US EditionMusic Review: BTS’ Long-Awaited Comeback Album ‘ARIRANG’ Is an Exciting Experiment
ARIRANG blends Korean folk melodies and national artifacts with global pop and hip-hop, marking BTS's first full album post-military service after a nearly four-year hiatus.
- BTS returned with ARIRANG, a 14-track fifth studio album marking their first full-length since all seven completed military service, ending a nearly four-year musical hiatus and reintroducing the band.
- After staggered military enlistments and solo projects, BTS regrouped with leader RM credited on every track except the interlude, framing the comeback with the tagline 'born in Korea, playing for the world'.
- Blending trap and experimental pop, ARIRANG leans on trap and hip-hop early, samples the Divine Bell of King Seongdeok, and features producers Mike WiLL Made-It, Ryan Tedder, Kevin Parker, and Diplo.
- Reviewers highlighted a stylistic departure from prior English-language hits, giving ARIRANG four stars and noting the band faces 'big shoes to fill' after the hiatus.
- By foregrounding Korean sounds and high-profile collaborations, ARIRANG positions BTS to globalize Korean music with member contributions from Suga, j-hope, Jimin, and collaborations with producers like Mike WiLL Made-It and Kevin Parker.
13 Articles
13 Articles
A Deep Dive Into BTS’ Return With ‘ARIRANG’ With Derrick Milano
BTS returns with their new album, ‘ARIRANG,’ and we had the chance to chat with Derrick Milano who wrote “SWIM” and more tracks for the new album. He shares his experience working with the boys and more! Tetris Kelly: You just did five, potentially six on BTS’ up and coming out. J Hope is like “yo they say you do all the you do all the dope rap.” Derrick Milano: BTS is finally back with ‘ARIRANG,’ see I said it right, Jimin. We chatted w…
What are critics saying about new BTS album 'Arirang'?
BTS released their new album ARIRANG, their first music release in four years after the band members took a three-year hiatus to complete South Korea's mandatory 18-month military service. Here is a round up of what critics are saying about their latest music.
The new era of BTS is based on an aesthetic construction that is directly related to the cultural roots of South Korea, combining traditional elements with the contemporary identity of the group on a global scale. In the album “Arirang”, launched as a return framework after almost four years of age, the integrations explore not only new sounds, but also visual references that reinforce the concept of the project. Read More BTS shows reconnaissan…
BTS Arirang Hybe/Interscope/Universal (VÖ: 20.3.) BTS catch up with the Internet If you are looking for BTS on the release day of ARIRANG at Google, you are suddenly entering an online game. First it regulates blue soap bubbles, then a virtual bottle mail appears and you are led by QR code to an online snitch hunt. BTS catch up with the Internet. Who else? The Boygroup of the third K-pop generation is...
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources lean Left
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