There are many reasons why BTS have become the world-conquering marvels they are today, but perhaps the most important one is the most basic of all – their music. The Korean group have packed in a lot of work since they debuted in 2013, experimenting a whole heap along the way. The Bangtan Boys have done it all – from lovesick serenades to dissecting society's ills, from hip-hop hard-hitters to ballads that tug on your heartstrings.
With 147 tracks at the core of their discography, you might expect there to be some duds along the way. Yet this journey through each track makes it very clear that they've not only been incredibly consistent over their first 13 years, but have also constantly levelled up in a way that most bands can only dream of.
A lightly funky snippet, 'What Are You Doing Now' has a nice groove but, clocking in at just 41 seconds, doesn't leave much of an impression. BTS's first intro track features record scratches and minimal vocals setting the tone for the '2 Cool 4 Skool' album. Suga's delivery in the opening verse of another track sounds weirdly like he's about to burst into the Fresh Prince theme tune but, that aside, the song sails past without making much of a mark.
'I thought I was alone but I've learned we are seven,' says Suga on a hidden track from '2 Cool 4 Skool', an early hint of the gang mentality and fierce bond that would help keep BTS going. Another snippet of a song might convey a powerful message – make sure you live your life with no regrets – but there's something about RM's delivery that comes off a little cheesy.
Soft falsettos soar as the band close out their first 'O!RUL8,2?' album with an ode to a romance that is just out of reach. There's a hint of trip-hop to a dark and woozy cut, which keeps BTS' energy subdued as they depict a lethargic, listless existence. 'You take away the stars of my night, take away the sun of my day,' J-hope raps, tussling with a break-up. Like the cold, cloudy sky he describes, 'Let Me Know' is overcast and gloomy.
'Does it make sense? Do you think it makes sense that our love would change so easily like this,' the members sigh on the closing track to 2014 debut album 'Dark&Wild'. Accompanied by melancholy R&B trappings, they sound desolate as they grieve for a relationship gone sour. 'Second Grade' might boast a lot of gunshots woven into its layers but it's far from the explosive track that this might suggest. Instead BTS reflect on entering their second year in the music industry over a snapping, bright beat.
