Paste Magazine includes Jimin's FACE (#16), Jungkook's Golden (#9) and Agust D's D-Day (#7) in its 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2023.
Jimin: "Following in the footsteps of fellow BTS bandmates RM and J-Hope, Jimin has crafted his most personal music yet with FACE, an EP that is anything but surface level. On songs like “Face-off”—an ethereal RnB opener—and “Set Me Free Pt.2″—an abrasively grandiose yet divisive hip-hop track—Jimin mines angst and self-torment to great effect. Throw in audio snippets from life on and off stage, plus a surprise cameo from Jennifer Lawrence, of all people, and you’ve got yourself one of the year’s most exciting and endlessly creative solo efforts."
Jungkook: "While some of his bandmates went off to complete military service, the youngest member of BTS released his first English-language album in a bid for global pop stardom. Without any writing or production credits to call his own on GOLDEN, Jungkook adopts a chameleonic approach that sees him shifting between styles and genres alongside Western collaborators including Latto, Jack Harlow and Major Lazer, as well as songwriting credits from Ed Sheeran and Shawn Mendes. The result is an infectious, singles-driven collection of undeniable bops we’ve been listening to seven days a week, which proves Jungkook has the Midas touch on anything he sets his mind to. With clear influences from the likes of Justin Timberlake, Usher and Justin Bieber, Jungkook is clearly vying for that pop king crown—and if Golden is anything to go by, the throne could very well be his."
Suga: "The third release from Agust D—aka Suga—completes his solo trilogy with more fiery commentary on societal norms, yet there’s also room for more personal contemplation this time round as well. “Amyygdala” hits as hard as Agust’s flow with a heart-wrenching look back at past traumas yet the album’s true centerpiece is “Snooze”, a collaboration with The Rose’s WOOSUNG and late Japanese composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto, whose haunting melody accompanies Agust’s most vulnerable music yet. That alone would earn D-Day a spot on the list, but this is an extremely accomplished body of work regardless, one which cements Agust D as one of the greatest Korean rappers of his generation."
NME lists Agust D's D-Day as #38 in its Best Albums of the Year 2023.
“Future’s gonna be OK,” Agust D – aka BTS rapper Suga – declared in the opening line of ‘D-Day’. The fiery album wrapped up his trilogy of solo releases with more sharp, thought-provoking societal observations and reflections on his own life, but with room for a new sense of peace, acceptance and hope. That it was all set to hard-hitting hip-hop and featured starry collabs with BTS’ J-Hope, late Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto and more only made ‘D-Day’ more spectacular.
Genius Korea ranks RM's Indigo as #1, and Agust D's D-Day as #5, in their (25) Best K-pop Albums of 2023 list.
RM, Indigo
With a blend of different genres, a roster of eclectic artists, and masterful penmanship, RM created the poignant Indigo, an intimate yet universal composition of his twenties. While lyrics can be interpreted in multiple ways, RM’s storytelling prowess is the core of the album as he allows himself and helps listeners navigate through the depths of emotion and human experience. With songs like “Lonely” and “건망증 (Forg_tful),” RM captures introspection and the complexities of isolation in adulthood, which are more often than not too complicated for us to unpack by ourselves.
Certain albums deserve to be listened to the way they are presented by the artist and don’t necessarily boast singles, and Indigo is one of them. Not only is each song a lyrical journey in and of itself, but they come together to weave a story that leaves a lasting impression on listeners' minds and hearts. With songs like the Anderson .Paak assisted “Still Life”, “All Day” with Tablo, and “No.2” featuring Park Ji Yoon, Indigo provides listeners with solace, inspiration, and a moment to reflect and move forward with more determination. The album grapples with nostalgia of our younger years, our aspirations, and the inevitable challenges that come with growing up and maturing. Even though the album explores themes of uncertainty and doubt, the project itself always maintains a cohesive identity, which is all thanks to RM himself. A lyrical masterpiece, Indigo offers both reflective and ambitious perspectives, making it the best album of the year.
Agust D, D-Day
D-DAY, Agust D’s third studio album, delivers on its grand finale status. As the last installment in the three-part trilogy of albums that included D-2 and Agust-D, D-DAY is a flavor-thick blend of smoking guns and thorny roses. Aggressive compositions like the title track “해금 (Haegeum),” a track about the toxicity of living in a polarized society, contrast with more reflective tracks such as “사람 (People) Pt.2” ft. IU), and the absolute golden goose of the album itself, “Snooze” ft. 坂本龍一 (Ryuichi Sakamoto) & WOOSUNG. Evidently, more mature than 2016 Agust D and another step in self-acceptance and maturity compared to 2020 Agust D, D-DAY acts as the older brother to his younger self, providing insight that only someone standing on the other side of hardship can have realized.
Paste Magazine ranks Agust D's Snooze (feat. Ryuichi Sakamoto and WOOSUNG) as #1 in the 20 Best Songs of 2023.
Agust D ft. Ryuichi Sakamoto and Woosung: “Snooze”
The third album/mixtape released under the BTS rapper-producer Suga’s Agust D moniker, D-Day offered listeners closure on the trilogy, which explored (among other subjects) Suga’s struggles with trauma and mental illness. Nowhere was the album’s cathartic might more visceral than in “Snooze.” The track is offered up as comfort for and encouragement to young artists entering the notoriously harsh K-pop industry, but—like other songs that fall somewhere under the BTS umbrella—it has much broader relatability under late-stage capitalism: “Cry out loud, when you become to hate the world … It’s okay to let out a big sigh and yell out ‘this shit is fucked up’ / Because you too are just a human, just like everyone else.”
“Snooze” features a stirring vocal performance from The Rose’s Woosung and a piano melody from the great Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto—one of his final collaborations, released shortly after his death in March. The song is a bridge between generations of East Asian musical artists, working mostly outside of the U.S. system. When Suga became overcome with emotion while performing “Snooze” on stage during the final show on his world tour, it was one of the year’s most powerful moments in pop music—the culmination of an arduous journey of self-knowledge and healing, and a testament to one musician’s deep connection to his art.
There are currently plans from different ARMY groups on X.com to chart old BTS albums/songs for next year. There is Project Bulletproof and there is The Whale Project.
Timeout (UK) lists Agust D's Snooze (feat. Ryuichi Sakamoto and WOOSUNG) as #16 in the 23 Best Songs of 2023.
" Chasing your dreams has always been a recurring theme in BTS’ music, but of all seven members, it is Suga – known in his solo work as Agust D – who truly hits all the right notes with ‘Snooze’. This dramatic rap-rock ballad is dedicated to aspiring musicians, a comforting voice from someone who has been through it all, survived and came out on top. Agust D’s signature drawling, raspy rapping takes on a more soothing and rhythmic quality here, melding perfectly with Woosung’s transcendent vocals. Snooze is made even more special by the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto’s beautiful piano melody – this track was one of his last projects before his passing in March this year. "
J-hope and Suga attended Jimin and Jungkook's enlistment today, December 12. Jin had already returned to duty, but he will be seeing Jimin and Jungkook within the 5th Infantry Division Key Recruit Training Center for the next 5 weeks. There is no confirmation that he will be training them directly. The photo below is an official release from @BTS_twt on X.com.
UPROXX lists Jungkook's Golden in its Best Albums of 2023.
BTS’ Jung Kook has shown himself to be a pop sensation both within the group and as a solo act. His debut solo album, Golden, served as a gift to fans, as it arrived weeks before Jung Kook began the process of enlisting in the Korean military. He’ll be away until 2025, but songs like the romantic “Standing Next To You,” the sexy, rhythmic “3D,” and the gut-wrenching ballad “Hate You” will certainly hold as timeless classics. But they also set the stage for him to continue his world takeover upon his return.
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