Five Things We Learned from Jimin’s Sunny New Album MUSE

The post Five Things We Learned from Jimin’s Sunny New Album MUSE appeared first on Consequence .

If there’s one thing we know for certain these days, it’s that no one has ever done a “hiatus” the way BTS are doing a hiatus. Since announcing and subsequently beginning their time serving in the South Korean military, fans have been treated to six solo albums, multiple digital singles , dozens of photo shoots, a full-on tour from SUGA, a headlining slot at Lollapalooza from j-hope, and a travel show from Jung Kook and Jimin coming soon to Disney+.

Eldest member Jin is officially back and reportedly working on a solo project of his own, and, while the BTS ARMY patiently waits for more details (and the return of j-hope in October), we get to spend time enjoying a fresh release from Jimin. After the release of a sophomore LP from RM, Jimin is the next member to drop a follow-up project that was entirely recorded and prepared ahead of his departure.

MUSE is the follow-up to Jimin’s solo debut, FACE , which was a reflective and often intens e record where Jimin undertook the heavy work of digging into identity. The focus track of the project, “Like Crazy,” was the glittering focal point that marked him as the first Korean artist to notch a solo No. 1 debut on Billboard’s Hot 100. MUSE isn’t quite a reversal, but it does take Jimin in a different direction — one that’s brighter, more lighthearted, and more externally focused.

Stream the album below, and read on for some of the most notable takeaways from MUSE .

01. It’s Romance O’Clock

For the visuals of this album, Jimin was heavily inspired by The Beatles’ iconic Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. From marching band attire in the teaser photos to the entire vibe of pre-release single “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” featuring Loco, the allusions are clear.

As for the thematic content of MUSE, Jimin shifts away from the introspective vibes explored on FACE and steps towards clearer skies. It’s the perfect energy for an album that has arrived smack in the middle of the summer; you can practically visualize the kind of choreography Jimin would deliver on “Be Mine,” which features a Latin-inspired beat similar to “Filter.”

On the album’s focus track, “Who,” he gets vulnerable: “We never met but she’s all I see at night/ Never met but she’s always on my mind/ Wanna give her the world and so much more/ Who is my heart waiting for?”

02. Jimin Loves a Circus Motif

The intro to FACE in 2022 might have caught some listeners off guard with its distinct, slightly haunting circus instrumental. Here, Jimin employs the sound again on “Interlude: Showtime” — while on his first project, the choice feels like a reference to the fun house of fame, it’s far less loaded here. The connector after “Rebirth (Intro)” is a seamless transition into the irresistibly warm “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” feat. Loco. Let the show truly begin.

03. Gospel Choirs Make Everything Better

The album kicks off with “Rebirth (Intro),” which centers Jimin among an expansive choir of vocalists. It’s not unlike the heartfelt conclusion of his 2020 unit track with V, “Friends,” or his own “Set Me Free pt.2” — he seems right at home with drama and theatrics swirling around him. It’s the same tone found in the bridge of “ON,” especially during live performances of the anthemic track, where the sound of the background dancers shouting through the swelling vocals is almost overwhelming.

04. More R&B from Jimin, Please

After “Face-off” on FACE showed listeners just how much soloist Jimin can thrive in a smooth, R&B space, he returns to this energy intermittently on MUSE .

One of the many things that makes Jimin interesting as a performer is his range — the push and pull of his contemporary and ballet training balanced with the hip-hop forward vibes of many BTS songs makes him an entrancing person to witness onstage. Similarly, he can tackle a ballad or a bop with similar levels of ease, but something extra special happens when he wades into R&B. There’s touches of it in “Rebirth (Intro),” and the mid-tempo “Slow Dance” feat. Sofia Carson gets even closer. It’s just so fun hearing embrace this vibe, one he should absolutely return to in the future.

05. Jimin & Pdogg: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

This isn’t news for anyone who has followed BTS’s creative journey to this point, but Jimin and songwriter-producer Pdogg work so beautifully together. As a co-writer on BTS bangers like “HOME,” “Mic Drop,” “ON,” and “Fake Love,” and Jimin solos “Face-off” and “Set Me Free pt.2,” Pdogg has proved himself time and time again to be a creative who is integral to the team. He seems to have a knack for understanding the vision of whichever particular project crosses his desk, and his work here on MUSE is no exception. He co-produced every track on the project and contributed heavily on the lyrical front, too. Thanks for never letting us down, king.

MUSE Album Artwork:

Five Things We Learned from Jimin’s Sunny New Album MUSE
Mary Siroky