BTS - 'ARIRANG' Full Album Review (Patreon)

Okayyyyyyy. I started off very excited about this album but now I just feel... kind of sad? I want to hug all of them. I want to protect them and I want to take care of them. And I want them to know that it's okay to rest, or take a break, or completely change directions, or just stop altogether if that's what they want. You know?

Obviously, I am happy they're back. And I just hope THEY are happy to be back! I hope they are happy to be on this journey and excited about whatever is next for them. But clearly, writing these songs was a chance for them to speak their truth and share their struggles. Which isn't new for BTS, I guess.

I've seen some chatter online about wishing they'd gone "back to their roots" or the older BTS sound. But, to me, this feels VERY much like the BTS I was first introduced to and loved. The sound is different - it's VERY different - but the root of it, the truth, the honesty, the vulnerability? That's all Bangtan.

And I do also really appreciate that they're trying a different sound. I genuinely liked a lot of the songs we got on this album. There were a few songs that weren't exactly for me, but I loved it for them. I mentioned CORTIS in this video and how much we've praised BIGHIT for allowing CORTIS to be experimental and 'color outside the lines' with their sound and I like that BTS is also getting that space. It would be hypocritical as hell to be like, "No, I want YOU GUYS to do the same music you used to do before," when their junior group gets so much room to try new things, dance between different genres, be a little weird, a little rebellious, etc. If this is what BTS is feeling right now, then hell yeah, BTS. Haha.

I dunno, what do y'all think?? It's weird - I've gotten so used to doing reactions on Twitch that it felt really strange just talking to myself. Hahaha. I didn't say any of this in the actual video, but I probably would have if we were chatting in real time. Please comment with your thoughts so we can discuss!!!

EDIT: Uhhhh, I can't tell if there was an error in the upload or if my wi-fi is just being weird and the video isn't opening properly. I'm getting moments where the video freezes for a second (but audio continues). The raw video file isn't doing that, only here on Patreon. Hopefully it's working okay for you guys?)