Hello I am Isaac ! (mariotti)
In late 2017 I was introduced to K-Pop with the BTS mini-album LOVE YOURSELF 承 'Her', but I didn't really fall in love with the genre until I listened to some TWICE (girl group) title tracks. Though not my first K-Pop love, BTS (방탄소년단) are my most listened to group & also the most popular group in the world right now. I have listened to their discography like 10 times over now so I think that my opinions are well-informed. I will be rating their full-lengths and mini-albums in order from worst to best. This is my first post on tha blog
BTS is:
Conditions! In this list I will not be including BTS' Japanese full-lengths (no WAKE UP, YOUTH or FACE YOURSELF) and will not be including any special albums (no Skool Luv Affair: Special Edition, 화양연화 Young Forever, YOU NEVER WALK ALONE or LOVE YOURSELF 結 'Answer'.) That being said, let's start.
10.
MAP OF THE SOUL : Persona
26:00
Mini Album, 2019
Review:
Not a bad mini by any means, but it ties with LOVE YOURSELF 轉 'Tear' for their least inspired record. The only difference is that this one is half the length and it's standout(s?) are just not as good as Tear's. HOME is a great track though, and I really enjoy the callback to SKOOL LUV AFFAIR on track 1 and the title of track 2.
Rating: 7/10
Best track: HOME
Worst track: Intro : Persona
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : Persona - 6/10
2. 작은 것들을 위한 시 (Boy With Luv) [feat. Halsey] - 7/10
3. 소우주 (Mikrokosmos) - 7/10
4. Make It Right - 8/10
5. HOME - 9/10
6. Jamais vu - 7/10
7. Dionysus - 7/10
9.
SKOOL LUV AFFAIR
35:23
Mini Album, 2014
Review:
I've always thought that this one could've been a bit more cohesive. Cypher PT.2 is definitely the worst BTS cypher, and a few of these could've just been a lot better. Classic era, though, and the run of tracks from 어디에서 왔는지 to Tomorrow is flawless.
Rating: 7/10
Best track: 어디에서 왔는지
Worst track: BTS Cypher PT.2 : Triptych
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : Skool Luv Affair - 6/10
2. 상남자 (Boy In Luv) - 7/10
3. Skit : Soulmate
4. 어디에서 왔는지 - 10/10
5. 하루만 - 9/10
6. Tomorrow - 10/10
7. BTS Cypher PT.2 : Triptych - 6/10
8. 등골브레이커 - 8/10
9. Jump - 7/10
10. Outro : Propose - 7/10
8.
O!RUL8,2?
30:37
Mini Album, 2013
Review:
Though not as complete sounding as 2 COOL 4 SKOOL, O!RUL8,2? is still a very solid project, with tracks 5 through 9 all being completely solid and sweet sounding (especially BTS Cypher PT.1.) Consistently good.
Rating: 7/10
Best track: BTS Cypher PT.1
Worst track: INTRO : O!RUL8,2?
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : O!RUL8,2? - 6/10
2. N.O - 7/10
3. We On - 7/10
4. Skit : R U Happy Now?
5. If I Ruled the World - 8/10
6. Coffee - 8/10
7. BTS Cypher PT.1 - 10/10
8. 진격의 방탄 - 7/10
9. 팔도강산 - 8/10
10. OUTRO : LUV IN SKOOL - 7/10
7.
LOVE YOURSELF 轉 'Tear'
43:55
Full-Length Album, 2018
Review:
Such a wonderful first half but it kinda starts falling in quality around track 7. I would like this more if listening to it all the way through didn't leave such a sour taste in my mouth, ending with 2 of their worst songs, So What and Outro : Tear, the latter making me sort of mad when I listen to it. Only saved (in part) by SUGA's auto-tune singing part near the end. That being said, Intro : Singularity is one of their absolute best songs, and 134340 into 낙원 is such a 1-2 punch. Shout out to Love Maze, too.
Rating: 8/10
Best track: Intro : Singularity
Worst track: Outro : Tear
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : Singularity - 10/10
2. FAKE LOVE - 7/10
3. 전하지 못한 진심 (feat. Steve Aoki) - 8/10
4. 134340 - 10/10
5. 낙원 - 10/10
6. Love Maze - 9/10
7. Magic Shop - 8/10
8. Airplane pt.2 - 7/10
9. Anpanman - 8/10
10. So What - 5/10
11. Outro : Tear - 5/10
6.
화양연화 pt.2
34:17
Mini Album, 2015
Review:
About just as good as 화양연화 pt.1, but more consistent (and less extreme standout tracks.) Where pt.1 had the super fun 홍탄소년단, pt.2 offers the slightly-inferior Ma City. When it comes to title tracks, pt.1 had I NEED U, but pt.2 has the superior RUN. Overall, pt.1 is just a little bit better overall (so is DARK & WILD.) This mini-album is still an extremely solid entry into their discography. I can understand why many claim that the 화양연화 era was their best musically.
Rating: 8/10
Best track: Whalien 52
Worst track: INTRO : Never Mind
Track Ratings:
1. INTRO : Never Mind - 6/10
2. RUN - 8/10
3. Butterfly - 9/10
4. Whalien 52 - 10/10
5. Ma City - 7/10
6. 뱁새 - 8/10
7. SKIT : One night in a strange city
8. 고엽 - 8/10
9. OUTRO : House Of Cards - 8/10
5.
DARK & WILD
51:31
Full-Length Album, 2014
Review:
Much like O!RUL8,2?, very consistent with few real extravagant standout points but few let-downs also. If that album's standout moment was Cypher PT.1, DARK & WILD's is Rain. All killer, no filler. BTS came into their own with this project.
Rating: 8/10
Best track: Rain
Worst track: 여기 봐
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : What Am I To You - 8/10
2. Danger - 8/10
3. 호르몬 전쟁 - 8/10
4. 힙합성애자 - 8/10
5. Let Me Know - 7/10
6. Rain - 10/10
7. BTS Cypher PT. 3 : KILLER (feat. Supreme Boi) - 8/10
8. Interlude : 뭐해 - 8/10
9. 핸드폰 좀 꺼줄래 - 8/10
10. 이불킥 - 8/10
11. 24/7=Heaven - 8/10
12. 여기 봐 - 7/10
13. 2학년 - 7/10
14. Outro : 그게 말이 돼? - 9/10
4.
LOVE YOURSELF 承 'Her'
44:51
Mini Album, 2017
Review:
In someone on RateYourMusic.com's review of this mini-album they described it as 'floaty', which I think sums up this album very well. Not too long, sweet, pretty and glossy songs. A few very high points and the rest is pretty great too. As far as BTS' discography goes, this release is the most comparable to 화양연화 pt.2, I'd say. This one's just a bit cleaner with more consistency, so it's higher up on the list. Very great release, and it was a good introduction to them for me.
Rating: 8/10
Best track: Intro : Serendipity
Worst track: 고민보다 Go
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : Serendipity - 10/10
2. DNA - 9/10
3. Best Of Me - 8/10
4. 보조개 - 7/10
5. Pied Piper - 8/10
6. Skit : Billboard Music Awards Speech
7. MIC Drop - 7/10
8. 고민보다 Go - 7/10
9. Outro : Her - 9/10
10. Skit : 망설임과 두려움
11. 바다 - 8/10
3.
화양연화 pt.1
31:30
Mini Album, 2015
Review:
This one's pretty frustrating because it'd be like their best album if it wasn't for the cursed 쩔어, one of their worst songs. Can't believe it got an MV. Anyway, this album is fantastic. 홍탄소년단 is really fun and 잡아줘 and 이사 are beautiful.
Rating: 8/10
Best track: 잡아줘 (Hold Me Tight)
Worst track: 쩔어
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : 화양연화 - 8/10
2. I NEED U - 8/10
3. 잡아줘 (Hold Me Tight) - 10/10
4. SKIT : Expectation!
5. 쩔어 - 5/10
6. 홍탄소년단 - 8/10
7. Converse High - 8/10
8. 이사 - 10/10
9. Outro : Love Is Not Over - 8/10
2.
WINGS
53:45
Full-Length Album, 2016
Review:
Definitely their most ambitious project. Story surrounding it is very cool, and it has their best song - V's solo track, Stigma. So good !!! A lot of people have said this, but it could've ended after track 9 - or, at the very least, tracks 12 and 13 could've been left out (this offer could maybe stretch out to include track 11 as well, but this would only work if Lost was an OT7 track, really. That, and I really like Cypher 4 !!!) They're honestly inconsequential additions to the album and don't really add anything of substance . Interlude : Wings is kinda just a snippet of Outro : Wings from YOU NEVER WALK ALONE, the repackage to this album. Due to this, the repackage is probably a lil bit better. But as it stands, WINGS is a beautiful album, though maybe a tiny bit bloated.
Rating: 8/10
Best track: Stigma
Worst track: Am I Wrong
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : Boy Meets Evil - 6/10
2. 피 땀 눈물 - 8/10
3. Begin - 8/10
4. Lie - 7/10
5. Stigma - 11/10
6. First Love - 8/10
7. Reflection - 8/10
8. MAMA - 8/10
9. Awake - 9/10
10. Lost - 10/10
11. BTS Cypher 4 - 8/10
12. Am I Wrong - 6/10
13. 21세기 소녀 - 7/10
14. 둘! 셋! (그래도 좋은 날이 더 많기를) - 8/10
15. Interlude: Wings - 7/10
1.
2 COOL 4 SKOOL
27:18
Single Album, 2013
Review:
While at the beginning you might write it off as just a 'good' K-Pop/Hip Hop release, it is the stretch from tracks 5-9 that solidify it as a 'fantastic' one. 좋아요 is one of my favourite songs ever, as well. The difference between BTS' early work to their later work is that their first 6-7 albums had a lot more character, and this one is probably the biggest example of this. You can tell that they were really passionate about making good music when they put this one out, which contrasts a lot to some of their output in the last 2 years. Classic album.
Rating: 9/10
Best track: 좋아요
Worst track: We Are Bulletproof Pt.2
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : 2 COOL 4 SKOOL (feat. DJ Friz)
2. We Are Bulletproof Pt.2 - 7/10
3. Skit : Circle Room Talk
4. No More Dream - 7/10
5. Interlude - 8/10
6. 좋아요 - 10/10
7. Outro : Circle Room Cypher - 10/10
8. Skit : On The Start Line - 10/10
9. 길 - 10/10
And that's tha list !! I hope you could see where I was coming from with my picks, and if you disagreed then u can comment your list!! Thank u for reading, I'll be doing album reviews and more lists like this one (not all K-Pop related.) Thank you <3
In late 2017 I was introduced to K-Pop with the BTS mini-album LOVE YOURSELF 承 'Her', but I didn't really fall in love with the genre until I listened to some TWICE (girl group) title tracks. Though not my first K-Pop love, BTS (방탄소년단) are my most listened to group & also the most popular group in the world right now. I have listened to their discography like 10 times over now so I think that my opinions are well-informed. I will be rating their full-lengths and mini-albums in order from worst to best. This is my first post on tha blog
BTS is:
- RM (김남준) - Leader, Rapper
- SUGA (민윤기) - Rapper
- j-hope (정호석) - Rapper
- V (김태형) - Vocalist
- Jimin (박지민) - Vocalist
- Jin (김석진) - Vocalist
- Jungkook (전정국) - Vocalist, Maknae
Here's a photo of all of them circa 2017
(from left to right: RM, Jin, j-hope, SUGA, V, Jungkook, Jimin)
Conditions! In this list I will not be including BTS' Japanese full-lengths (no WAKE UP, YOUTH or FACE YOURSELF) and will not be including any special albums (no Skool Luv Affair: Special Edition, 화양연화 Young Forever, YOU NEVER WALK ALONE or LOVE YOURSELF 結 'Answer'.) That being said, let's start.
Nice photo of 민윤기 (suga) before we start the list B)
MAP OF THE SOUL : Persona
26:00
Mini Album, 2019
Review:
Not a bad mini by any means, but it ties with LOVE YOURSELF 轉 'Tear' for their least inspired record. The only difference is that this one is half the length and it's standout(s?) are just not as good as Tear's. HOME is a great track though, and I really enjoy the callback to SKOOL LUV AFFAIR on track 1 and the title of track 2.
Rating: 7/10
Best track: HOME
Worst track: Intro : Persona
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : Persona - 6/10
2. 작은 것들을 위한 시 (Boy With Luv) [feat. Halsey] - 7/10
3. 소우주 (Mikrokosmos) - 7/10
4. Make It Right - 8/10
5. HOME - 9/10
6. Jamais vu - 7/10
7. Dionysus - 7/10
SKOOL LUV AFFAIR
35:23
Mini Album, 2014
Review:
I've always thought that this one could've been a bit more cohesive. Cypher PT.2 is definitely the worst BTS cypher, and a few of these could've just been a lot better. Classic era, though, and the run of tracks from 어디에서 왔는지 to Tomorrow is flawless.
Rating: 7/10
Best track: 어디에서 왔는지
Worst track: BTS Cypher PT.2 : Triptych
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : Skool Luv Affair - 6/10
2. 상남자 (Boy In Luv) - 7/10
3. Skit : Soulmate
4. 어디에서 왔는지 - 10/10
5. 하루만 - 9/10
6. Tomorrow - 10/10
7. BTS Cypher PT.2 : Triptych - 6/10
8. 등골브레이커 - 8/10
9. Jump - 7/10
10. Outro : Propose - 7/10
O!RUL8,2?
30:37
Mini Album, 2013
Review:
Though not as complete sounding as 2 COOL 4 SKOOL, O!RUL8,2? is still a very solid project, with tracks 5 through 9 all being completely solid and sweet sounding (especially BTS Cypher PT.1.) Consistently good.
Rating: 7/10
Best track: BTS Cypher PT.1
Worst track: INTRO : O!RUL8,2?
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : O!RUL8,2? - 6/10
2. N.O - 7/10
3. We On - 7/10
4. Skit : R U Happy Now?
5. If I Ruled the World - 8/10
6. Coffee - 8/10
7. BTS Cypher PT.1 - 10/10
8. 진격의 방탄 - 7/10
9. 팔도강산 - 8/10
10. OUTRO : LUV IN SKOOL - 7/10
LOVE YOURSELF 轉 'Tear'
43:55
Full-Length Album, 2018
Review:
Such a wonderful first half but it kinda starts falling in quality around track 7. I would like this more if listening to it all the way through didn't leave such a sour taste in my mouth, ending with 2 of their worst songs, So What and Outro : Tear, the latter making me sort of mad when I listen to it. Only saved (in part) by SUGA's auto-tune singing part near the end. That being said, Intro : Singularity is one of their absolute best songs, and 134340 into 낙원 is such a 1-2 punch. Shout out to Love Maze, too.
Rating: 8/10
Best track: Intro : Singularity
Worst track: Outro : Tear
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : Singularity - 10/10
2. FAKE LOVE - 7/10
3. 전하지 못한 진심 (feat. Steve Aoki) - 8/10
4. 134340 - 10/10
5. 낙원 - 10/10
6. Love Maze - 9/10
7. Magic Shop - 8/10
8. Airplane pt.2 - 7/10
9. Anpanman - 8/10
10. So What - 5/10
11. Outro : Tear - 5/10
화양연화 pt.2
34:17
Mini Album, 2015
Review:
About just as good as 화양연화 pt.1, but more consistent (and less extreme standout tracks.) Where pt.1 had the super fun 홍탄소년단, pt.2 offers the slightly-inferior Ma City. When it comes to title tracks, pt.1 had I NEED U, but pt.2 has the superior RUN. Overall, pt.1 is just a little bit better overall (so is DARK & WILD.) This mini-album is still an extremely solid entry into their discography. I can understand why many claim that the 화양연화 era was their best musically.
Rating: 8/10
Best track: Whalien 52
Worst track: INTRO : Never Mind
Track Ratings:
1. INTRO : Never Mind - 6/10
2. RUN - 8/10
3. Butterfly - 9/10
4. Whalien 52 - 10/10
5. Ma City - 7/10
6. 뱁새 - 8/10
7. SKIT : One night in a strange city
8. 고엽 - 8/10
9. OUTRO : House Of Cards - 8/10
DARK & WILD
51:31
Full-Length Album, 2014
Review:
Much like O!RUL8,2?, very consistent with few real extravagant standout points but few let-downs also. If that album's standout moment was Cypher PT.1, DARK & WILD's is Rain. All killer, no filler. BTS came into their own with this project.
Rating: 8/10
Best track: Rain
Worst track: 여기 봐
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : What Am I To You - 8/10
2. Danger - 8/10
3. 호르몬 전쟁 - 8/10
4. 힙합성애자 - 8/10
5. Let Me Know - 7/10
6. Rain - 10/10
7. BTS Cypher PT. 3 : KILLER (feat. Supreme Boi) - 8/10
8. Interlude : 뭐해 - 8/10
9. 핸드폰 좀 꺼줄래 - 8/10
10. 이불킥 - 8/10
11. 24/7=Heaven - 8/10
12. 여기 봐 - 7/10
13. 2학년 - 7/10
14. Outro : 그게 말이 돼? - 9/10
LOVE YOURSELF 承 'Her'
44:51
Mini Album, 2017
Review:
In someone on RateYourMusic.com's review of this mini-album they described it as 'floaty', which I think sums up this album very well. Not too long, sweet, pretty and glossy songs. A few very high points and the rest is pretty great too. As far as BTS' discography goes, this release is the most comparable to 화양연화 pt.2, I'd say. This one's just a bit cleaner with more consistency, so it's higher up on the list. Very great release, and it was a good introduction to them for me.
Rating: 8/10
Best track: Intro : Serendipity
Worst track: 고민보다 Go
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : Serendipity - 10/10
2. DNA - 9/10
3. Best Of Me - 8/10
4. 보조개 - 7/10
5. Pied Piper - 8/10
6. Skit : Billboard Music Awards Speech
7. MIC Drop - 7/10
8. 고민보다 Go - 7/10
9. Outro : Her - 9/10
10. Skit : 망설임과 두려움
11. 바다 - 8/10
화양연화 pt.1
31:30
Mini Album, 2015
Review:
This one's pretty frustrating because it'd be like their best album if it wasn't for the cursed 쩔어, one of their worst songs. Can't believe it got an MV. Anyway, this album is fantastic. 홍탄소년단 is really fun and 잡아줘 and 이사 are beautiful.
Rating: 8/10
Best track: 잡아줘 (Hold Me Tight)
Worst track: 쩔어
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : 화양연화 - 8/10
2. I NEED U - 8/10
3. 잡아줘 (Hold Me Tight) - 10/10
4. SKIT : Expectation!
5. 쩔어 - 5/10
6. 홍탄소년단 - 8/10
7. Converse High - 8/10
8. 이사 - 10/10
9. Outro : Love Is Not Over - 8/10
WINGS
53:45
Full-Length Album, 2016
Review:
Definitely their most ambitious project. Story surrounding it is very cool, and it has their best song - V's solo track, Stigma. So good !!! A lot of people have said this, but it could've ended after track 9 - or, at the very least, tracks 12 and 13 could've been left out (this offer could maybe stretch out to include track 11 as well, but this would only work if Lost was an OT7 track, really. That, and I really like Cypher 4 !!!) They're honestly inconsequential additions to the album and don't really add anything of substance . Interlude : Wings is kinda just a snippet of Outro : Wings from YOU NEVER WALK ALONE, the repackage to this album. Due to this, the repackage is probably a lil bit better. But as it stands, WINGS is a beautiful album, though maybe a tiny bit bloated.
Rating: 8/10
Best track: Stigma
Worst track: Am I Wrong
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : Boy Meets Evil - 6/10
2. 피 땀 눈물 - 8/10
3. Begin - 8/10
4. Lie - 7/10
5. Stigma - 11/10
6. First Love - 8/10
7. Reflection - 8/10
8. MAMA - 8/10
9. Awake - 9/10
10. Lost - 10/10
11. BTS Cypher 4 - 8/10
12. Am I Wrong - 6/10
13. 21세기 소녀 - 7/10
14. 둘! 셋! (그래도 좋은 날이 더 많기를) - 8/10
15. Interlude: Wings - 7/10
2 COOL 4 SKOOL
27:18
Single Album, 2013
Review:
While at the beginning you might write it off as just a 'good' K-Pop/Hip Hop release, it is the stretch from tracks 5-9 that solidify it as a 'fantastic' one. 좋아요 is one of my favourite songs ever, as well. The difference between BTS' early work to their later work is that their first 6-7 albums had a lot more character, and this one is probably the biggest example of this. You can tell that they were really passionate about making good music when they put this one out, which contrasts a lot to some of their output in the last 2 years. Classic album.
Rating: 9/10
Best track: 좋아요
Worst track: We Are Bulletproof Pt.2
Track Ratings:
1. Intro : 2 COOL 4 SKOOL (feat. DJ Friz)
2. We Are Bulletproof Pt.2 - 7/10
3. Skit : Circle Room Talk
4. No More Dream - 7/10
5. Interlude - 8/10
6. 좋아요 - 10/10
7. Outro : Circle Room Cypher - 10/10
8. Skit : On The Start Line - 10/10
9. 길 - 10/10
And that's tha list !! I hope you could see where I was coming from with my picks, and if you disagreed then u can comment your list!! Thank u for reading, I'll be doing album reviews and more lists like this one (not all K-Pop related.) Thank you <3
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