I don’t think BTS’ new album was worth the four-year wait.
It’s ironic that although BTS made parent company HYBE what it is today, “ARIRANG” suffers from the common issues I have with HYBE artists’ music: repetitive choruses, vocal production removing vocal character and dull album filler material.
While I’m not an ARMY — a diehard BTS fan — I have enjoyed their past material. “Fake Love,” “Blood, Sweat & Tears” and “Spring Day” topped my bedroom charts.
Released on March 20, “ARIRANG” is a bit generic, at times veering into bad territory. It’s not iconic enough to fit the moment — it’s no “MAP OF THE SOUL: 7” and by a long shot. Drawing from “Arirang,” a traditional Korean folk song, the album symbolically alludes to the group’s roots.
The production of opener “Body to Body” excited me, and the sample of the actual “Arirang” folk song playing at the end sends a great message about national identity.
But — and this criticism is a theme in my review — what prevents this song from being great are repetitive melodies marred with vocal effects. What I love about BTS is that their vocalists’ tones are so unique, and I wish the mixing made their sound stand out instead of trying to hide it.
The infamous “Hooligan” was my introduction to “ARIRANG” after my TikTok feed was inundated with K-pop stans making fun of the song. Yes, the song’s chorus is goofy, but in a way that I kind of like. I could do without the off-beat cackle, but what people don’t recognize online is the song’s fun production, as the guys rap over swirling, frenzied strings and knife sounds.
My only criticism is that I wish the bassline had more punch with less tinny drums, especially when the post-chorus lyric is “Why this bassline slapping so rude?”
My favorite track off this album is the fourth track, “FYA.” Does it hold a candle to BTS’s prior song called “Fire?” No way, but I could see this song being hype at a concert. I understand how the vocal fry on “FYA” could be annoying, but I don’t care. This is genuinely good dance music, with a fun buildup and a great drop. Everything lit is, indeed, “FYA.”
The album’s upbeat section ends on “2.0.” The song’s chorus here is actually engaging, even if still repetitive, before “ARIRANG” winds down the metronome into slower tempos.
The transition between these two sections is a song called “No. 29.” The track serves as an interlude, referencing the Sacred Bell of Great King Seongdeok, a historic bronze bell designated as South Korea’s National Treasure No. 29. The about 1-minute and 40-second length of the track is the time it takes for the sound of the bell to completely fade after it is struck.
Lead single “SWIM” kicks off the album’s more low-key section. It’s honestly pretty catchy, though I wish they took more risks.
“Merry Go Round” is the album’s longest song, and a 3-minute and 49-second song in K-pop is pretty rare these days. Still, that’s the only nice thing I can say about this song, which has maybe two chords at most and a repetitive chorus.
The only song on this album that I’d consider bad, with no redeeming factors, is “Into the Sun.” The chorus is harmonies sludged with vocal effects that, to me, is auditory torture. It is a little hard to believe that they chose to end their album with what is the musical equivalent of dirt.
Regardless of my take, this album landed BTS another #1 on the Billboard Hot 200, and “SWIM” has also topped the Hot 100. But also, Pitchfork rated this album a 5.3/10, so maybe it’s not just me being left wanting more.
In the end, I’m glad BTS is back. “ARIRANG” might not have landed with me, but I’m still optimistic and look forward to seeing what this new era brings for the boy group.
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