LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� , the youngest member of the K-pop group BTS, released his triumphant debut solo album on Friday. The heavily Anglophonic 鈥淕olden,鈥� a reference to his nickname of 鈥渢he golden maknae," ("golden youngest" in Korean), is one of the strongest pop debuts of the year, a direct reflection of his love of retro-pop sounds.
There was a period this summer where Jung Kook's single with Latto, 鈥淪even,鈥� was inescapable; a sunshine-y UK garage number counting down all the days of the week in which he'll love you, girl 鈥� or maybe he'd do something else, depending on whether you're listening to the clean or explicit version of the track.
It hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, making Jung Kook only the second member of BTS 鈥� after Jimin 鈥� to reach that height as a solo artist. A 鈥済olden鈥� artist indeed.
The hook on 鈥淪even鈥� is undeniable, one of many on 鈥淕olden.鈥� Across this release, Jung Kook demonstrates a deep understanding of pop performance 鈥� and how, in the modern era, that requires innovative collaborations, heavily featured throughout his solo album.
Ed Sheeran plays guitar on 鈥淵es or No鈥�; Shawn Mendes co-wrote the piano ballad 鈥淗ate You.鈥� Major Lazer is featured on the breathy-bass banger 鈥淐loser to You鈥� and DJ Snake is on the Bieber-esq. dance-pop 鈥淧lease Don't Change." Rapper Jack Harlow is on the single 鈥�3D,鈥� which hit No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100.
It might be an unfavorable comparison in , particularly in the conversation following the release of Britney Spears' . But 鈥�3D" recalls the early, peak days of Justin Timberlake's 2000s solo career 鈥� 鈥淛ustified鈥� and 鈥淪uit and Tie,鈥� those Timbaland and Pharrell collaborations and onward.
At the time, JT's musical talent was undeniable, and he was largely considered one of the greatest pop performers of recent history 鈥� and make no mistake, that's the only JT tradition Jung Kook appears to be pulling from. (Well, that, and finding incredible success as a soloist separate from the group that made him an idol. But BTS is taking a break, while NSYNC broke up for two decades.)
The greatest song, however, is the latest single: the funky, Michael Jackson-channeling 鈥淪tanding Next to You" may very well be one of the year's most addictive pop singles.
And even then, it is one of many no-skip songs on 鈥淕olden,鈥� an album of pop bliss.
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This story has been updated to correct that Jimin had a No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 as a soloist.
Maria Sherman, The Associated Press
