The K-Pop legends BTS in retrospect should have never broken up. The fact that the current and historically unpopular South Korean leader, Yoon Suk Yeol demanded military service on some of the members of BTS, alongside the fact that they had a relentless touring schedule to support their huge global fanbase, meant that a very sad ending indeed occurred for the group. Once the group regrettably split, some of the members of BTS decided to begin their own solo careers, before they (hopefully) aim to recommence recording and touring as before in the late 2020s. This is where Jung Kook decided to release this solo album, his first. The album was named after what he personally considered the best of his own music, and not only sold well internationally but received much critical acclaim for the music. Jung Kook is now seen as a force on his own, not to be messed with in the music industry. Let’s take a listen to this debut album and we shall hear if it is worth listening to today.

3D (feat. Jack Harlow) begins with a count-in and launches into a very good and percussive sounding Rap/K-Pop Music piece. This is a fantastic listening experience and shows a very different sound than what BTS had. Jung Kook sounds as though he wants to woo every girl in the room, and in a way, he probably can. This is extremely good for contemporary music, and it sounds fun, fresh and funky, to this very day. A flavoursome tune about young male lust, with some neat production touches. Jack Harlow’s appearance is excellent as well, and this sounds fantastic. This is also about being a manwhore, so to speak. A brilliant and enjoyable K-Pop tune for those of you who dig contemporary music, this is a winner. Worth listening from start to finish, and fun to listen to.

Closer to You (feat. Major Lazer) begins with some low-end bass-style rhythms, beats and delayed vocals to sink one’s teeth into. This is far better than most K-Pop which is fairly terrible to listen to. Jung Kook comes across as a great musical talent and provided that he doesn’t go into a downward spiral of partying, girls, drugs and fame, he will stand tall above the competition. Exuding a huge amount of unfulfilled lust, the music is a good match as well for Jung Kook’s lustful vision. This tune sounds like 21st-century Dream Pop and is an enjoyable listening experience from start to finish. Our main man has some decent tunes. A wonderful tune.

Seven (feat. Latto) (Explicit Version) is the main single from this debut album. It begins with some neat guitar parts and launches into an instant classic of a song. The rhythm beats and rapping throughout are fantastic, and Jung Kook reveals a great climatic lyric line, just like good sex would. In any case, this is a fantastic listen from start to finish. “That’s why night after night, I’ll be fucking you right!” is the climatic chorus line and this alone makes this song a profane, dirty sexual classic. Latto sounds a lot like Nicki Minaj, but her appearance in this song is very welcome. A powerful and mindblowing song to listen to from start to finish, this is exactly what young adults today should listen to and appreciate, in the right setting. An excellent tune.

Standing Next To You begins with a huge amount of instrumentation and drum rolls, launching into a neo-Disco Music and progresses nicely into a dirty, grimy sexual tune. It is difficult to believe that K-Pop stars have to sign contracts stating that they cannot have partners. Honestly, why? Jung Kook comes across as a badass, sexually motivated K-Pop idol on these tunes. This Disco based, party-styled tune would be excellent for DJs in some nightclubs to spin upon request. This has a nice mixture of guitars, drums and articulate singing with other instrumentation thrown in for great measure. Nonetheless, another good song with horns galore. Enjoyable for what this is, even if this is not as good as what came before it. An interesting listen.

Yes or No begins with some trippy beats and launches into a weaker song, but still something very listenable as a piece of music. This is a good song about being reassuring towards a lover. A very romantic and sweet-sounding tune with some clever and Poppy digital editing, this is the more effeminate side of Jung Kook. In any case, this is a good song, even though it isn’t the best track on this album. Perfect to play with a lover when you wish to get intimate, this is stylish and cool listening. The guitar loops and beats, along with the singing here, are fantastically mixed, produced and recorded. A worthwhile listen.

Please Don’t Change (feat. DJ Snake) begins with some Justin Bieber-styled electronic sounds, and launches into a very K-Pop/EDM-based tune. This is another more soppy and romantic song that is good listening, even if, again, this isn’t the greatest song on this album. Jung Kook pleads to a lover to never change. Which is what real lovers do. This guy obviously understands the depth of romantic and sexual emotions that must be expressed between two romantic partners. A very good listen, and this is a highly enjoyable track. It ends with a weird conclusion.

Hate You goes to the other extreme. It begins with a distorted, clanging piano and launches into a heartbreaking musical story that indicates that love is at the end of the road between two people. It sounds emotional, deep and personal and illustrates the worst in people. Hatred generally spawns out of failed love, and Jung Kook understands this better than most musicians, or even most psychologists out there. Regardless, a very bittersweet listen and it sounds deeply personal from Jung Kook. A moving and close-to-the-bone song for many. This is a sad but good listen.

Somebody sounds weird from the start. This is an unusual song to put on this album, continuing some of the darker emotions at hand. Jung Kook sings from a deep, dark place and he deals with relationship issues better than most people would think of a Popstar to do. This is a bass-heavy, minimal and dark tune that sounds brutally honest for K-Pop. In any case, this music is a very solidly good listen, even on the less well-known tracks, such as this one. A good listen, and something that isn’t worth skipping ahead as it still sounds good. The outro has some warped and semi-psychedelic electronic sounds.

Too Sad To Dance sounds exactly like the sort of feeling that BTS would have had upon breaking up. It begins with some electric guitar playing and very distant sounds of birds chirping. Jung Kook sings sweetly about the disastrous events of dealing with a breakup in his shoes. Surprisingly, this is a solidly excellent and catchy listening experience that is worth your ears. Even the lesser tracks on this album are fantastic to listen to. Jung Kook sings with a passion, rhythm and energy that most singers could only dream of having. These songs are a good example of all types of love/sex-based relationship angles, and he makes the listener nod in appreciation of this fact. A catchy song, it has some whistling towards the end. Simply good to hear, and worth your time.

Shot Glass Of Tears continues the sadness and despair that one can experience after losing a loved one. Alcohol is a depressant, and it seems that in this song, Jung Kook is drowning his sorrows very nicely. The piano and singing of this tune are very touching. Soon enough, the production and sounds build up into a bittersweet and emotional song. This is not a happy song, but one who has been through the biggest challenges in love will dig this song. A great song in its own way, Jung Kook makes some Gen Z Pop Music that many will relate to, in a world of huge divorce rates and broken hearts. A magical song, in its own way.

Seven (feat. Latto) (Clean Version) is the final track here. Little needs to be said about it, as the main version is present earlier on this album. However, this obviously has the climatic line edited for radio play. Even so, there is no denying that this is a legendary song. The two different versions of this song have their own purpose, and this wonderful music is extremely catchy. Jung Kook wraps up an interesting album that is certainly worth listening to and is possibly better than most of BTS’s songs. Latto ought to be promoted more as a guest as well. This album is very good to listen to and is worth hearing every track. A solid song anyway, and something worth listening to.

This album is one of the best listens in K-Pop Music today. Not only does it embrace K-Pop and BTS’s core audience, but it has staying power and is worth repeat listens. Not many K-Pop groups can match this feat. Therefore, Jung Kook not only is successful with his music on this album and conveying a pseudo-concept album about relationships, but he also is consistent musically as well. Should you listen to this album? Yes, certainly if you dig postmodern Pop Music but older music fans may wish to look elsewhere.

Decent and magical music.

8/10