By Minal Shaik
Love them or hate them, BTS are currently the world’s biggest group. In February, BTS swooped in with a follow-up album to their Map of the Soul series which debuted at number one on the US Billboard 100. Map of the Soul: 7 is a testimony to the true BTS sound as the group celebrates their 7th anniversary this year. It is a 20 track fete in which the group explores a number of styles and genres and conquers them all in a unique bangtan way.
MOTS: 7 begins with a solo performance by group leader RM, Intro: Persona and is followed by five tracks repurposed from their 2019 EP, Map of the Soul: Persona. The new tracks begin with rapper Suga’s Interlude: Shadow where he comes face to face with the version of himself that he hid away. Black Swan makes use of flowy traditional strings along with autotune and contemporary dance to tell a sombre story of an artist.
The next track is a solo track Filter by vocalist Jimin that is a pretty generic Latin-inspired upbeat song which you might not remember tomorrow but will certainly groove to while listening. My Time by Jungkook is laden which rich vocals which lead an emotive instrumental. Despite the language difference, the message of the song does not fail. Troye Sivan participated in the lyrics for group track Louder Than Bombs which is a quietly powerful piece which thumping rhythms and mesmerising synths.
The title track ON appears as the 11th track on the album and is characterised by the call-to-action military-style choreography paired with the repetitive chanting backing. It deserves its place as the title. The rap line only track UGH! rips you back to the groups hip hop heavy roots. With the style of their earlier cyphers, the track brings in Korean influenced beats with heavy aggression verses, as the trio show the true extent they have as idol MCs. This is a heavy contrast to the soft lullaby, Zero O’Clock by the vocal team which sets the mellow tone for the rest of the album.
Inner Child by V is an uplifting song, however, it is the least distinct song off the entire list. It would make a good addition as an OST. Friends is a cheerful song by Jimin and V. The jubilant melodies set off well with the lyrics describing their friendship. Moon by Jin beautifully conveys a love story between the earth and the moon but was accompanied by a generic electro-pop backing. Respect is a one-take song by RM and Suga and explains the long rich history between the two rappers which is accompanied by a quirky instrumental and fun in-song conversations.
Before the album bows out, BTS present a repackaging of their initial premise in We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal which takes on an emotional tone as the group looks forward in their journey. The album is closed by Outro: Ego a funky pop song which represents the bubbly personality of member J-Hope. It turns over samples from one of their initial albums to remind the listeners that although BTS is on top of the world right now, they haven’t forgotten where they came from.
The album showcases the member's personal stories while drawing on psychological influences as they continue on their path as singers and celebrities. At this point, BTS are veterans in the market and know where to place their efforts. They know what sells, and what doesn’t. This album is so put that, love it or hate it, you will be talking about it.
8.5/10
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