The boys from BTS are finally back after almost four years with their latest full-length album ‘Arirang’. We can’t wait so let’s dive in!
Arirang
We start off with the track ‘Body To Body‘ which is a fantastic opener. I love their pop rap vibe and Diplo is listed in the credits which is fun! The beat is great and I’m utterly obsessed with the layering of the traditional ‘Arirang’ part. Beautiful!
‘Hooligan’ is unbelievably cool. None other than Rosalia and El Guincho are listed in the credits of this one and it shows in the interesting and unique samples and layering. The alternative hip-hop track has a very cool progression and brings SO much swagger. I can’t get over the laughter part, it’s dope.
They’re showing off with ‘Aliens’, they’re proud and letting their ego loose and it’s everything. I love the chanting and the beat.
‘FYA‘ is a Hyper Jersey Club track with an intense tempo with big names like Diplo, Flume and JPEGMAFIA in the production chair. I love the repetitive motif. It’s a track to completely let loose.
‘2.0’ is a hip-hop and trap track which was co-created by Mike WiLL Made-It, who is a prolific producer. The instrumentals are super clean and I love how powerful this song is!
Next up is ‘No.29‘ which is the sound of the Great King Bell which is the 29th treasure of Korea. It’s also the halfway point of the album.
‘SWIM‘ is the official title track. It “sings about the attitude of swimming forward without stopping amidst the waves of life. The love referred to here is not limited to romantic emotions. The determination to calmly cross the incoming waves at one’s own pace—that in itself is the love for life that BTS speaks of. “
It’s wonderful and warm. ‘SWIM’ is a great alternative pop track that’s more melodic and shows a softer side than the previous half of the album.
Kevin Parker of Tame Impala is listed in the credits of ‘Merry Go Round’. It’s full of warm synthesizers and a hypnotizing beat. It’s soft and has some really beautiful vocals.
‘NORMAL’ is an alt pop track with melodic rapping and heavy introspection. The lyrics are an interesting read and are quite powerful. I enjoyed this one a lot.
“Fantasy and fame, yeah, the things we choose
Show me hate, show me love, make me bulletproof”
I absolutely loved the opening of ‘Like Animals‘. This grungy track has the “message to live passionately rather than being suppressed and tamed. BTS offers a promise to stand with those who wish to walk the path of freedom.”
‘they don’t know ’bout us’ gave me chills the first time I heard it. The retro opening was fab and I love how that motif came back throughout the track. j-hope’s rap style here has me in a chokehold.
‘One More Night’ is such an interesting listen. We’re getting a jazzy synthesizer, an organ, and a blend of Acid House and West Coast Pop Rock. I really enjoyed the hook and can’t wait to blast this in my car this summer.
After that comes ‘Please’. This is such a smooth track with great vocals, a wish to be together and a super chill instrumental.
The album closes off with ‘Into the Sun’ and this opening again gave me chills. It’s an acoustic-based soul pop rock number with a retro vocal twist. The beat feels like a lazy cat stretching in the sun and it’s a lovely way to end the album.
Go ahead and listen to ‘Arirang’ by BTS here on Spotify.
