Layover

Honestly speaking, it's my favorite release during this BTS 'solo but still together' era. Tbh, I only vibed with D-3 and Indigo (though I did like songs from the other members: J-Hope 'Safety Zone' and Jimin 'Alone'), but this dropped and WOW! I'm hooked. I'll take it song by song.

Rainy Days: 3/5, ecclectic and chill. those everyday sounds/ASMR moments were nice and comforting, reminiscent of what he did in Scenery. Loved his vocals and the production was perfection. Lyrics were good and I LOVED the second verse. The chorus though...*sigh. It got stale with all the repitition and I was praying for a switch up in the lyrics or maybe a bridge or something, ANYTHING, but it seemed to go on and on forever. That's what dragged the song down, but only a little. The rest of the song was good enough to make me want to keep listening though.

Blue: 4/5, sensual and HOLY BARITONE BATMAN! Idk exactly what it is about this song but it's extremely addictive. His vocal tone is warm and soulful...you know how when your heated weighted blanket is just the right temperature and hugging you just the right way? That's how this song feels. I do feel like the song was too short though, so I couldn't fully sink into it. The chorus was simple and again, repetitive, but in this case it served a purpose. It was alluring and hypnotic instead of tiring. It's almost like a lullaby. Great song but would've been better if it was longer.

Love Me Again: 3/5. Sexy and jazzy. That voice, MY GOD! I swooned with every, "Lost without you, baby..." Gotta shout out production on this one for perfectly matching his voice and setting the tone. The lyrics were sweet and easy to sing and he flexed his range a bit--really nice. Again with the simple, repetitive chorus...at this point, I think that's gonna be a running theme. All the writers had to do was tweak it a bit, let him say something different each time and then let the repetition come only at the very end as it fades out. Would've also like another verse or a build up to a bridge. These small changes would've made it 5/5 for me.

Slow Dancing: 5/5. Teeming with positivity and good vibes. Joyful and sweet. I don't have a single critique. This song hit all the right notes, gave me everything I wanted and needed. It is perfect. Vocals, production, the accompanying video--I LOVED IT! Wish I could give out a 6/5.

For You: 5/5, R&B greatness. The very second that sample hit, my ears perked up. He lured me in and omg those vocals. Light, breathy, and infectious as hell. SEXY AF! Then that surprise switch up happened after the first verse and it became an entirely different song. This moment--that WOW factor--was what I was waiting for in RD and LMA, but it never came. THERE WAS NO SECON VERSE! WHYYYYYYYY! WE WERE ROBBED!!!! Definitely a missed opportunity to flex his vocal skill and it left me wanting more. Ngl, I looped the hell outta this song because I wasn't ready for it to end. Also, I was obsessed with that sample and went on a search to find out where it came from because I wanted to look into the artist, only to find out that it was his own voice! He took the part that came later in the song and processed it for the sample. Felt like an idiot after re-listening to it for not realizing it, lol. This is my favorite track, no question. 10/5 if I'm being honest.

Slow Dancing (Piano): 5/5, same review as OG version, except it's a separate vibe. Honestly speaking, I preferred the flute version because it somehow felt happier. I don't know how to explain it. Like, flute version I imagine being surrounded by friends, we're chilling, laughing, and just having a good time being together. Piano version I imagine me at home under a blanket reading a book while Layover plays quietly in the background and soft rain pelts the windowpane. Different, but still good.

Overall: 4/5. The mark of a good album is that it leaves you wanting more, and V definitely accomplished that with Layover. I'm a little sad that there were only 6 tracks because I've been hearing the little snippets he posts of his original songs for years now (Travel With Me is SO GOOD!) and I would've liked to hear some of that. One thing I didn't mention in the reviews was the emotion in this project. It's been a while since a song was able to make feel this much, and I'm so grateful. I feel connected. It's a wonderful project. Art at its highest level. It could've easily been a 5/5 with a few tweaks but it's only his first album. He has time and room to grow.