Seventeen's 'An Ode' take the No.1 rank as the 'Best K-pop Album of 2019'out of the 25 albums that Billboard critics selected.

Billboard, the US music media, published an article of 'The Best 25 K-pop albums of 2019' and stated, “The Korean music industry has grown exponentially in the global music industry, and with this growth has come to a type of K-pop that is always pushing the boundaries and limitations of traditional song structures and genre norms.",

The Billboard critics shared their key point reviews based on the album's musical diversity and the development of each artist's growth while expressing their sincere emotions that embodied the whole album.

It is definitely meaningful that Seventeen's efforts are recognized in the K-pop scene as the critics remarked, "After starting out their career making a name for themselves with one bright and fresh hit after another, Seventeen have spent much of the past two years sorting out what it means to be a boy band maturing away from its original musical styling. As an act that has had members producing its music since the start of their career, the 13-member team has been able to experiment and try out new things over the years while attempting to sort out what it means to be Seventeen."

'An Ode' is Seventeen's 3rd full album that was carefully produced by the members themselves with 11-tracks in a span of 1 year and 10 months that sets a record of 700,000 initial sales on its 1st-week LP release which showed off Seventeen's global influence this year. 

The critics added, 'Seventeen spends its time showcasing the group’s distinct artistry while showing that they haven’t left their youthful, playful past behind wholly but have grown into their own sonically."

"Throughout it all, An Ode may be aimed at listeners but it is truly an homage to Seventeen’s thoughts and artistry and showed us all how to remain earnest to identity while still evolving. And it’s an instant K-pop classic because of it." -- T.H.

With Seventeen's increasing global popularity, they will be continuing their 'SEVENTEEN ODE TO YOU WORLD TOUR' in 8 cities of North America starting on the 10th in New Jersey and then in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Mexico City, Los Angeles, San Jose and Seattle. As the year's just started, netizens are now anticipating more for Seventeen's future projects.

Check out the full list of 2019 Best 25 K-pop Album:

1. Seventeen - An Ode
2. Sulli - Goblin
3. Lim Kim - Generasian
4. EXO - OBSESSION
5. LOONA, - [X X]
6. GOT7 - Call My Name
7. Giriboy - 100 Years College Course
8. Stray Kids - Clé 1: Miroh
9. Dreamcatcher - Raid Of Dream
10. Crush - From Midnight to Sunrise
11. Heize - She’s Fine
12. Baekhyun - City Lights
13. Sumin - OO DA DA
14. TWICE - Feel Special
15. Ailee - Butterfly
16. BTS - Map of the Soul: Persona
17. Monsta X - Follow-Find You
18. IU - Love Poem
19. Oh My Girl - Fall In Love
20. SF9 - RPM
21. Tomorrow X Together - The Dream Chapter: Magic
22. BoA - Starry Night
23. ATEEZ - Treasure Ep. Fin: All To Action
24. Mamamoo - reality in BLACK
25. Day6 - The Book of Us: Entropy

Visit the Billboard article for more information.