More photos of RM and V here on Instagram.

RM and V graduate from Nonsan Training Center as two of six Elite Soldier Trainees.

Billboard lists V’s Layover at #2, and Agust D’s D-Day at #8, on its (25) Best K-pop Albums of 2023.

V, Layover

Incorporating V’s ingrained love of jazz music (he played saxophone in his childhood), Layover is a considerable departure from any BTS album, presenting the star in a realm all his own. An old soul, V’s first solo record unfolds as a lo-fi soul, jazz, and R&B journey where singles like “Love Me Again” and “Slow Dancing” bring a blend of romantic melancholy, with the commitment to V’s musical vision evident in decisions like an unconventional but lovely flute solo in the latter. At less than 20 minutes, Layover is a succinct, yet immersive, listening experience, becoming progressively smoother and sweeter throughout until it culminates in the falsetto-led finale “For Us” and a piano-based alternative version of “Slow Dancing.”

Teaming up with ADOR CEO and NewJeans’ mastermind Min Hee Jin, each track is complemented by its own music video to immerse fans in V’s world, with each visual awash in vintage filters to recall past decades. With a slew of live Tiny Desk Korea and band session performances that deepen the connection and help bring his vision to life, Layover lays the foundation for what promises to be a fascinating solo career for the BTS member.

Agust D, D-Day

Introduced by an eye-opening Disney+ documentary and brought to life through a world tour, D-Day emerged as a poignant, intimate glimpse into Suga’s captivating mind. In the third project under his Agust D moniker, Suga delves into his most personal reflections on record, exploring loneliness, freedom and letting go of the past. Beyond the lyricism revealing Suga’s innermost thoughts, the emotional weight of discussing his health and family in the standout track “Amygdala” are heightened by deft production decisions like Suga’s singing and use of Auto-Tune. D-Day also pays tribute to one of Suga’s personal musical heroes, as the gorgeous and haunting “Snooze” features legendary Japanese composer and producer Ryuichi Sakamoto, as well WOOSUNG of The Rose. Tragically, Sakamoto passed away less than a month before the album’s release, infusing D-Day with a sense of legacy and cross-generational continuity.

Genius Korea ranks RM’s Indigo as #1, and Agust D’s D-Day as #5, in their (25) Best K-pop Albums of 2023 list.

RM, Indigo

With a blend of different genres, a roster of eclectic artists, and masterful penmanship, RM created the poignant Indigo, an intimate yet universal composition of his twenties. While lyrics can be interpreted in multiple ways, RM’s storytelling prowess is the core of the album as he allows himself and helps listeners navigate through the depths of emotion and human experience. With songs like “Lonely” and “건망증 (Forg_tful),” RM captures introspection and the complexities of isolation in adulthood, which are more often than not too complicated for us to unpack by ourselves.

Certain albums deserve to be listened to the way they are presented by the artist and don’t necessarily boast singles, and Indigo is one of them. Not only is each song a lyrical journey in and of itself, but they come together to weave a story that leaves a lasting impression on listeners’ minds and hearts. With songs like the Anderson .Paak assisted “Still Life”, “All Day” with Tablo, and “No.2” featuring Park Ji Yoon, Indigo provides listeners with solace, inspiration, and a moment to reflect and move forward with more determination. The album grapples with nostalgia of our younger years, our aspirations, and the inevitable challenges that come with growing up and maturing. Even though the album explores themes of uncertainty and doubt, the project itself always maintains a cohesive identity, which is all thanks to RM himself. A lyrical masterpiece, Indigo offers both reflective and ambitious perspectives, making it the best album of the year.

Agust D, D-Day

D-DAY, Agust D’s third studio album, delivers on its grand finale status. As the last installment in the three-part trilogy of albums that included D-2 and Agust-D, D-DAY is a flavor-thick blend of smoking guns and thorny roses. Aggressive compositions like the title track “해금 (Haegeum),” a track about the toxicity of living in a polarized society, contrast with more reflective tracks such as “사람 (People) Pt.2” ft. IU), and the absolute golden goose of the album itself, “Snooze” ft. 坂本龍一 (Ryuichi Sakamoto) & WOOSUNG. Evidently, more mature than 2016 Agust D and another step in self-acceptance and maturity compared to 2020 Agust D, D-DAY acts as the older brother to his younger self, providing insight that only someone standing on the other side of hardship can have realized.

J-Hope and j. cole’s On The Street is #6 in NME’s Highest Rated Hiphop Albums of 2023, with a score of 80/100.

Original NME review here.

Agust D’s D-Day is #1 in NME’s Highest Rated Hiphop Albums of 2023, with a perfect score of 100/100.

Original NME review here.

The Honey POP lists Jimin’s FACE, Agust D’s D-Day, and V’s Layover in its Top 50 Albums of 2023.

Jimin, FACE
We all know that the BTS members have killed it with their solo releases this year, but let’s go back to the beginning with the first solo album we got in 2023 – Jimin’s FACE. Jimin has long been an artist who explored ideas of identity in his performances and across BTS songs like ‘Serendipity,’ so it was no surprise to see this exploration expand into his solo endeavors. Despite its short runtime, FACE packs a punch with intense declarations of freedom like ‘Set Me Free Pt.2’ and the escapism anthem ‘Like Crazy.’ We aren’t the only ones who love FACE either; ‘Like Crazy’ hit Billboard Hot 100 number one, and the album sold over a million copies on Hanteo in its first day, making Jimin the first solo artist to hit this milestone.

Agust D, D-Day
D-Day is a special album for BTS’s SUGA, as it marks both his debut studio album as well as the last installment in the Agust D trilogy. D-DAY is here and marks freedom and liberation for the rapper and producer as he finds himself being released from the shackles of his pain and suffering, making peace, and moving on from the past. Title track ‘Haegeum’ refers to both the traditional string instrument and the Korean word for “liberation” and raps about escaping “nonsense” from both online and in person, discovering a new sense of freedom. Meanwhile, fan favorite ‘Amygdala’ sees him relive the most painful moments in his life as he reveals his belief that trauma led him to become a stronger person today. A truly phenomenal album and a bittersweet farewell for Agust D… at least for now.

V, Layover
We think it’s probably fair to say that BTS’ V was one of the most anticipated solo albums this year. Even if you’re not ARMY (First of all, what are you doing?), you’re probably familiar with his distinctive, crooning vocals. V, AKA Taehyung, has eclectic tastes, so we had absolutely no idea what direction Layover would take, which is exactly why we were so eager for it! In just five (and a half?) songs, Taehyung introduces us to a kaleidoscope of soft jazz, Mediterranean sunsets, and, of course, ‘Rainy Days.’ Artists often say their albums feel like a window into their soul, and Layover is exactly that. With a music video for every song, Taehyung completely immerses the listener in his world, and ”Don’t tell me it’s over, we can start it over” is us the second that Layover finishes.

Paste Magazine ranks Agust D’s Snooze (feat. Ryuichi Sakamoto and WOOSUNG) as #1 in the 20 Best Songs of 2023.

1. Agust D ft. Ryuichi Sakamoto and Woosung: “Snooze”
   The third album/mixtape released under the BTS rapper-producer Suga’s Agust D moniker, D-Day offered listeners closure on the trilogy, which explored (among other subjects) Suga’s struggles with trauma and mental illness. Nowhere was the album’s cathartic might more visceral than in “Snooze.” The track is offered up as comfort for and encouragement to young artists entering the notoriously harsh K-pop industry, but—like other songs that fall somewhere under the BTS umbrella—it has much broader relatability under late-stage capitalism: “Cry out loud, when you become to hate the world … It’s okay to let out a big sigh and yell out ‘this shit is fucked up’ / Because you too are just a human, just like everyone else.”

“Snooze” features a stirring vocal performance from The Rose’s Woosung and a piano melody from the great Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto—one of his final collaborations, released shortly after his death in March. The song is a bridge between generations of East Asian musical artists, working mostly outside of the U.S. system. When Suga became overcome with emotion while performing “Snooze” on stage during the final show on his world tour, it was one of the year’s most powerful moments in pop music—the culmination of an arduous journey of self-knowledge and healing, and a testament to one musician’s deep connection to his art.

Closer Than This is #1 in 100 countries on iTunes!

Timeout (UK) lists Agust D’s Snooze (feat. Ryuichi Sakamoto and WOOSUNG) as #16 in the 23 Best Songs of 2023.

" Chasing your dreams has always been a recurring theme in BTS’ music, but of all seven members, it is Suga – known in his solo work as Agust D – who truly hits all the right notes with ‘Snooze’. This dramatic rap-rock ballad is dedicated to aspiring musicians, a comforting voice from someone who has been through it all, survived and came out on top. Agust D’s signature drawling, raspy rapping takes on a more soothing and rhythmic quality here, melding perfectly with Woosung’s transcendent vocals. Snooze is made even more special by the late composer Ryuichi Sakamoto’s beautiful piano melody – this track was one of his last projects before his passing in March this year. "

Consequence of Sound lists Amygdala as #92 in its list of the 200 Best Songs of 2023.

“Melodic and intimate, this track off SUGA of BTS’s third album under his Agust D alias features so many of the things at which he excels: thoughtful lyrics, a passionate performance, and a deeply personal touch.” — M. Siroky

The Korea Herald reports that Closer Than This reached #1 in 90 countries on iTunes.

L’Eclaireur FNAC France lists Agust D’s D-Day as one of the best K-pop albums of 2023.

Agust D- D Day
Jeanne’s favorite
Seven years after his first project Agust D and three years after D-2 , the rapper Agust D (better known under the stage name Suga within the group BTS) came in 2023 to put the end to his trilogy with D-Day . If Agust D was an album about the past, returning in particular to the difficulties of its performer with anxiety and depression at the start of his career, D-2 was that of the present, that of international success and pressure that this implies. D-Day is certainly that of the future, a brighter and freer future. The rapper sets the tone from the first song of the album by singing “future’s gonna be okay, look at the mirror and I see no pain ” pain ).

Without necessarily being a joyful album, retaining the harshness to which Agust D has accustomed us throughout his solo career, D-Day is an album which sings of hope and healing, the perfect conclusion to a seven-year cycle where Agust D will not have hesitated to share with those who listen to him the ups and downs of his career. Between societal criticism in Haegeum , personal traumas in Amygdala or advice to young artists in Snooze , Agust D shows the range of subjects on which he is capable of writing and rapping, proving once again that he is a complete artist, having produced in less than a decade a work of great richness.

This album confirms its performer’s ability to rap on any instrument, as well as his talent as a lyricist, ready to demonstrate an authenticity and vulnerability rare for an artist of this caliber. It was followed by a sold-out tour in Asia and the United States, retracing the career of Agust D, as if to properly celebrate the end of a cycle. Just before a year and a half of military service, the rapper offers us with D-Day a work that we will certainly not stop listening to and dissecting during his absence!

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.”

NPR listeners rank Agust D’s D-Day #14 out of 50 albums in the Favorite Albums of 2023 list.

As of Dec. 22, 4:35 EST, Jimin’s “Closer Than This” is #1 in 68 countries on iTunes.

I use a Hobonichi techo planner and grid notebooks. I also use Midori grid notebooks. No feathering on both, not too glossy so my nib doesn’t “skate” on top. I like Rhodia pads (some of the notebooks feather). Clairfontaine is lovely smooth paper but my pens usually “skate” on it and I can’t control my handwriting on it, but YMMV.