SEVENTEEN BEST ALBUM '17 IS RIGHT HERE'

SEVENTEEN would go on to become one of the most successful K-pop groups of all time, but when the 13-member group debuted in 2015, they were just an unusually large group from a midsized music company fighting to stay afloat. *17 IS RIGHT HERE*—a massive 33-track anthology album released in the lead-up to the group’s ninth anniversary—is the sound of SEVENTEEN’s hard-won rise. The album can be broken down into three categories: Twenty of the tracks are SEVENTEEN’s previously released Korean singles, from 2015 debut single “Adore U” to 2023’s “God of Music”; eight of the tracks are Korean versions of SEVENTEEN’s previously released Japanese singles, from 2018\'s “CALL CALL CALL!” to 2023\'s “Ima -Even if the world ends tomorrow-”; four tracks are completely new; and one is an instrumental version of a previously released single. Together, the singles tell the story of SEVENTEEN’s career so far. Producer-member WOOZI has credits on all of the anthology’s tracks, highlighting the scope of his behind-the-scenes contributions to the self-produced group. This includes composition and writing credits for new lead single “MAESTRO,” new performance unit track “Spell,” and new vocal unit track “Cheers to youth.” He wrote the lyrics for the new hip-hop team track “LALALI” with subunit members S. Coups, WONWOO, MINGYU, and VERNON. Greatest-hits albums are rare in K-pop, in part because it is uncommon for groups to make it long enough for a reflection on their careers so far. *17 IS RIGHT HERE* is an example of the potential of the format, with lead single “MAESTRO” tying the reflective themes of the anthology album together. The dance-pop track is an eclectic tribute to the music-making process (“Doesn\'t matter either classic or new thang/We take pride in our new combinations”) that uses sounds from seven of SEVENTEEN’s past songs, including debut “Adore U.” The song centers not only music, but SEVENTEEN fans (known as CARATs) into the narrative of the group’s success: “As we complete this piece together/I see us finally become one/Amidst complex notes and rhythms/I\'ll always be with you.”