The BTS star's sophomore solo release explores romance in all its facets while pushing the singer's musical, creative and vocal boundaries.
After BTS committed to releasing solo projects in the group's 'Chapter Two,' Jimin set the bar for creative ingenuity and commercial success with Face EP from last spring. The brilliantly unconventional dark pop single “Like Crazy” marked the first time a K-pop soloist reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the 164,000 corresponding album units Face which sold in its first week, resulting in a No. 2 debut on the Billboard 200, set another set of new records for Korean artists.
Despite serving his mandatory Korean military service at the moment, Jimin still shows his willingness to expand and push himself with what he has in store with the release of his second solo album. A stark contrast to the dark themes of his solo debut, Muse explores Jimin's journey to find true inspiration to deliver an exploration of love through seven tracks.
Incorporating everything from R&B grooves and light hip-hop to Latin and Afrobeat style, Muse highlights Jimin's versatility as a genre-less artist. Meanwhile, the songwriting within the record feels intimate and introspective. With Jimin co-writing six of the EP's seven tracks, the opening track, “Rebirth (Intro),” poses the multi-faceted theme of romance in the search for a lover as part of one's self-improvement, while the centerpiece “Who” explores the longing and the confusion in love through Jimin's first solo English single.
With “Who” and “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band”. of the Muse single, all of the EP's full tracks could fulfill this task for their ability to successfully represent Jimin's new sides. Here is the ranking of the songs on the BTS singer's latest solo album, Muse.
-
“Interlude: Showtime”
A very cool musical moment to introduce the listener to “Smeraldo Marching Band” (which we'll officially meet later on in the album), the interlude takes last place because it's just over a minute away from Jimin's flawless solo vocals album. Still, it's a fascinating artistic choice and reminiscent of how Christina Aguilera presented her sophomore record Back to basics double album with “Enter the Circus” a similar carnival-inspired spoken word interlude.
-
“Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” feat. Mad
Long-time ARMY fans know that the mysterious Smeraldo flowers came to the BTS universe in 2017 around the group's discovery Love Yourself : Her time. Jimin introduced his Muse era with the buzz track 'Smeraldo Garden Marching Band' before the release as a simple, pleasant ode to love to set the tone for his upcoming solo record. The playful rhythmic production with high pitched vocal samples is a stark contrast to 'Set Me Free Pt. 2”, an ominous project that introduced Jimin's first solo record, Face, last year to create the brightest place where the star is today.
With the bright and lively nature of the track, Jimin sounds positively exciting, delivering lyrics like, “Mmm I love you, baby…/ I want you, baby/ I wantna hold your hands” — the last line marking just one example of the track drawing inspiration from the Beatles and their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Korean rapper Loco seamlessly slides into the second verse to bring a global update to an iconic album and musical era.
-
“Rebirth (Intro)”
Jimin opens Muse with an intimate gospel-inspired vibe to mark his 'Rebirth' on this new record. The intro track's introspective dialogue (“If I try to be special/ Can I get close to you?”) ignites the romantic tone that underscores the album's focus on love and personal growth. Jimin's yearning for connection, and using it as a means of self-improvement through love, shines through to make the opening track a heartfelt prelude to the album's deeper themes. The song closes with him singing “I will be special all for you/ Special just for you…I wantna be with you” over the hum of a choir.
-
“Closer than that”
After Jimin released one of the best and best-selling K-pop albums of 2023 Facethe superstar capped off his remarkable year with this sweet, fan-favorite song telling listeners, “Whenever you want me, I'll be / Where you call me, I'll be / I can never leave you” immediately after enlisting for the obligatory his military duties as a heartfelt gift during his absence.
A soothing blend of what sounds like acoustic guitar mixed into a subtle hip-hop beat, “Closer Than This” closes Muse as his final track, nicely wrapping up the overall feelings of affection and intimacy throughout the album for a warm, final message for fans to hold on to as they await Jimin's return in less than a year.
-
“Slow Dance” feat. Sophia Carson
From the unexpected partner in Sofia Carson to a dazzling sax flourish at the end, “Slow Dance” is a delightful duet that delivers a sweet surprise halfway through. Muse. Jimin's signature feathery high notes mingle with Carson's whispery, slightly rough vocals (which sound like she recorded them with Jimin in mind) to create a dreamlike atmosphere. With soft and soulful melodies and a refreshing R&B groove, the track showcases new aspects of both artists' musical palettes for a calm and engaging listen.
-
“Be Mine”
Another bold, musical departure with Latin and Afrobeat influences, “Be Mine” could easily serve as his lead single Muse — or even a BTS track, given the many genre and style changes in it.
With confident and seductive lyrics (like “I know what you want, and baby, I want the same” or “Baby, come/ Show me what, show me what love is”), Jimin embraces a more mature expression of love on the special piece. His vocal performance is undeniably commanding over the sultry, rhythmic production and will no doubt be one of the top tracks his fans can't wait to see live one day.
-
“WHERE”
Jimin did Advertising sign chart history when “Like Crazy” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, a first for a Korean pop artist. With his lead single Muse, 'Who' sees the superstar break new ground yet again with his first solo English single. From his low-key lyrics to drawn-out falsetto belts, the single pushes Jimin's vocal limits in an emotional performance. It's one of the most exciting sounds in pop this year.
With clear sonic inspirations from the productions of the Neptunes and Timbaland in the 00s, “Who” reminds listeners of the global superstar that Jimin has become. Co-produced and backed by backing vocals by Jon Bellion (who is known for creating successful crossover tracks with other K-pop artists such as Jackson Wang, Rosé and fellow Hot 100 chart topper Jung Kook of BTS) , “Who” expresses both. romantic longing as Jimin sings, “Want to give her the world and so much more,” as well as confusion, asking, “If every day I think about her, yes every day of my life/ Then tell me why I have you haven't you found her?” Overall, the song best embodies the range of romance being analyzed Muse while showing just how far Jimin has come as an increasingly accomplished artist.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/lists/bts-jimin-muse-album-review-songs-ranked/