It’s hard to fly solo from the nest of a mega successful band, but BTS member Jimin did just that last year with his first studio album under his own name, “Face.” Finding that magic with a sophomore outing is always a pretty tough task. And doing so while serving South Korea’s mandatory military service for males of a certain age? It’s nearly impossible.
While most likely recorded and produced before Jimin’s enlistment in December 2023, the K-pop superstar’s second album, titled “Muse,” feels a bit subdued and almost melancholic in its melodies.
This isn’t a record made in search of an audience — it’s already made, always waiting for a new release. “Muse” acts like a palace poet looking for something to say to keep fans’ spirits up while the prince is away on duty. Will his people remember him fondly? Will they keep him in their hearts until he returns? Although an official press release describes “Muse” as a work depicting Jimin’s “journey to find inspiration from his surroundings,” it feels more like a sometimes-fruitless search for an elusive muse.
Across seven songs – which feel like six songs, as “Interlude: Showtime” is an instrumental that leads into the third track, the single “Smeraldo Garden Marching Band” – Jimin holds his own with songs that don’t aim to be innovative but are still catchy. Clearly a fan of the bluesy trombone, which was also used in “FACE”, Jimin uses the instrument on a lively tune that mixes hip-hop with orchestra and dissonant beats. Visually, the song’s music video was inspired by The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. It’s a perfect bop that feels fast and slow at the same time.
On the other hand, “Who” is a catchy R&B tune that rocks the dance floor and the hearts of its patrons with recorder-like accents on the beat. Another one that captivates with its rhythm is “Be Mine”, a blazing Afrobeat song.
“Slow Dance” is the second collaboration with American singer and actress Sofia Carson on “Muse” – a mid-tempo R&B song based on guitar and would serve as the soundtrack to a beautiful romantic comedy.
The album concludes with “Closer Than This,” a love letter to fans that was previously released in December, a simple, easy-to-listen ending song.
While “Muse” doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it will keep Jimin’s fans entertained.
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