REVIEW: BTS - PROOF

4/5

The Vault.

Proof positive that BTS still rule the world like everybody's tears for fears. With Beatle like mania on the Rolling Stone cover of iconic magazines, time and 'TIME' again. South Korea's ARMY, who may even avoid mandatory military service thanks to the 'BTS Act', are touring the world, from the United Nations (twice) to the White House like an NBA team with the championship. Even the arrogance of Tucker Carlson knows not to poke the bear of the most loyal fandom on the planet. After all this is the ARMY that reserved all the seats at a Trump rally, only to not show up as the man who is no longer President ended up addressing less people than he hoped his mail fraud would. Now how's that for some trolling, Donald?! Those who don't understand K Pop's greatest act (with all due respect to the hot-on-the-heels BLACKPINK, CL, KATIE and the Godfather of all this Psy who Agust D just gave some Suga too), just don't get it. They can only afford two cents in the comments section like 'Ye said, seeing no punctuation. Or the fact that the entertainment center of the earth has moved from the parasite of Hollywood, to a place with more Seoul. They just don't get it. Like real music doesn't have to be all about this faux cool, careless attitude and giving a damn in trying to inspire the youth doesn't have to be corny (the former being what is actually lame). It might just get you a pass at the UN and a podium at the world's most famous house. But now with their latest album these bulletproof boys open the Vault like Prince giving us a live at Syracuse, 1985 redux last week. Safe as recording houses with their billionaire boys club sound. 100% 'Proof'. 

Smooth like 'Butter', but ready to explode like 'Dynamite' at any given second. Like their even better than the studio sound live version and video on America's Got Talent (Korea has too). These 'Idol's' are 'On' like a record with Sia. And this anthology album over two hours has tracks from their previous releases too. Like The Beatles then and before, looking down from their old digs on the red and blue albums curated and created for the stars and stripes of the red white and blue. From 'Boy With Luv' with Halsey to the instantly on repeat 'Jamais Vu' for ma cherie. Or the 'Persona' intro by the moving '.mono' of rap monster RM, to the 'Ego' outro by J-Hope that doesn't stop the party like a 'Chicken Noodle Soup'...with a soda on the side. We could talk about these tracks like a Captain America all day. But like Prince once said in London (and we're paraphrasing here), "(they've) got too many hits." These 'Born Singer(s)' with the 'DNA' and no 'Fake Love'. All the way to the blossoming of the next 'Spring Day' (my personal favourite). But let's get off that. Because haters will say why are they packaging greatest hits on to a new album? We're saying they're just giving their new fans, from me in 2019 to Matthew McConaughey (making his own important and influential trip to the White House), a taste of their past in addition to a whole new album...and that affords the furthest thing from ripping them off. These smooth criminals gave us 'Butter' and 'Permission To Dance', just when we thought they didn't have any more lean, or steps in 'em. But now they're spreading themselves across the streams. And the only thing that's thin is them. Were like Bon Iver they show that skinny people can get love to (finally) and 'Crazy Rich Asians' can be sex symbols too. It's no longer just a blonde haired, blue eyed Jesus from a group with one direction bigger than the Fab Four who said they outshined the Lord. Christ! 

Our saviours are here. All the way to the end of the line for 'The Youth'. Symbolic in black and white like the logo of their straightforward album artwork, as the laser and chrome blue new sensation billboard stands proudly here in Tokyo's scrambling Shibuya crossing like Hachiko waiting. 'No More Dream' singing, "What were you dreaming to become?/Who do you see now in your mirror, I gotta say/Go your own way/Even if you live one day/Do something/Put your weakness away." 'N.O.' Yes these boys are rocking in a music matrix of leather and a slicked back look to their usual pastel candy coated portraits. Going even harder to rob the bank with this 'Proof' of new life. Now you've heard of 'Boy With Luv', but how about the karaoke confusing 'Boy In Luv' that drops the mic? Shaking us up as J-Hope muses, "If it's with you, I think I can go to a good college/ABCDEFGH Hakuna Matata/Your profile picture is the same but why do I keep checking it?/But don't misunderstand, I'm not an easy guy." Hey, we've all been there J. But it's not a passing craze, or problem-free philosophy. WARNING! These maverick top guns are taking a highway to the 'Danger' zone. Sing it! Only Tom Cruise is more famous right now as fans slide across the floor like 'Risky Business'. Singing 'I NEED YOU' in all-caps, into a hairbrush. Real, relatable and now raw, with their latest release, the Korean collective give us their 'Blood, Sweat and Tears' as they 'Run' through a perfect playlist for your towering record. Longer than LOTTE. Just when you thought you couldn't get any more fire, these boys are 'Burning Up'. All this and just think the best is 'Yet To Come'. Want 'Proof'? Here it is. And it's the most beautiful moment. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Playlist Picks: 'Butter', 'Dynamite', 'Yet To Come'.