r/ARMYNeutral

There’s obviously been a lot of discourse around the tour, what people feel is lacking, the disappointment with the reduced choreo and the wider reactions to ARIRANG as an album. It had me thinking, to be honest: maybe artists should release tour tickets after the album release/promotions have actually happened.

I know this is just how the music industry works, and I also know there’s a commercial angle here. Companies and record labels obviously benefit from selling tickets before people have fully seen the direction of the era, so realistically they would probably never want to do this.

But still, it would let people make a more informed decision. If people had already seen the Netflix show, the reduced choreo there, the album rollout and the overall direction of the era, some might have decided the tour was not worth spending money on.

And that’s fair. If the performances, choreo, music or general creative direction disappoint someone greatly, they should ideally know that before buying tickets rather than after. Because damn, some of these reviews I've seen have me feeling sorry for people who spent serious money and are just not happy.

ALSO, I obviously know people can be disappointed by certain aspects and still enjoy the show overall. Those things aren’t mutually exclusive. I also know most people are enjoying the tour.

It just seems that some people don’t necessarily enjoy art or an artist’s vision for its own sake, and that’s not an insult. For some fans, concerts/music is less about trusting the whole creative direction and more about wanting a specific kind of experience. When money is hard to come by, this all makes sense. I can't help but think that this would solve a few issues and friction.

I really love BTS and enjoying the tour, but its embarrassing to show it to new potential fans because I brag about how good they can dance, but when they watch the concert they see them just jumping around a lot and skipping choreography for planned songs and some surprise songs they forget the choreography and just kind barely do it. Maybe they could do a small reheasal for surprise songs or let BTS know what those songs are going to be because they dont even sing because they forgot the lyrics.

I bare with it because I really love BTS but sometimes I have to just pretend they were doing the dance in my mind like a memory of how it would look if they were doing it while watching them.

I feel like its not professional at times for the amount of money people pay to see them.

But I do understand the tour is very long all the way until mid next year so maybe they dont have the energy to do all the choreography.

I do like to see them happy though I do see them smiling a lot so thats another reason why I try to let slide. But I guess I'll have to look at old videos to see choreography again for most of their songs.

But maybe this is for the best so BTS wont be too tired and exhausted during the tour.

I know they do a little choreography and I do enjoy those moments very much.

What do you guys think?

Obviously all the members have grown and changed as they’ve gotten older, new styles, different hair, military service, and now being in their thirties. They still mostly look like the same to me. But Yoongi genuinely looks quite different lately. I think part of it is that we barely saw much of him after 2023 and during enlistment, so his changes feel more noticeable compared to the others, who we saw more consistently. Maybe it’s the hair, the styling, or just him looking older and more mature, but he definitely has a different vibe and look now. Am I crazy or does anyone else see it too?

After a month and half or concerts I am feeling this ot7 setlist is becoming a tad boring with no vocal highlights for me (not counting viral moments , jks into the sun or jins siren ). I am vocal girly, I don't know why the vocals were ignored in this concert(I am still only like arirang songs.... not in love). I will ruffle your feathers and say I am missing unit stages where we had vocalist hooting and hollering. (Some rap girly maybe missing cyphers) .

Bts never ignored vocals or choreo in earlier concerts.. I will not comment on choreo, as I don't care about it that much, what I see if sufficient for me. But I want some more vocals... JK is giving ad-libs here and there but arirang as an album does not have that much adlibs requirement from him or any vocalist. Plus high notes... What happened to high notes...

Setlist is 60 % arirang and 40% includes fake love, fire, mic drop, dynamite, idol, butter, 2 surprise songs(never fully sung), run bts, not today.. surprisingly they all have very little high notes, harmonies...I think vocal flavor is missing. Where is rnb, ballads.. I am missing it so much as the time goes on...

only thing going viral from concerts is stage presence, little dances, their antics on the stage, hair of members or costumes.. not aggressive rap or angelic vocals from members .

Am I the only one who gets that feeling? Ever since the tour started, I haven’t really seen any videos of him enjoying himself, and if I have, it’s only been one or two. I feel like he’s been dissociating for the past month. I don’t see him enjoying it the way he seemed to enjoy his solo tour. Maybe he’s just less expressive than the others, or maybe I still don’t fully understand his personality and he’s actually having an amazing time lol

Fly to my room is the shittt guys. I feel like people just brushed past this album, I don’t see any discourse around it.

Hey yall, thank you for the feedback and comments on my recent post about the concert! I decided to delete it despite getting great comments because I do feel like it may have generalized a lot in the title, and honestly it gained WAY more traction than I was expecting and I didnt want it to be more negativity for people to stumble upon when talking about the concert 🫶

I just hope we can all direct energy on empathizing with peoples situations that may not allow them to buy lightsticks or have time to learn chants, and that everyone can be more open to non fans coming to concerts as the group still has many people to reach! And focus on more important things about the USA such as politics rather than fandom infighting! This applies to me as well :)

Thank you everyone who engaged in discourse regardless of if you had a similar opinion to me or not. I love that this sub is open to these nuanced discussions!

Ultimately i have mostly positive opinions on the concert, so I want to make it clear that this did not ruin my experience 🫶

I was recently listening to my playlist on shuffle and Change by RM and Wale came on, followed by Strange by RM and Agust D, and it got me thinking about how politically grounded a lot of BTS’s lyrics used to be. I absolutely love those types of songs from them, and "Change" is one of my favorite songs of all time.

I’m not saying they don’t still have that now in some regard. I can see those same tendrils in songs like Aliens and Body to Body, as well as in their solo projects, like j-hope’s Equal Sign, Agust D’s Haegeum, and others. But I’m curious what everyone thinks: do we think the days of foregrounding such politically direct lyrics in group music are over because of their massive popularity now?

Will we ever get another Baepsae, Go Go or N.O? I know UGH was adjacent, but to me it still wasn’t quite the same. I also wonder whether, given how wealthy and globally famous they are now, that kind of critique could be read as patronising by some people, even if the sentiment is sincere.

I’m not saying this as a criticism at all by the way. I’m genuinely just curious about everyone’s thoughts, cause I was thinking on it. I also know this might be a bit of a narrow take, since I’m probably not accounting for every song or project. I’m not claiming to be the paragon of sense here, just genuinely curious.

I don’t know if this is actually unpopular, because a lot of people seem to view comments like “you saved my life” or “you taught me how to love myself” as purely positive things that idols appreciate hearing.

And I do think many idols are genuinely touched knowing their music helped people through difficult moments.

But I also think at some point that kind of emotional dependence can become an enormous burden to place on another human being.

A lot of idols got into music because they love singing, dancing, rapping, performing, producing, or expressing themselves creatively. Of course it’s beautiful when their art comforts people or helps someone feel less alone. But I can’t imagine how heavy it must feel to constantly hear that people’s entire will to live or mental stability depends on you.

Especially because idols themselves are often struggling mentally too, insecure, overworked, trying to figure themselves out, and still learning how to love themselves as people.

I always think about when RM reacted to "love letters" that ARMY song where the lyrics said things like “you showed me how to love myself” and “you’re the reason that I stayed,” and his response was basically, “I still don’t know how to love myself, but I’m happy if you guys learned it.”

And honestly that response made me sad a little, because it showed the gap between the image fans emotionally project onto idols and the reality that idols are just flawed people still figuring themselves out too.

Imagine being treated as someone’s beacon of hope while privately feeling lost yourself.

I feel like that kind of pressure would make anyone overthink everything they say or do, because now every mistake, scandal, hiatus, relationship, or personal struggle suddenly feels emotionally loaded.

I’m not saying fans shouldn’t feel inspired, comforted, or emotionally connected to music/artists at all. Music genuinely can help people through hard times.

I just think there’s a difference between “this artist/music helped me during a difficult period” and “my emotional survival depends on this person.”

At some point, I think fans have to save themselves too instead of unconsciously placing that responsibility onto strangers who ultimately do not personally know them.

I wanna explore more of their music besides the mainstream hits. Drop songs that made you obsessed with them.

Background: I’d never been to an OT7 BTS concert, or many concerts at all, so I had no real basis for comparison. I’ve been a fan since 2017 but I always thought concerts weren’t my thing. Then Jin came to Tampa and of course I had to go to his shows since they were so close; and after his incredible performance, I knew without a doubt that I had to see all 7 of them when they toured again. I saw them on all three days in Tampa from seats in the 100s level and once from the floor. I imagine your concert experience might be different if you’re in a different part of the stadium.

Also — this will color my review, so I mention it — I did not really like the Arirang album. “Normal” and “Like Animals” have grown on me over time, and “Come Over,” released later on the deluxe vinyl, of course, is a song I actively listen to. I like the overall beat and sound in “Body to Body” and think the MV for “2.0” is great, plus it has great choreo, leading me to like the song when it’s performed. The other songs aren’t my cup of tea. I like BTS’ 2015 to 2022 sound best, and pop and rock in general.

The positives:

-Experience: It was so much fun. Even though I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the new songs, dancing and singing along with the BTS members and everyone else is awesome. Lots of the new songs (like “FYA,” “Aliens,” “Body to Body,” and “Normal”) have good beats or catchy choruses and are suited to large crowds, stadiums, and the passionate performances BTS is known for. Plus, live, you can hear the members’ voices more clearly than on the album.

-No vocorder: Going off my last point, “Into the Sun” wasn’t an utter abomination anymore. With no vocorder effect, you could hear the members sing and actually appreciate the song. I loved it live and it made the best concert ending. If only they’d release a normal version.

-Choreo: The choreo that exists in the concert is cleanly executed and looks great. Highlights here are “2.0” and “Mic Drop.”

-Song selection: Although the set list choices for older songs seem a little haphazard, they chose some great ones, like “Fake Love,” “Idol,” and the previously mentioned “Mic Drop.” Although they’re not my favorites, “Butter” and “Dynamite” are also fun to listen to.

-Idol parade: Going around the entire lower level of the stadium during “Idol” lets fans who have missed them for so long greet them and vice versa. It’s just another sign of their considerate love for Army.

-Arirang: It was a moving moment watching BTS listen to the crowd sing “Arirang” during “Body to Body.” I’m in the kimchi fried rice with a Paris baguette camp, but I’m glad they can have that moment.

-Fireworks and effects: The fireworks were awesome and timed well, like for emphasis in songs like “Dynamite,” and at the end of “Into the Sun” as they were leaving so we’d have something pretty to look at. During the half-time show/costume change in the middle, there was a cool “earthquake” effect and they raised the circular platform on the stage.

-Hardworking and glowing: The members clearly worked hard as they always do to deliver flawless performances. They sound great and use all their energy to dance or move around the stage. Jimin and Jin particularly imo have great vocals, and J-Hope commands lots of attention with his raps and emotional lines (like in “Merry-Go-Round” and “Normal”). Jimin is glowing, no joke, and they all seem so very glad to be on stage and with Army.

-Happy: The vibe of the concert overall is happy. The members are happy and the audience is happy to share that two and a half hours together.

Negatives:

-Beginning: The concert begins slowly with “Hooligan.” It should begin with “Body to Body.” I know why they didn’t – they wanted to save the part where Army sings “Arirang” for the penultimate main set song and a kind of climax moment, and it is awesome – but it’s a shame.

Not only is “Body to Body” energetic and hard-hitting, but the lyrics are about a concert and hyping people up for it. “Hooligan” is bare-bones instrumentally and is quiet in comparison. The hype isn’t there, and the theme is unclear. Is the message that the concert is about being a hooligan? It’s not easy to sing along with. The first song in a concert, for better or worse, sets the tone for the concert, and they should have used a more energetic and thematically important first song.

-Lack of choreo: There’s a lack of choreography — sad since BTS excels at it. Arguments have been made for and against its inclusion, and I won’t really comment on that except to say that they were exerting themselves almost as much as they would dancing by freestyling and moving from one side of the nearly stadium-length-extending stage to the other.

Of the 23 songs they perform, the 3 songs with full choreo, if memory serves, are “Swim,” “2.0,” and “Mic Drop.” “Run BTS,” “Butter,” and “Dynamite” have partial choreo. I really wish I’d gone to an old concert back in the day where BTS performed their legendary choreo.

-Dressed the same/no easy to pinpoint visuals: The members begin the show in entirely black outfits. The multitude of backup dancers literally running around them is also dressed all in black, and it makes it hard to see them. The members later change into normal-looking clothes in everyday colors, but visually sticking out with showy outfits or bolder colors would make them easier for the audience – some of them sitting very far away – to distinguish them, especially when the stage is so large.

-Too much to keep track of: Especially in the last third or so of the show, the members move constantly from one end of the large stage to the other, and the camera that films what’s on the screens above the stage can only focus on about one thing at a time. The audience tends to miss what members are doing if they’re far away or not on camera.

-Screen effects: Speaking of the screens, there are many, many overlays. I don’t fully remember, but there are some that make them “shine,” some that are black and white, and some that are flames or something. Occasionally, like in “They Don’t Know ‘Bout Us” and I think “Idol” and “Body to Body,” actors or audience members are shown instead of BTS (if you wear a hanbok to the concert, apparently you might be filmed and shown on the screen, which is cool, but not what most people came to see). The screen construction is great – you can see them well from most seats – but the effects are distracting.

-Random play songs: I actually really love this segment and the concept, but it’s pulled off awkwardly. When Jin had the audience sing in a similar segment in his shows, he introduced the segment and literally read rules about what was happening and there were words on the screen and a countdown to begin singing. In this concert, it’s not made clear that a non-BTS-performing segment is beginning. That makes it weird sometimes when the audience remembers all the words, but the members don’t sing, or when the members stand there while some of them dance. It can look unprofessional.

Again, I say this as someone who loves this part of the show and enjoys revisiting the old songs. V said in the Weverse live they did after their first El Paso show, “Wouldn’t it be better if we knew which songs were going to be played each night?” I agree with him. It’s sad if it appears that BTS doesn’t remember a beloved song as well as we do. Usually, though, the BTS members were energetically engaging with the song and audience members, so overall it wasn’t bad. “Magic Shop” was especially wonderful; Taehyung was doing the “so show me, I’ll show you” call and response with the audience and they sang the words easily.

-“Fire/FYA”: In this mashup, they get almost to the 3:33 part in “Fire,” the climax, and you expect them to launch into a high-powered ending, but instead the music stops. Then there’s that robotic wind-up noise and “FYA” starts again. But to stop the momentum and then slowly begin again is a bad choice for a fast clubbing-style mashup.

-Stage: I’m kind of neutral on the actual 360 aspect – it allows more fans to see them, and they do their best with it. Sometimes their backs are turned towards you depending on where you are, but at some point they’ll probably face you.

The center I don’t like. It has a circle that breaks into pieces like a giant motorized puzzle and does quite a few complex up and down and moving things, especially in the first two thirds of the concert. But the end result is that for those songs, many of which are slow or melancholy to begin with, the members can’t move much, and the concert is sluggish at those points.

If they were to move or get too far from their points, they wouldn’t be at the right place when their part of the circle is lifted or lowered or whatever, so they have to stick close. “They Don’t Know ‘Bout Us,” “Like Animals,” “Fake Love,” “Swim,” and “Merry-Go-Round” are the primary victims here. After the first third of the concert, the vibe mercifully picks up with “2.0,” “Normal,” “Not Today,” etc. when the circle is not used for the most part, allowing the members to range around the stage more.

Would I recommend the concert?

I would definitely recommend it to fans who liked the album; that’s a no-brainer and you’ll have the time of your life.

I’m more conflicted trying to decide if I’d recommend it to fans who didn’t like Arirang. I loved the experience, but I went in with somewhat tempered expectations, pretty well aware of what it would be like and what was missing since I’d seen the Goyang livestreams. I found it worthwhile as the location (neighboring city) and cost were doable for me. I also really enjoyed their energy, seeing them with my own eyes for the first time, and just them being awesome human beings. The set list is probably 1/3 older songs vs 2/3 new album songs, so you’re bound to like at least something they perform. I guess you’ll have to decide for yourself, but I hope my review is helpful to anyone on the fence.

Set List (in order):

Hooligan
Aliens
Run BTS
They Don't Know 'bout Us
Like Animals
Fake Love
Swim
Merry Go Round

(costume change/halftime show thing)

2.0
Normal
Not Today
Mic Drop
FYA/Fire
Body to Body
Idol

(Army Time: Army’s signs and costumes are shown on the screens)

Come Over
Butter
Dynamite
Surprise Song 1
Surprise Song 2

(ending ments)

Please
Into the Sun

Run time: About two and a half hours

I am so impressed with the way the BTS members are shaping their solo brands. j hope and jungkook impress me the most, the collaborations, advertisements and the collections they are bringing. When you see their brands, it does not look forced, it is on point to their personalities. When BTS were doing group brands , I am sorry to say I never liked most collaborations or brand deals. There were always some disconnect for me.

RM with taking his brand to art world is like a chef kiss.

I can't comment on Jin and V as they have too many for me to figure out.

Suga has taken step back except for Samsung and his autism center (very personal to me). For Jimin , I like most just Lador was a disconnect for me. He can definitely go for bigger brands.

Excuse my ignorance but what does the lyric mean from Drake about BTS its not a diss is it? 😅🤣

"I’m feeling like BTS ‘cause it took the whole career for me to be so discovered"

I'm new, this is also a new account. I just wanted to know and make sure this is a safe space, for opinions, multi stans ect. Because the last group I was in presented as a multi stan group, but it wasn't and I got shunned for having a different opinion which was crazy. So I thought I ask.

Wanted to post this in a neutral sub too for more diversity in opinion. This is part 1 of 2, had too much to say and it was too big to fit into one post so I split it. The other part is linked right here: https://www.reddit.com/r/ARMYNeutral/comments/1tcst3a/arirang_review_22/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Mom said it was my turn to write a long ass take on Arirang that no one wants to read.🧍🏽‍♀️~~(Actually, I'd greatly appreciate it if you did.)~~

I was going to type this up 2 days after Arirang came out but then my opinions kept flip-flopping all over the place so I decided to give a week...which turned into a month... and into almost 2 months (I'm a very busy person, sadly). Remembered I had this saved in my drafts and decided to finish it off so enjoy. I actually think waiting this long was good because the initial hype of new BTS music and the 50 billion think pieces have finally washed over and I think we consume music too quickly and move on rather than having it sit with us for awhile.

So, BTS is finally back (yay!) and the opinions on this comeback are varied to say the least. In what I find quite fascinating, I find disappointment among kpop stans, divide among armys, and appreciation among others. I've been seeing so many things that I wanted to take some time to articulate my thoughts into one post to help me make sense of my feelings and thoughts among the chaos. I would like to mention as well for context and bearing that I became an army in 2022, making this my first OT7 comeback as an ARMY, but I have been a general fan of BTS and their work since 2017 so I have witnessed several comebacks from a distance as a casual fan.

I wanted to start off reviewing each track and rating it, so here goes:

1. Body to Body (8/10): This song is a banger and I am on team this-should-have-been-the-single like 99% of people. What a way to open an album and it screams "BTS is motherfucking back" with riling up the crowd as way of homecoming of sorts (I have more on this later). The beat is too catchy, perfect blend of vocals to rap part, and of course, the amazing interpolation of Arirang that has wonderful vocal styling and percussion that blends seamlessly into the song that it gives me chills the minute the transition starts with JK's vocals and the traditional percussion hits. My only gripes is that the song's lack of a proper structured chorus is kinda bugging me at times and the heavy overuse of autotune that kinda messes with the enjoyment of the vocal line (especially Jimin, really wish they would stop using it on his voice because he has a unique tone that gets altered with the autotune) but other than that I really enjoy this song.
2. Hooligan (7.5/10): Now, I'm aware this wasn't everyone cup of tea but I'm a Hooligan defender. I think the whole song slaps and its weird and chaotic in all the ways that it scratches my brain and its not nowhere close to being as awful as people act like it is. The laughs are an interesting yet weird choice that works for me (apparently people hated the laughs as if the laughs personally murdered a child). The knife slashes and the pounding beat sound cool but this also could be me having heard traditional folk music from my culture that have similar elements so it doesn't faze me as much (I also really enjoy Tyler the Creator and Sticky off of Chromokopia so I see influences there). The classical instrumental is nice touch and Jinkook "Take you out" part with the choreo is so addictive and Hobi's verse is really good (especially the "crowd looking like a campus" part). My only issue with the song is that I keep waiting for big buildup with a louder and more chaotic/noisy instrumental but it doesn't happen. It doesn't really deviate from my enjoyment of the song and while the song is weird and good, I think they fumbled a bit by resorting a little bit to a "safer" melody and instrumental when they could have fully leaned into the weirdness, especially when the chorus hits and prior verse is interesting but then it just goes back into "watch this, watch this".
3. Aliens (9.5/10): Now this what I call a BANGER. First few secs of the track and BAM, welcome back Agust mfing D. That's no SUGA nor Min Yoongi, that's Agust D coming back for spite one last time with that fiery loaded beat that drops with every sense of conviction. Open a song like that and I am SAT. I love this track for its boldness spoken into every line and BTS putting their foot down. I absolutely chuckle at the shoes reference as an Asian myself but I also love the subtle reference to the Jungmori rhythm, the Korean alphabet, and the Korean poet in a classic BTS "alluding to things" and "shading your bloodline" double combo. Initially, I was a little put back a the weird vocal distortion at the post chorus (??) especially with Jinmin but idk I kinda don't mind?? Absolutely love the ending with the chants and I get chills all the time.
4. FYA (7.5/10): Ngl, the Namseok's verses a bit too repetitive and eh for me but considering the song I can get past it since its not really meant to be a serious song and the best part of the song is ahead. I love the beat on this song and how catchy it is. The kinda music I expect to play at the clubs when I turn up but get disappointed nowadays when its a snoozefest. JK's "can't forget" is permanently etched into my brain along with the beat drop in between Namgi's parts. Also, its criminal how I see people ignore the obvious best part of the whole song is clearly Yoongi's verse. His verse is what I need when I throw on my hot girl walk playlist for the gym.
5. 2.0 (4/10): This song is a skip for me, sorry. The MV was great and hilarious and one their best MVs recently speaking and choreo is slick af but the song just doesn't do anything for me. Maybe it's because I'm not just a fan of that particular rap style and I typically don't listen to hiphop in this particular style but I can't say this song is interesting to me. Hobi's verse seems well done but not enough to get me going. I think some of the chants and the "RIDEEEEE" "Yk how I do" parts got stuck in my head tho. I can't really forget those and they are oddly addictive but other than those part being an ear worm, that's all I remember from the song. The beat is really nice and I keep waiting for something bigger but it never comes and leaves me a little starved for more.
6. No. 29 (10000/10): SOTY ALL THE GRAMMYS FOR THIS ONE, jokes aside I think I like concept of tonal shift of the album being demarcated by an ancient bell (and the following silence) is cool and funny, otherwise I really got no opinion for this one
7. Swim (7/10): BTS somehow encapsulated "the dead wife montage at the start of action movie" and put it into a song. Its a radio friendly song so I don't expect much from it but its nice. I've really become a hater of the radio as of late and they play the same damn 3 songs over and over again so hearing this would feel like a bottle of fresh water in the desert (or any song that isn't the same 3 songs tbh, my local radio station is gonna get jumped by me one day). I think it flows well and is made for easy listening when driving so I see their point. Would I have enjoyed a more stronger track as a lead single? Yes, but I liked the song from the first listen and I think it flows well. Ik it's much simpler but I really love the choreo and it just flows like water. Idk why but I love the "moon and sharks" line, its different from "moon and stars" and it takes the loneliness and uncertainty of the ocean into account. I love Jin's remix of it sm with the guitars at the end, they should have made that one the main one.
8. Merry Go Round (10/10): Ngl while I picked up on the Tame Impala production from Kevin instantly I kinda didn't really vibe with this on first listen (I will say it dropped close to midnight for me and I had been up since crack of dawn with tons of work so atp I was just fading from exhaustion). On my relisten of the album with the lyrics, I felt like I got sucker punched in the gut. Man are the lyrics so depressing in the classic BTS way, this has their pen game all over it. The vocals are gorgeous and the repetition of the melody and the flow of the vocals and the rap really make you feel as if you have been stuck in MGR ride for days. This song on my driving playlist will have me disassociating for hours in a sickening way.
9. Normal (6.5/10): It's an earworm and I like it but I won't say its my fav song off the album and its kinda dependent on whether or not I want to listen to it. It sounds very much like a Taylor Swift song which was my first impression of the song, not in any bad or good way ofc, just an observation lol. I don't think I go out of my way to listen to it but the "kerosene, dopamine" and the "heavy is heart" parts are my favorite and I think the backing vocals are great. I LOVE Taekook's "got me feeling" and "knees" part (especially the knees, I'm a sucker for JK-isms with his voice and this is one of those). The lyrics hit hard and BTS be talking their shit as they should.
10. Like Animals (9.5/10): Now where is the MV for this song? All 7 ate down on this track and the guitar is really raw and sultry. The vocals at the bridge with the Jin's falsetto, Taehyung's "heart untamable", JK's belt, followed by Jimin's signature low sultry tone are 10/10 no notes. I LOVE the lyrics and I think it plays on 2 fronts with an obvious sultry and suggestive tone (nothing wrong with that ofc, sensuality is a great topic, ask my buddy Blood Sweat and Tears) I do think there is a much symbolic meaning about being intimate with something in a way that's not just physical or sensual but emotionally and mentally speaking (a huge part of sensuality too ofc). I LOVE the "eat this life till your heart is full" line, it speaks to me idk. The only thing stopping me from giving it a 10 was that it was a little bit of a grower for me and it's too short IMO.
11. TDKBU (6/10): Same as Normal with this one. I like the lyrics and the message they want to say but this song is a 50-50 for me dependent on mood. Love the intro and the backing vocals and the "ooh damn right" part but that's about it as far as formulating an opinion goes.
12. One More Night (9/10): Club banger alert! This what I need at the club and while I think the track isn't overly ambitious (from the b-side kings), it's a BOP and I stand by and I will get down to this track any time and any time. Shame it got skipped for the setlist.
13. Please (10/10): As an RnB lover, I LOVE a good RnB flirty/freaky anthem and ughhhhh this song is just that. They knew what they were doing with having JK open up with that "baby ohh pleaseee" (and I shamelessly concede, you win, BTS). This is my favorite off the album and it's probably already gonna end up as my most replayed song of the damn year. Need an MV for this one and the freakier version that was allegedly scrapped.
14. Into the Sun (6.5/10): Sigh, this was the hardest to rate. I'm so sorry to BTS but I CANNOT stand the vocoder. It gives roblox face on a chicken nugget with a cowboy hat (idk either and I live in the US South in peak yeehaw nation so that's saying something). Ik this screams Tae all over it which great for him but that vocoder makes it an instant skip for me which pains me because if that part/effect wasn't there it would have made my top 2 songs on this album. The rap lines verses flowed so smoothly and Jin's vocals in the middle were so sweet. Above all, lyrically it was heartwarming and the end with the everyone joining in and JK's background vocals reminded me so much of Spring Day and what a way to close out an album about coming home like that. I love the live version tho so with that being said, averaging out a 4.5 for the album version and an 8.5 or so for the song excluding the vocoder, I give it a 6.5.
15. Come Over (9/10): Not an official track but still worth mentioning. Prod Suga will always deliver for me and opening the track with those vocals was so good. I liked the rap verses though I could see some changes to the "you never loved me" part where I thought it was a tad bit bland but the instrumental and the humming was a nice touch.

Overall, I enjoyed this album. I won't say its my fav from them (D&W, HYYH:YF, and LYS:A will reign for me still) but I was surprised in all the ways and I think I'm happy with that. I felt like the album felt like a rough draft where the music nerd in me could hear all the small minor areas where the album could be tweaked but the album had a strong identity and sonical boldness that was starting to disappear from their music around BE now in hindsight. I wish I liked some of the tracks more but that's just personal taste atp and I do appreciate their ability to bring something fresh to the table

My final album ranking: 7.5-8/10