Modern Times is the third Korean-language studio album by South Korean singer-songwriter IU. It was released on October 8, 2013, by LOEN Entertainment under its imprint LOEN Tree. Under the theme of "French Black", the album departs from the singer's girlish image which established her as the "Nation's Sweetheart", by attempting various styles of music such as swing, jazz, and bossa nova. This is her first full-length release since Last Fantasy (2011).
There were about three million copies of digital downloads sold in its initial week of release. As of April 2021, the album has sold more than 60,000 physical copies and eight million digital singles in her native country. Modern Times was successful internationally as well boasting positive digital sales.
II. Critical Reception
Modern Times received mostly positive reviews from critics. The Korea Herald complimented the album writing: "... vintage sounds and modern effects are put together artfully, forming a fresh but familiar compilation of songs. The album has a distinct carefree feel that is reminiscent of jazz during the Roaring Twenties." Seoul Beats also gave a positive review, explaining "With its jazzy, big band sound, IU provided a breath of fresh air to the K-pop scene... The album’s real strength is how seamlessly the tracks flow together." Billboard gave the album a positive review while praising IU for proving to have "musical sensibilities well beyond a typical 20-year-old".
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