When fans heard that BTS would be completing their mandatory military service, they didn’t expect the members to continue releasing music. Yet, each BTS member has released at least one album since enlisting, and some have even released two!
Jimin’s debut album, FACE, was released in March 2023, followed by his second album, MUSE, on July 19, 2024.
While FACE explored Jimin’s identity, MUSE delves into his journey to find inspiration.
MUSE contains a total of seven tracks – including two collaborations -, with Jimin co-writting six of them. If that isn’t impressive enough, the album also boasts writing and production credits from Jon Bellion – who has worked with BTS’s Jungkook and various other artists -, Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, and Tommy Brown, known for his work with Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, and The Weeknd.
Let’s go through the album track by track:
“Rebirth” sets the story for the rest of the album. Here, Jimin reflects on unexpectedly falling for someone and wanting to be with them. We get the classic vocal tone that we love from him and the background music works perfectly to amplify the romantic lyrics.
“Interlude: Showtime” acts as a bridge from the first song to the third. It is instrumental until the end, where the listeners are introduced to the “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” which is the name of the next song.
“Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” was the first single released from the album and includes the first featured artist – South Korean rapper, Loco. This song is a love confession, blending orchestral and hip-hop sounds to create a unique, happy-go-lucky background that matches the music video perfectly.
“Slow Dance” is the first slower, somewhat acoustic track on the album and the second and final collaboration. The story follows a couple enjoying their time together. Jimin sings about not rushing the relationship and wanting to savor the feeling forever, while Sofia Carson expresses how quickly she fell in love but believes in their lasting connection – without wanting to move too quickly either. Their voices intertwine nicely, even though it is for a short time. The song is easy to listen to and the horns are a great addition.
“Be Mine” was such a surprise the first time I heard it! I love latin music and I didn’t expect Jimin to explore this genre. Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic is one of the songwriters. The song is an open expression of love – Jimin knows that someone wants to be with him and he wants the same. The chorus, though repetitive, is so catchy! The beat works perfectly for this song and I have already added it to my daily playlist.
“Who” is the second single off MUSE. It includes production by Jon Bellion and is the only song on the album that is sung completely in English. If you thought “Be Mine” was catchy and had latin vibes, you haven’t seen anything yet! “Who” is the anthem for anyone who has not found their person yet. Jimin speaks about dreaming of the person he will end up with and wonders if he has met them yet or if they are somewhere far away. This song will stay in your head and the mix of instruments work together so well – I especially love the piano part in the chorus!
“Closer Than This” is the final song on the album and is written for the fans. It was initially released in December of 2023, shortly after Jimin enlisted in the military. He reflects on his past experiences in BTS, reassuring fans that although he must fulfill his military duties temporarily, he and BTS will always be with them through their music, videos, and shared memories.
“Be Mine” and “Who” are my favorite songs on MUSE. Overall, I think the album has amazing production, and I was surprised to see some of the people Jimin was able to work with.
Jimin’s first album, FACE, was created with the same group of writers and producers for the most part and taps more into the hip hop and electronic genres musically. Whereas with MUSE, he worked with a variety of producers and writers and the music felt more pop and latin based.
I am excited to see what direction he will go in for upcoming solo music!
My final rating is 7/10.
While there will be limited promotion for this album due to Jimin’s military service, he pre-recorded a performance of “Who” for Jimmy Fallon’s show before enlisting. It premiered on July 22, and you can watch it here:
