ARMY Magazine - Monthly Issues ARMY Magazine ISSUE NO.2 - DEC 2018 | Page 12

The vocal line is quiet in
its devastation, singing lines that
highlight each member’s voice.
The refrain “But I still want you” is raw,
building to a crescendo of emotion
which is mirrored in the music.
It creates a heart-wrenching,
almost haunting effect as Jimin’s final
“And I still want you” fades out.
In an effort to distinguish itself in a
grossly oversaturated market,
much of K-pop is experimental in form
and function, which can lead
to disjointed, even spasmodic,
full-length albums. While BTS has
been experimental with their music,
they have managed to avoid common
pitfalls by remaining fully anchored to
the rap line, whose members help to
dictate not only what happens in the
music, but also keep it connected to
a core aesthetic amongst their many
stylistic shifts. Whereas rap tends
to be a stopgap for some, in “Tear”,
the vocalists pivot, trade and revolve
around the rap line, creating a
uniquely symbiotic relationship
between rap and vocals. This is
perhaps most effortless in “134340,”
with its rhythmic percussion and flute
hook that is reminiscent of
“Pied Piper,” where RM’s soft, breathy
lines weave in between the flowing,
malleable hook.
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“Paradise” gives us a combination of
swaggering rap and vocals in a lo-fi
track that reminds us to take it slow
and not to feel pressured if we don’t
have a dream, a message that has
been a constant theme since BTS’
early days with “No More Dream.”
“Love Maze” is a 90s-inspired R&B-
trap mix that gives us an elastic verse
from RM, contrasted with Suga’s
masterfully tight flow: relaxed
but dense.
Dedicated to ARMY, “Magic Shop” is
a high point, especially for Jungkook,
as he played an instrumental role in
the production of the song.
“Magic Shop” creates an excellent
transition into the lightest part of
the album, “Airplane pt.2”
and “Anpanman.” “Airplane pt.2”
continues from “Airplane” off of
J-Hope’s mixtape, released earlier this
year, and takes on a new life in the
hand of all seven members, creating a
lush Latin vibe.
“Anpanman” rushes to hype up both
the members and the crowd,
reminding everyone to be strong in
the face of trouble, with a little bit of
self-deprecation thrown in the mix,
creating a bouncy, bumping track
reminiscent of “Baepsae” or even
“Attack on Bangtan”.