My Name, ONF