Map Of The Soul : 7 - The Journey
| BTS
Map Of The Soul : 7 - The Journey
Map of the Soul: 7 is the fourth Korean-language (seventh overall) studio album by South Korean boy band BTS. The album was released on February 21, 2020, by Big Hit Entertainment. It is the follow-up to their 2019 extended play Map of the Soul: Persona, with five of its songs appearing on the album. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 422,000 album-equivalent units sold in the first week, including 347,000 pure album sales, making it BTS's fourth number one album on the chart and the biggest debut of 2020. It also debuted at number one in many other countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain and the United Kingdom, thus topping the charts in all of the top five music markets in the world, making BTS the first Asian group to do so. In just nine days of its release, the album sold more than 4.1 million copies, for the first time in Gaon Album Chart's history, making it the best-selling album in South Korea, breaking the Guinness World Record of their previous album Map of the Soul: Persona.-Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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North By Northwestern
In Map of the Soul: 7, BTS is ultimately throwing it back to its early days while simultaneously moving forward in the best way – their maturity and growth are obvious and admirable. My only complaint about the album is that it repackaged older songs from their previous album, which I found to be redundant and quite unnecessary as there’s plenty of great new material without them. Otherwise, 7 is genuinely a delight to listen to and can cater to almost anyone’s style as long as you can look past the increasingly irrelevant language barrier.
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Black Boy Bulletin
Map of the Soul: 7 functions as both a repackage and an expansion of the sonic world introduced by Map of the Soul: Persona. The album begins with five songs from Persona before transitioning into new music. “Black Swan” was the world’s first taste of new BTS music post-Persona (SUGA released a solo track preceding “Black Swan” titled “Interlude: Shadow,” a teaser for the new era). “Black Swan” is, in many ways, the antithesis of “Boy with Luv,” the cardinal song from Persona. Whereas the latter is bright and bouncy, the latter boasts a gloomier songs with lyrics that tackle the concept of fear. But 7 isn’t solely about fear and darkness, as many fans theorized pre-album release. Rating: 81/100
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COS
BTS are both the world’s biggest and most interesting act in pop music right now: 7 solidifies this position and smartly looks towards the future. Their cultural impact is undeniable, and their work continues to push forward conversations about genre, language, and much more. There’s no telling what BTS will do next, but that’s what’s so compelling.
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Variety
BTS kicks the album off with familiar hits from “MOTS: Persona,” including their collaborations with Ed Sheeran (the delicate ballad “Make It Right”) and Halsey (the bright bop “Boy With Luv”). But the best of these “old” numbers is the underrated RM baller “Intro: Persona.” Filled with scratchy riffs and echoing background, the guitar lines take listeners back to a retro era (think Beastie Boys) as BTS’ leader admonishes haters in both Korean and English.
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Rolling Stone
On such a broad and diverse 74-minute trip, the stylistic experiments flow together, which is why the Persona songs sound more at home in this context—BTS always work best with a wider thematic canvas. They play on their shared history, as in the Sia duet “ON,” a clever reversal of their 2013 hit “N.O.,” or “no offense.” “Louder Than Bombs” (co-written with Troye Silvan) is a fusion of all their finest musical elements in one place, a lavishly emotional ballad with room for both falsetto harmonies and RM boasting, “Baby, I’m nothing-er than nothing / Brighter than the light.” “Black Swan” and “00:00 (Zero O’Clock)” are similarly vulnerable confessions of doubt and fear. Even better, Jin’s “Moon” is a fantastic guitar nugget that could pass for the Smiths—a cosmic love song to a lunar girl that also doubles as a love song to the girls in the audience. Rating: 4/5
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Pitchfork
The K-pop group’s latest is part memoir, part fan service, and part amateur psych eval. They can still tap into something enchanting, but the glimpses of personality here are fleeting. Rating: 6.3/10
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All Music
After introducing fans to the fresh sounds and heady concepts of a new era with Map of the Soul: Persona, K-pop boy band BTS expand on that vision with their sleek and polished seventh full-length, Map of the Soul: 7. Through the lenses of fame and relationships, the group embark on a psycho-emotional journey that explores ideas of identity and self, using Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung's concepts as a backbone. Rating: 4/5
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Clash
Although the sound of the album is wide-ranging, it holds continuity through its lyrics and general sentiment. K-Pop after all is an inherently genre-blending style of music, so it’s no surprise. There was a lot of melancholy and emo lyrics, but in general the album is about introspection as people and a band which can sometimes bring up painful feelings. Rating: 8/10
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Stereogum
Whatever arc or narrative the album might contain, for listeners who don’t speak Korean and aren’t versed in the various BTS personas, it will come off more like a bustling international terminal, a world unto itself held together by the universal language of music.
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The Young Folks
Playing on a title from one of their very first hits and a name that used to bring them embarrassment, it’s a final, victory lap of a testament that they’ve gone through it all, and they’re still climbing. Perhaps for many a fan this won’t touch the Wings glory days or touch on the romanticism of youthful exploration of the “HYYH/The Youth Trilogy” but for fans who entered a little late in the game (see: this writer) Map of the Soul: 7 is a fitting and fighting encapsulation of what makes the group such a worldwide phenomenon.
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MSN
Of course, there are several tracks with an anthemic, stadium-ready quality. The lead single “ON” appears twice, first with just the group and in a closing-track remix with Sia tackling the chorus in her unmistakable fashion. Kicking off with an implosive drumroll signaling a marching band, Jimin sweetly ponders the confusion that comes from being constantly scrutinized and judged. A breezy “Hey-na-na-na” precedes their declaration of nothing being able to “Hold me down/ ‘Cuz you know I’m a fighter” makes it obvious that, like this entire album, “ON” is an exhortation to their fans, but also homage to their own career.
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Chicago Tribune
The album is also a fantastic summary of BTS' accomplishments so far, and charts a path forward in a tumultuous but exciting new era for K-pop. It's an album about being in a band, about the relationships that form and get tested in the crucible of insane fame, all set to some of the most genre-invigorating music of their career. If you were hitting "refresh" in the blue glow of your phone all night, BTS has richly rewarded your patience.
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Independent
Map of the Soul: 7 is the band’s most ambitious attempt to date to reconcile their staggering range of influences, from US pop and hip hop to Eighties rock. It opens on the chugging guitar riffs of “Intro: Persona”, previously released on 2019’s seven-track Map of the Soul: Persona, incorporating video game chimes in between a blistering rap from RM. Then there’s a drastic shift as US popstar Halsey sings in Korean on the catchy pop track “Boy with Luv”, about finding joy in the small things. Rating: 4/5
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UKP
“Map of the Soul: 7” is the group’s reflection on the last seven years since their initial debut. The album shows a deeper level of maturity by exploring the members’ hardships in their journey to become global superstars. Comprised of sub-units and solo tracks “Map of the Soul: 7” is a testament to BTS’ creative talent.
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Riot
The group’s rap is undoubtedly their strongest point – the combined knowledge, experience and passion of the rap trio RM, Suga and J-Hope making for an organic sound that few other groups are able to replicate. It’s therefore a huge let down that BTS seems to be shifting away from their strong rap-laden origins.
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Metro
Map Of The Soul: 7 has finally dropped, 10 months after the band’s last album Map Of The Soul: Persona, and although the new album includes some of the standout tracks from the last record, 7 marks a change in tone for RM, Jimin, Suga, J-Hope, V, Jin and Jungkook. Rating: 4/5
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Sound Digest
While the majority of the production works well for the album, elements like auto-tune on a few of the tracks aren’t needed. It would have been interesting to hear more of Sia on the remix of “ON” as well. She is a powerhouse vocalist and it feels as though her ability wasn’t utilized fully on the track. With that said, the album has a good balance of fun and heartfelt moments, showing not just a duality to the group, but a multi-faceted style that we’ll no doubt get to see more of, if this album’s any indicator of what’s next.
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Kpop Reviewed
There is no doubt that BTS’ return is the biggest comeback of the year so far (or even possibly the entire year – and that might be saying something since we are only in February/March). The group’s fourth studio album, Map Of The Soul: 7, features a whole stack of new songs, their pre-releases tracks from January and the tracks from their 2019 Map Of The Soul: Persona mini-album (which features the title track, Boy With Luv). The group has already sold over 4 million copies world wide and have topped the domestic and international charts upon release, as they have been doing with many of the releases. Let’s see how good their latest album is this time around!
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The Line Of Best Fit
It is an impressive, exciting and moving album with slick production, accompanied by thought-provoking art (the interpretative dance performance in the “Black Swan” video, the CONNECT BTS art exhibitions), but it is so much more than a shiny pop album. It is a love letter to pain, to the shadows that live within us. It’s a love letter from the members to themselves, and to their ARMY. It’s a reminder that where there is dark, there is light, and it always possible to find it. It’s a reminder that there is always someone reaching out a hand – whether that be a past or future version of yourself, a best friend, or a band. Rating: 10/10
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Gulf News
New album is the darkest, strangest and most ambitious music the group has made.
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Gold Derby
“‘Map of the Soul: 7’ is their most smashing album yet, showing off their mastery of different pop styles from rap bangers to slow-dance ballads to post-Swedish electro-disco to prog-style philosophizing. The seven members have been together seven years, and it’s inspired them to sum up where they’ve been even as they look ahead to their future.”
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The Ringer
Map of the Soul: 7, is finally here! Our resident K-Pop fans are joined by Ikran Dahir from BuzzFeed News to review the album in its entirety. (Spoiler: We loved it.)
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MACG
This is an album for ARMY. Yes, BTS does make music for everyone (part in parcel with their biggest rally cry of inclusion of everyone regardless of background, appearance, even musical preference). But this is very obviously an album the group made as a gift to their fanbase. A non-ARMY will not share the same enthusiasm as a member of their fandom. Which is okay. Rating: 7.5/10
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The Polypost
“Map of the Soul: 7” is a beautiful album and has amazing tracks. The album was meant to serve as a reset to BTS’ career; a point to start over. It serves that purpose by tying new tracks and feelings to ones from the first album.
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We Heart It
This whole album is full of past song references, and this is the most obvious. The third "We Are Bulletproof" song, after parts 1 and 2, is more melancholy and reflective than the power anthems from their debut. The lyrics "We were only 7" hit me so much. I'm really glad to be part of the BTS and ARMY family.
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Blush
Released on February 21, the hefty 20 track album tells the story of the group’s seven year history. Through a diverse set of genres and contemplative messages, it takes listeners into the group’s inner thoughts as artists in their position.
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The Post
The production makes up most of the album’s problems, and it’s disheartening because the boys supply pure poetry all throughout, but only three tracks simultaneously execute both well.
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Euporiazine
All in all, MAP OF THE SOUL: 7 has proven to be BTS’ best album to date.
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Medium
The South Korean septet’s fourth LP is set to arrive on Feb. 21, and on Sunday (Feb. 16) they shared the 20-song tracklist for the upcoming album. Along with previously released songs from last year’s Billboard 200 chart-topping Map of the Soul: Persona and previously released Map of the Soul: 7 songs “Interlude: Shadow,” “Outro: Ego,” and “Black Swan,” the album is fronted by single “On,” which will be released via both a BTS-only version and one featuring Sia.
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Forget Today
The music in BTS’ new album doesn’t showcase the same originality and diversity as their previous ones, however, their decision to write emotionally insightful lyrics is one that should be well rewarded and recognised. The album doesn’t sugarcoat the messages the artists are trying to send. They may be international superstars, but BTS are still boys who struggle to make their inner voices heard. Rating: 4/5
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Daily Nebraskan
The entire album contains an ethereal quality, thanks to the group’s delicate vocals and purposeful instrumentation. The track “Black Swan” is mellow and peaceful the entire time thanks to constant and mournful strumming. The song also features a subtle autotune on the vocals. While the effect provides a more traditional hip-hop sound, it masks the vocals and takes away from the serenity of the song.
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Pop Justice
I have to say that I love the album even more a day later. Everything's had time to sink in and some songs I barely noticed yesterday are now among my favourites. I think all the songs are going to shine even more once we've seen them performed live.
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The Times
As the new 20-track epic by the biggest boy band in the world arrives, we must ask ourselves: is the music really the primary appeal? Brought together by the South Korean conglomerate Big Hit Entertainment, BTS are seven handsome, clean-cut boys with floppy fringes whose songs about the growing pains of youth, set to gentle hip-hop and chirpy pop, have made them modern pin-ups. They are a bit tough, a bit cheeky, but ultimately relatable and unthreatening, with lyrical themes covering societal ills, economic disparities and — while this may be lost in translation — the Jungian “Map of the Soul”. Rating: 2/5
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Rolling Stone
It is difficult to sum-up what this album means to both BTS and their fans, but perhaps the best way put it is to call it a promise; there is an assurance that this story is eternal.
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Now Toronto
Map Of The Soul: 7 is truly a flex. It’s refreshingly ebullient and accessible, manifesting endless genre-blurring permutations of art-pop. Many of the tracks are subunit efforts – smaller idol groups that might break off from the larger original group – which gives a chance to spotlight each member's varied tastes.
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Standard
We’re not entirely sure what to expect with this new album, but member Suga did shed some light on a main theme in a recent interview. He said: “One message that penetrates the album as a whole is that you must face your inner shadows, but resist becoming submerged into its depths. You must face it and move on forward.” Expect something darker on this release, then, with BTS's trademark inspirational messages sure to find some space, too.
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Lainey Gossip
BTS appears to be wrestling with their fame and their future on this album, what it means to be part of the biggest band in the world and how they’re surviving it. I don’t know how I’m surviving it.
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Pop Crush
Each of the twenty tracks rose to the Top 20 on United States' iTunes chart, a feat not easily achieved.
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The World News
But fortunately, the album is also a fantastic summary of BTS’ accomplishments so far, and charts a path forward in a tumultuous but exciting new era for K-Pop. It’s an album about being in a band, about the relationships that form and get tested in the crucible of insane fame, all set to some of the most genre-invigorating music of their career. If you were hitting “refresh” in the blue glow of your phone all night, BTS has richly rewarded your patience.
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MTV
There's a lot to unpack on BTS's latest release, Map of the Soul: 7. From the vulnerable depths of tracks like "Interlude: Shadow" and "Black Swan," to the enlightened highs of "On" and "We Are Bulletproof : the Eternal" — and the visceral, scorching anger of "Ugh!" — the 20-track album spans the emotional spectrum.
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Mashable
K-pop idol group, BTS is about to have a major comeback. Band members RM, V, Suga, Jungkoook, Jimin, Jin and J-Hope are gearing up for an all-new album. ‘Map of the Soul: 7’. The band members are busying themselves for the big launch on February 21, 2020, but not without spilling some details first. Band leader RM recently put up selfies with the comeback planning board. The background is a mess of details and charts and fans are going over it with a magnifying glass. ARMYs have managed to salvage some details about the band’s plans already.
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Sidelines
Map of the Soul: 7 has broken new records by being the most-preordered South Korean album of all time, selling more than 4 million albums, according to Forbes.
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Standard
We’re not entirely sure what to expect with this new album, but member Suga did shed some light on a main theme in a recent interview. He said: “One message that penetrates the album as a whole is that you must face your inner shadows, but resist becoming submerged into its depths. You must face it and move on forward.” Expect something darker on this release, then, with BTS's trademark inspirational messages sure to find some space, too.
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Lainey Gossip
BTS appears to be wrestling with their fame and their future on this album, what it means to be part of the biggest band in the world and how they’re surviving it. I don’t know how I’m surviving it.
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Pop Crush
Each of the twenty tracks rose to the Top 20 on United States' iTunes chart, a feat not easily achieved.
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The World News
But fortunately, the album is also a fantastic summary of BTS’ accomplishments so far, and charts a path forward in a tumultuous but exciting new era for K-Pop. It’s an album about being in a band, about the relationships that form and get tested in the crucible of insane fame, all set to some of the most genre-invigorating music of their career. If you were hitting “refresh” in the blue glow of your phone all night, BTS has richly rewarded your patience.
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MTV
There's a lot to unpack on BTS's latest release, Map of the Soul: 7. From the vulnerable depths of tracks like "Interlude: Shadow" and "Black Swan," to the enlightened highs of "On" and "We Are Bulletproof : the Eternal" — and the visceral, scorching anger of "Ugh!" — the 20-track album spans the emotional spectrum.
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Mashable
K-pop idol group, BTS is about to have a major comeback. Band members RM, V, Suga, Jungkoook, Jimin, Jin and J-Hope are gearing up for an all-new album. ‘Map of the Soul: 7’. The band members are busying themselves for the big launch on February 21, 2020, but not without spilling some details first. Band leader RM recently put up selfies with the comeback planning board. The background is a mess of details and charts and fans are going over it with a magnifying glass. ARMYs have managed to salvage some details about the band’s plans already.
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Allkpop
Continuing their world domination, BTS has just dropped their newest full album 'Map Of The Soul: 7.' it contains a ginormous amount of tracks, 20 in all. Some of them are from other albums like 'Map of the Soul: Persona.' In a Billboard interview, BTS talks about how the album is "a love song to [their] career." The "7" has special significance here. Not only does it represent how many years it's been since their first single album, "7" is also, of course, how many members are in the group. Additionally, with member Jin slated to enlist in the military later this year, it could be their last release as 7 for some years.
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Young Post
However, where BTS’ erratic genre shifts have felt cohesive for them in the past, 7 shows big disparities as the album progresses. The acoustic-led Latin pop of Filter sounds way too safe and repetitive compared to their usual output, while the mass singalong of Inner Child cranks up both the cheese factor and the vocals, so much so that you’ll wonder whether your speakers can take it. The DJ scratchiness of Outro: Ego and Respect are fun, but lack that clinical edge which is so prevalent in the opening part of this record. Rating: 3/5
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Concert Crap
If the feat of trying to comprehend a 76-minute-long Korean-language record that sprawls genres as it dives into several corners of the human self-concept sounds daunting, fear not. As different and challenging as BTS are to the pop landscape of old, they also understand those fears. Take a seat with them, and maybe you’ll be able to begin to appreciate all of the parts of your “soul” — the Persona, the Shadow, and the Ego — with more trust and clarity.
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The Star
The album also allows for moments where each individual member gets their time to shine. Jimin oozes sex in the sultry Latin-tinged Filter, while V breaks hearts with soulful aching vocals on Inner Child.
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Forbes
The new BTS album Map of the Soul: 7 is a piece of slick, sophisticated pop. It is a slap in the face to all those critical skeptics who have consistently scoffed at the K-pop septet. The collection will delight millions of fans worldwide. It would delight many even if it wasn’t that great. Admirers are already hailing the work as an unalloyed masterpiece. The good news is that this slice of Korean culture, perfectly timed after the Oscar success of the Parasite movie, is spot-on in many places.
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USA Today
The album, titled "Map of the Soul: 7," continues the group's "Map of the Soul" series and follows the storyline of the previous release, "Map of the Soul: Persona," which was released in April.
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Headline Planet
According to Hits Daily Double, the album sold about 340K US copies during its first week of release. With units from track sales and streams included, it generated nearly 411K in total first-week consumption.
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Teen Vogue
“Persona,” “Shadow” and “Ego” will be the conductive threads for this next installment in BTS's intensive saga. All three words appear on the image for BTS’s comeback schedule, appearing visually like points on a map. But ARMYs have been racking their brain with plausible meanings ever since the concepts first appeared on the blackboard in RM’s solo trailer back in March. From Jungian archetypes to Greek mythology and BTS’s very own roots, MOTS: 7 is bound to be laden with references and juxtapositions, and there’s no doubt it will be their biggest yet in every sense of the word.
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Uproxx
They’re not skimping with this record, as it featuring a whopping 20 tracks. As expected, the album features the group’s Halsey collaboration “Boy With Luv,” which is far from a new song, as the track’s video premiered in April of 2019. The only other feature from the album comes from Sia, who appears on a new version of “ON.” The Sia-featuring version of “ON” is exclusive to the album’s digital release, and it came about after BTS reached out to Sia and expressed an interest in collaborating.
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Sidelines
Map of the Soul: 7 has broken new records by being the most-preordered South Korean album of all time, selling more than 4 million albums, according to Forbes.
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The Star
The album also allows for moments where each individual member gets their time to shine. Jimin oozes sex in the sultry Latin-tinged Filter, while V breaks hearts with soulful aching vocals on Inner Child.
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Forbes
The new BTS album Map of the Soul: 7 is a piece of slick, sophisticated pop. It is a slap in the face to all those critical skeptics who have consistently scoffed at the K-pop septet. The collection will delight millions of fans worldwide. It would delight many even if it wasn’t that great. Admirers are already hailing the work as an unalloyed masterpiece. The good news is that this slice of Korean culture, perfectly timed after the Oscar success of the Parasite movie, is spot-on in many places.
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USA Today
The album, titled "Map of the Soul: 7," continues the group's "Map of the Soul" series and follows the storyline of the previous release, "Map of the Soul: Persona," which was released in April.
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Headline Planet
According to Hits Daily Double, the album sold about 340K US copies during its first week of release. With units from track sales and streams included, it generated nearly 411K in total first-week consumption.
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Teen Vogue
“Persona,” “Shadow” and “Ego” will be the conductive threads for this next installment in BTS's intensive saga. All three words appear on the image for BTS’s comeback schedule, appearing visually like points on a map. But ARMYs have been racking their brain with plausible meanings ever since the concepts first appeared on the blackboard in RM’s solo trailer back in March. From Jungian archetypes to Greek mythology and BTS’s very own roots, MOTS: 7 is bound to be laden with references and juxtapositions, and there’s no doubt it will be their biggest yet in every sense of the word.
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The Shield
From the beginning of “Map of the Soul: 7” exhibiting the pains and shadows following the group, to the end that showcases BTS’s maturity and appreciation of where they are now, this is one of the most personal and moving albums they’ve ever produced. Rating: 5/5
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Yes Asia
Map of the Soul: 7, the second installment of their Map of the Soul series! While Persona explored the joy of love and self-discovery, Map of the Soul: 7 turns inward to explore the shadows and scars that also make up the complete self. The album is packed with 19 tracks including the title song ON and Black Swan.
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Noise 11
“Map of the Soul: 7” for BTS is their overall seventh studio album (in either Japanese or Korean) and contains the tracks from their April 2019 No.1 EP “Map of the Soul: Persona” (TW-77), along with fifteen more tracks including this weeks Top 30 debuting song “On” (TW-29). The new No.1 becomes the 870th chart topping album in Australia (1965 to 2020), the 720th for ARIA (1983 to 2020), the 509th to debut at No.1 (since the first in 1976) and the second for the band and their record label Big Hit Entertainment.
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Grammy
BTS are now back to dominate the charts once again with Map Of The Soul: 7. Released just yesterday (Feb. 21), the new album is already the best-selling album of the year worldwide. Another day, another world record in the life of BTS.
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Yes Asia
Map of the Soul: 7, the second installment of their Map of the Soul series! While Persona explored the joy of love and self-discovery, Map of the Soul: 7 turns inward to explore the shadows and scars that also make up the complete self. The album is packed with 19 tracks including the title song ON and Black Swan.
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Noise 11
“Map of the Soul: 7” for BTS is their overall seventh studio album (in either Japanese or Korean) and contains the tracks from their April 2019 No.1 EP “Map of the Soul: Persona” (TW-77), along with fifteen more tracks including this weeks Top 30 debuting song “On” (TW-29). The new No.1 becomes the 870th chart topping album in Australia (1965 to 2020), the 720th for ARIA (1983 to 2020), the 509th to debut at No.1 (since the first in 1976) and the second for the band and their record label Big Hit Entertainment.
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Grammy
BTS are now back to dominate the charts once again with Map Of The Soul: 7. Released just yesterday (Feb. 21), the new album is already the best-selling album of the year worldwide. Another day, another world record in the life of BTS.
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Hellokpop
Available only on Spotify, the enhanced album – curated with original content and exclusive goodies – will serve as the ultimate destination for the ARMY to celebrate the release of BTS’ latest music. BTS is the very first artist in Asia who partnered with Spotify to create and released an enhanced album. It offers fans the most exclusive contents along with Storylines that features personal written commentary sharing the inspiration and story behind each song.
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Vox
The Western media — and the world, for that matter — has only been able to gawk at the sheer scale of BTS’s dominance. They’ve posed on the covers of glossy magazines with headlines like “How BTS Is Taking Over the World,” “Music’s Billion Dollar Boy Band Takes the Next Step,” and “The K-Pop Megastars Get Candid About Representing a New Generation.” BTS is receiving star treatment, but skepticism and resistance to their status as the world’s biggest pop stars still persist on the grounds of their “boy band” label, the (wrongful) assumption that their fan base is fueled solely by teenage devotion, and xenophobia from an industry traditionally dominated by white Western stars.
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Study Breaks
On their latest album, the K-pop superstars blend genres as they explore growing pains and the dark side of high ambitions.
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Inquirer
From racking up over 4.02 million presale copies worldwide, garnering millions of views on TikTok with the new single-inspired “ON Challenge” clips, to working with Sia and Troye Sivan, the album is on course to become the group‘s commercially biggest one yet.
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The Brag
The record also had the strongest first-week numbers pretty much everywhere else in the West – it’s the fastest selling album of the new decade in the UK and BTS’ second consecutive number one in Australia.
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Hercampus
Overall, BTS continues to shine through the music industry with bright colors. Their messages of hope bring people together, it’s no surprise that so many people easily fall in love with the seven boys. The new album “Map Of The Soul 7” has for sure captured many more hearts as well, the expansion of “army” and BTS will continue as their career continues. This album is not only helping the band members learn about the map to their soul but, also about the map to your soul.
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Hollywood Life
Map of the Soul: Persona debuted at the top of the Billboard 200. It was their third No. 1 album in less than 12 months, making them the first band to achieve that goal since The Beatles. With their popularity rising, expect this album to do the same. 2020 is BTS’s year and this is BTS’s world.
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Sirius Xm
The album, which features guests like Sia (who the group all agreed fit perfectly with the lead single “ON”), Steve Aoki, Troye Sivan, Halsey (on “Boy with Luv,” which they discussed during their first visit with SiriusXM last April), also gives each member a chance to shine with their own solo tracks. Jimin’s song, “Filter,” dually stands for the filters used on social media and the different ways people see each other. “Interlude: Shadow” is Suga’s call-back to the School Trilogy and interpretation of what it’s like to meet your own shadow.
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Soundbit Reviews
Some of the songs are really strong and I’ll definitely be adding some to a Summer playlist. If you’re a fan of K-pop or BTS then I think you’ll enjoy this and for new comers like me I recommend checking out the songs I’ve listened under my favourite songs and starting with them, if you like those then maybe give the album a shot. It’s by no means ground breaking, but it’s got it’s moments and at the very least I can finally understand why this type of music is so popular. Rating: 3.5/5
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Cheat Sheet
It’s not a dark album, but it has dark moments. Map of the Soul: 7 at its core is an album of reflection. As a band, BTS’s legacy is still in the making, and the group gains new fans around the world every day. Map of the Soul: 7 sold over 2 million copies in six hours in South Korea, making it the new record holder for the most copies sold in one day in the country.
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Meal
I am in love with the album. I’m in awe of the talent and the lyrics that we got and I’m sure that many ARMYs will feel the same.
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Daily Targum
Each member brings with them their own unique talents. It’s rewarding to see how much each member has grown these past years.
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Showmax
Map of the Soul: 7 is not necessarily loaded with the explosive singles meant to break the internet the same way songs like “Idol” “DNA” and “Fake Love” did in the past, but that’s clearly by design. The group made a conscious decision to experiment and give more of themselves rather than a rinse and repeat of what’s worked before. 7 smartly makes the decision to focus on exactly what makes BTS special: its members. Rating: 8/10
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Top Celebrities
Of course, there are several tracks with an anthemic, stadium-ready quality. The lead single “ON” appears twice, first with just the group and in a closing-track remix with Sia tackling the chorus in her unmistakable fashion. Kicking off with an implosive drumroll signaling a marching band, Jimin sweetly ponders the confusion that comes from being constantly scrutinized and judged. A breezy “Hey-na-na-na” precedes their declaration of nothing being able to “Hold me down/ ‘Cuz you know I’m a fighter” makes it obvious that, like this entire album, “ON” is an exhortation to their fans, but also homage to their own career.
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Mikrotikarebs
the album is also a fantastic summary of BTS' accomplishments so far, and charts a path forward in a tumultuous but exciting new era for K-pop. It's an album about being in a band, about the relationships that form and get tested in the crucible of insane fame, all set to some of the most genre-invigorating music of their career. If you were hitting "refresh" in the blue glow of your phone all night, BTS has richly rewarded your patience.
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Showmax
Map of the Soul: 7 is not necessarily loaded with the explosive singles meant to break the internet the same way songs like “Idol” “DNA” and “Fake Love” did in the past, but that’s clearly by design. The group made a conscious decision to experiment and give more of themselves rather than a rinse and repeat of what’s worked before. 7 smartly makes the decision to focus on exactly what makes BTS special: its members. Rating: 8/10
-
Top Celebrities
Of course, there are several tracks with an anthemic, stadium-ready quality. The lead single “ON” appears twice, first with just the group and in a closing-track remix with Sia tackling the chorus in her unmistakable fashion. Kicking off with an implosive drumroll signaling a marching band, Jimin sweetly ponders the confusion that comes from being constantly scrutinized and judged. A breezy “Hey-na-na-na” precedes their declaration of nothing being able to “Hold me down/ ‘Cuz you know I’m a fighter” makes it obvious that, like this entire album, “ON” is an exhortation to their fans, but also homage to their own career.
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Mikrotikarebs
the album is also a fantastic summary of BTS' accomplishments so far, and charts a path forward in a tumultuous but exciting new era for K-pop. It's an album about being in a band, about the relationships that form and get tested in the crucible of insane fame, all set to some of the most genre-invigorating music of their career. If you were hitting "refresh" in the blue glow of your phone all night, BTS has richly rewarded your patience.
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Somag News
The BTS comeback is very close to becoming a reality and this could be the most important and emotional album of all the idols have released so far since this could be the last one with the complete alignment due to the possible and upcoming enlistment from Jin to military service.
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Know Your Meme
The album is the group's first proper full-length since last year's Map of the Soul: Persona and will be released on Big Hit Entertainment.
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Republic World
BTS will make their much-awaited comeback on February 21, 2020, with 'Map Of The Soul: 7'. They already released two comeback trailers - 'Interlude: Shadow' ft. Suga and 'Outro: Ego' featuring J-Hope. Their first single 'Black Swan' was released through an art film performed by MN Dance Academy.
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Grit Daily
Map of the Soul: 7 serves as a continuation to the Map of the Soul saga. Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung’s book Map of the Soul serves as the inspiration for the series. The group dives into the Jungian archetypes of psyche, ego and of course, persona.
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The Thaiger
BTS lean heavily on their authentic messages of loving yourself, acknowledging your shadows, accepting your frailties and, well, a lot of other ‘young people’ issues. Apart from the occasionally dark and ‘real’ messages in their music, all seven members appear humble and intelligent, and willing to share their ups and downs with fans.
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