Map of the Soul: Persona
| BTS
Map of the Soul: Persona
Map of the Soul: Persona is the sixth extended play by South Korean boy band BTS. It was released on April 12, 2019, via Big Hit Entertainment. It is the follow-up to their 2018 albums Love Yourself: Tear and Love Yourself: Answer, and precedes the band's Love Yourself: Speak Yourself world tour. The EP was released for pre-order on March 13 It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, making BTS the first band since The Beatles to have three number-one albums in less than a year. The album also topped the UK, Scottish, New Zealand and Australian charts, making BTS the first Korean act to achieve a number-one album in each of these countries. Moreover, the album sold 3.2 million copies in one month, making it the best-selling album in South Korea after 24 years. It is the best selling album of 2019 until now.-Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
Show All-
Pitchfork
April 15, 2019. The biggest K-pop group in the world try to move their sound forward but spend too much time leaning on their past.
-
NME
April 12, 2019. Eight months on from their last album, the Bangtan Boys explore the idea of artist versus idol, roping in a couple of high-profile cameos – from Halsey to Ed Sheeran – to craft a record that sees them continuing to raise the bar.
-
Rolling Stone
April 16, 2019. BTS Establish a Holding Pattern on ‘Map of the Soul: Persona’ K-Pop group’s new seven-song collection can be listless at times, but it’s succeeding anyway.
-
Consequence of Sound
April 19, 2019. BTS Doubles Down on Genre-Bending, Emotion-Fueled Pop on Map of the Soul : Persona K-pop’s sensational boy band returns with a dynamic EP of hip-hop and pop
-
Billboard
April 12, 2019. With a satisfying nod to their 2014 selves, the guys expand their connective universe and show how self-love pushes them further.
-
Variety
April 16, 2019. The 7-song album is taut musically and thematically (the group is a septet consisting of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, Jungkook), although things get into murkier territory lyrically.
-
Refinery29
April 16, 2019. . . . with Map of the Soul: Persona, the septet make it clear they aren’t trying to just fit in, and if they do reach to even higher heights, it will be on their own terms.
-
The 405
April 18, 2019. Map of the Soul: Persona is a bold, if tempered, call to Western media. In short, don’t be afraid of foreign voices. Don’t be afraid to embrace something entirely new. More importantly, don’t try and label their movement.
-
The Guardian
April 12, 2019. BTS: Map of the Soul: Persona – kings of K-pop are just another boyband. With references to movies, myth and Carl Jung, you’d think the stars stood out from the crowd. In fact they do the opposite.
-
Highsnobiety
April 15, 2019. ‘MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA’ Will Make a BTS Fan Out of You Too.
-
The Line of Best Fit
April 12, 2019. The k-pop group’s ARMY guaranteed big numbers the minute it was announced – but it’s the songs themselves that should guarantee the album’s global success.
-
Independent
April 12, 2019. BTS, Map of the Soul: Persona, review: The world’s favourite boyband add rock guitars and Ed Sheeran to their repertoire. Confident with their own sound, the group seem unwilling to break new ground sonically.
-
Clash Music
April 19, 2019. Undeniably entertaining while struggling to escape past glories...
-
The Reflector
April 15, 2019. Listening to K-Pop for the first time was a surprisingly pleasant experience.
-
The Hollywood Reporter
April 13, 2019. Critic's Notebook: BTS' 'Map of the Soul: Persona' Is a Tasty Snack That Leaves a Bitter Aftertaste.
-
AllMusic
April 12, 2019. Although the album is only the first piece of the puzzle, on its own, Map of the Soul: Persona is a fitting celebration for a group at the top of their game.
-
Star2.com
April 20, 2019. Longtime fans might feel alienated by this new sonic shift. But then again, Persona is supposed to herald a new musical chapter for BTS. And as the boys continue their ascent to the top, they are bound to win some and lose some.
-
Vinyl Me, Please
April 15, 2019. The album itself has only seven tracks, but even with such an intimate tracklist, the group was able to explore and excel at many different sounds and styles.
-
Metro.co.uk
April 12, 2019. BTS Map Of The Soul: Persona is the band’s most mature record to date – Metro.co.uk’s verdict.
-
Fansided
April 15, 2019. BTS raise the bar on new Map of the Soul: Persona album
-
Popdust
April 16, 2019. BTS' New Album "Map of the Soul: Persona" is Algorithm-Friendly Nothingness. Everything good about K-pop was left behind on this album.
-
allkpop
April 16, 2019. So, a lot of this is basically R&B. If that's your thing, then go ahead and grab this. That's nothing I haven't heard before, but they do it well.
-
The Philidelphia Inquirer
April 25, 2019. BTS’s ‘Map of the Soul: Persona’ is their tightest album yet.
-
Celeb Mix
Musically, BTS have maintained the sonic consistency but at the same time, they have experimented with both previously used and some new sounds which add to the authenticity of the album. While admiring the beauty of this mini album, we also need to give the due credit to the contributors who helped BTS create this record.
-
hype
April 15, 2019. “Map Of The Soul: Persona” serves as an interesting entry on the board of BTS’ discography. With very pop based sounds, “Persona” feels exactly like its name; a character that someone has adopted and is being perceived by the public.
-
Metro
April 23, 2019. Seven tracks and 26 minutes long, it encapsulates the group’s appeal: it is an urgent, glistening, super-slick cocktail of Western pop style, Korean lyrics and brilliant branding.
-
Bandwagon
April 17, 2019. Over the years, BTS has received rounds of applause and praises with their highly-rated and sought-after releases. This time, they take a break from the limelight to break a larger wall that divides us from the truth, a source of pure happiness, and an unfiltered image of ourselves.
-
Beat
April 13, 2019. This album is energetic. Everything sounds upbeat and confident and you can see the growth in BTS’ style and music. There’s a little bit of rock, rap, and pop, and each song has its own flavor. The short seven song album is a burst of personality with a little something for everyone.
-
Financial Times
April 12, 2019. Although Map of the Soul: Persona is not capable of providing an answer to the meaning of life — contrary to the wilder expectations of fans — it does demonstrate the qualities that have seen BTS raise the boyband game to new levels.
-
idobi Network
April 12, 2019. I absolutely adore each and every song on this album! Not just because I am a fan but because there is so much meaning and depth behind every album they create.
-
LWOS life
April 15, 2019. When listening to this album it’s easy to understand why they would have such a large fanbase: they make good music. This album is good, in some spots even great, but didn’t deliver on the levels that past songs have.
-
Young Post
April 17, 2019. Mixing harmonised hums with a 90s-era rap/rock crossover make for unexpected genre shifts, considering the consistency at the heart of Persona, but the songs definitely feel more lighthearted with the hip hop groove and glam rock guitar noodling.
-
MELODIC Magazine
April 12, 2019. Despite being a 7 album track, BTS displays that they can tackle any sound that they set their minds to. With amazing production and more of a mature sound, it is clear that BTS is not leaving the spotlight anytime soon. Truly a great piece of work that flows nicely from start to finish.
-
Spinnaker
April 17, 2019. At the end of the journey, it’s clear that the artistic concept that BTS set out to convey with “Map of the Soul: Persona” has come to fruition.
-
Teenage
April 15, 2019. If this album is any indication, BTS could certainly lay their rightful claim to being one of the most revolutionary artistes in history – and they will only go higher from here.
-
VultureHound
April 17, 2019. From the hip-hop-hard-hitting title track, PERSONA, the album has you hooked. RM’s rhythm and delivery of this solo song are so powerful, that even before you look up the lyric translation, you know it’s personal..
-
Idolator
April 12, 2019. BTS returns with their latest album MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA, and it is a predictably massive success.
-
seoulbeats
April 20, 2019. While all the songs may not interest every listener, it is commendable that the 7-membered idol group continues to experiment with their genres instead of falling into a safe-zone after gaining global popularity.
-
Music Connection
May 8, 2019. At first I was a little disappointed it took until the last song to hear something close enough to their old sound, but listening to this new album, I can see they are moving on to a new sound and their transformation is inevitable.
-
Apple Music
MAP OF THE SOUL : PERSONA shows BTS evolving and exploring who they are—musically and individually.
-
The Odyssey
April 15, 2019. BTS' 'Map Of The Soul: Persona' Hails The Love Between Themselves And ARMY (their fans).
-
Vulture
April 16, 2019. Map of the Soul: Persona grapples with keeping up appearances in its opening title track, where RM longs for freedom from other people’s expectations, and “Dionysus,” which plays like a drinking song on the surface but is really working a complicated metaphor comparing the urge to create art to a drinker’s taste for liquor. For all its high-minded ideas, Map’s music can be a bit of a mixed bag.
-
Chicago Reader
May 3, 2019. BTS move forward with grace on Map of the Soul: Persona .
-
The Ithacan
April 28, 2019. “Map of the Soul: Persona” is filled with many high points between “Intro: Persona” and “Dionysus,” making the EP fantastic to listen through several times to get the true feelings behind each song.
-
KTUH FM
Overall, “Map of the Soul: Persona” is a fun, reflective album that suits the listening tastes of the fellow philosopher and romantic.
-
The Edge
April 22, 2019. This is BTS’s latest comeback album, proving that these boys get all the symbolism and innuendo right when it matters. This shows that they really love their fans ‘ARMYs’.
-
The Breeze
April 13, 2019. The boys have come quite a long way and had to overcome most of their struggles together. “Map of the Soul: Persona” showcases the journey of self-discovery, but any listener can tell just how much the boys have grown since the days they once asked us, “Hey, what’s your dream?”
-
UnitedKpop
May 22, 2019. Overall I found the album expressive, dripping with emotions and a perfect reflection of how much BTS have grown and developed as artists while creating the perfect recipe for an album; a catchy ‘stuck in your head’ for hours title song, elements of hip hop beats, a tender ballad, a fun adrenaline filled rock infused track and an important deeper message.
-
Elite Daily
Dr. Murray Stein's Jungian analysis of BTS' Map of the Soul: Persona proves the boys really went out of their way to get all the symbolism and innuendo right on their latest album, which is just one of the many things ARMYs love about them.
-
Medium
April 16, 2019. With Map of the Soul: Persona, BTS sets out their priorities and expectations for the future which are, ironically, what they’ve always done: make music for their fans to enjoy and focus on their art.
-
O'Colly Media Group
April 15, 2019. Even with the somewhat inconsistent theme, the album demonstrates BTS’s talent for doing songs that express different sides of themselves. If this is America’s first taste of K-pop and to BTS, this was the album to listen to.
-
The Daily
April 16, 2019. The verdict: Though the weighty thematic and lyrical ideas on “Map of the Soul: Persona” are largely undercut by its unimaginative production, the mini-album is nevertheless an efficient project that captures an act at its most openhearted.
-
Sound Digest
April 17, 2019. Overall, Map of the Soul: Persona feels like a misstep for the group. The majority of the tracks with the exception of “Jamais Vu” and “Dionysus” feel hollow.
-
The Sentry
May 8, 2019. . . . Map of the Soul: Persona is more than superficial fun. BTS members clearly have serious musical talent behind their flashy showmanship.
-
The Nevada Sagebrush
April 25, 2019. While “Map of the Soul: Persona” radiates a sleek and infectious assemblage of melodies, the album retreats from the purposefully structured storytelling that took place in the group’s previous two albums part of the “Love Yourself” era. Therefore, “Map of the Soul: Persona” receives a four out of five stars.
-
Hollywood Life
BTS has done it again. The K-pop septet have been hard at work in the studio recording a new album, and Map of the Soul: Persona is pure music perfection!
-
Saetori
April 24, 2019 I personally really love the new vibe this album has. While I expected a different kind of vibe based on the comeback trailer Persona, I must say that I enjoy this different approach.
-
setlist.fm
April 12, 2019. Map of the Soul: Persona connects their past and the present, showcasing their electrifying progression since the release of their 2013 debut. If you aren't a part of the Army yet, this could be the album that has the masses lining up to sign up.
-
The Messenger
April 17, 2019. The mix of good songs in this EP is extremely vibrant. No matter what emotion or intensity, almost every song is memorable and interesting.
-
Black Boy Bulletin
April 12, 2019. All in all, Map of the Soul: Persona is well-produced and a powerful leap forward for BTS. Their songwriting is sharper; their vocals are stronger; and their American domination is here.
Rate This Album and Leave Your Comments