Rolling Stone ranks SUGA’s ‘D-DAY’ among the 100 best albums of 2023 (at number #69).
“D-DAY, the third release BTS’ Suga has put out as Agust D, is a tight 10-track collection that lyrically and musically probes the concept of freedom — what it means, whether it’s a blessing or a curse. Take the double-entendre title of the thundering “Haegeum,” which wraps around a drone from the two-stringed traditional Korean instrument of the same name. “Haegeum” also can be translated as “liberation,” and Agust D unpacks that idea in knotty, spat-out rhymes that take aim at conformity, the trappings of “success,” and information overload. Meanwhile, “Life Goes On” hints at a brighter future, or at least one where life’s big questions loom a little less ominously.”
Previously in 2022, Rolling Stone ranked J-hope’s Jack In The Box at #9.
Paste Magazine includes Jimin’s FACE (#16), Jungkook’s Golden (#9) and Agust D’s D-Day (#7) in its 20 Best K-pop Albums of 2023.
Jimin: “Following in the footsteps of fellow BTS bandmates RM and J-Hope, Jimin has crafted his most personal music yet with FACE, an EP that is anything but surface level. On songs like “Face-off”—an ethereal RnB opener—and “Set Me Free Pt.2″—an abrasively grandiose yet divisive hip-hop track—Jimin mines angst and self-torment to great effect. Throw in audio snippets from life on and off stage, plus a surprise cameo from Jennifer Lawrence, of all people, and you’ve got yourself one of the year’s most exciting and endlessly creative solo efforts.”
Jungkook: “While some of his bandmates went off to complete military service, the youngest member of BTS released his first English-language album in a bid for global pop stardom. Without any writing or production credits to call his own on GOLDEN, Jungkook adopts a chameleonic approach that sees him shifting between styles and genres alongside Western collaborators including Latto, Jack Harlow and Major Lazer, as well as songwriting credits from Ed Sheeran and Shawn Mendes. The result is an infectious, singles-driven collection of undeniable bops we’ve been listening to seven days a week, which proves Jungkook has the Midas touch on anything he sets his mind to. With clear influences from the likes of Justin Timberlake, Usher and Justin Bieber, Jungkook is clearly vying for that pop king crown—and if Golden is anything to go by, the throne could very well be his.”
Suga: “The third release from Agust D—aka Suga—completes his solo trilogy with more fiery commentary on societal norms, yet there’s also room for more personal contemplation this time round as well. “Amyygdala” hits as hard as Agust’s flow with a heart-wrenching look back at past traumas yet the album’s true centerpiece is “Snooze”, a collaboration with The Rose’s WOOSUNG and late Japanese composer, Ryuichi Sakamoto, whose haunting melody accompanies Agust’s most vulnerable music yet. That alone would earn D-Day a spot on the list, but this is an extremely accomplished body of work regardless, one which cements Agust D as one of the greatest Korean rappers of his generation.”