IU - Palette

I. Introduction

Palette (Korean: 팔레트; RR: Palleteu) is the fourth studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released at 06:00 PM KST on April 21, 2017, by LOEN Entertainment under its imprint FAVE Entertainment. Palette is IU's first album since Chat-Shire (2015), and her first full-length release since Modern Times (2013).

The album was successful both commercially and critically. It spawned three hit singles; two pre-release singles, "Through the Night" and "Can't Love You Anymore", released on March 24 and April 7 respectively, and the lead single of the same name, "Palette", released on April 21.

Billboard magazine listed the album as number one on its list of "Best K-Pop Albums of 2017". The album earned IU a Melon Music Award for Album of the Year, and a nomination for Artist of the Year, and won Record of the Year (Album) in the 27th Seoul Music Awards. Palette also won the "Best Pop Album" award at the 15th Korean Music Awards.

II. Critical Reception

Palette received mostly positive reviews from critics. Billboard's Jeff Benjamin wrote, "Since her 2008 debut EP Lost and Found that was fully written and composed by hit producers, IU has been on a gradual mission to taking full artistic control of her music. Plus, Palette is proving to be not only a creative accomplishment with it almost entirely written by the young star but a body of work that reveals what's going on in her head and has rewarded her with new levels of success." Later, the album topped Billboard's "20 Best K-Pop Albums 2017" list. Billboard branded the album "the year's shining example of the power in personal K-pop with a release that employed loads of different sounds and stories to share insight about the star beneath the gorgeous gowns and pristine makeup", and furthermore praises IU for "showcas[ing] the moments of self-doubt, worry, and gloom, and then explain[ing] them in the music styles and genres she sees most appropriate." Fuse also listed Palette at number 9 on their list of the "20 Best Albums of 2017", becoming the only Korean release to make the list, and praising her stunning album as making a "major case for the power of personal K-pop". In a review for The 405, Chase McMullen declared, "...the best moments here are when she unburdens the music of others, and simply allows her quest for self-actualization to shine through. This is very much an album of a young adult finding herself, former doubts cast aside for a newfound comfort."

III. Track Listing

IV. Music Video & Audio

V. Accolades

Awards: