More than any of his BTS bandmates, Jung Kook has been primed for the greatest crossover potential with his debut solo album, Golden. Unlike the rap showcases of RM, Suga, and J-Hope or the focused genre forays from V, Jin, and Jimin, Golden takes aim at the mainstream sweet spot that swirls together funky beats, catchy melodies, and irresistible choruses. It doesnt hurt his prospects that everything is in English, either. Backed by producers such as BloodPop, Diplo, Andrew Watt, and Cirkut and songwriters like Shawn Mendes and Ed Sheeran, the LP also features rapper Jack Harlow on the bouncy, fun-loving "3D"; Major Lazer on the sensual, throbbing "Closer to You"; DJ Snake on the shimmering electronic dance anthem "Please Dont Change"; and Latto on the chart-conquering, record-breaking sex romp "Seven" (the edited version is also included). While the laundry list of A-list names attached to the project leaves little doubt that this has been custom-designed to make him an even bigger star, everything works so well because of Jung Kooks seasoned vocals and natural allure. Like Justin Timberlake and Harry Styles before him, its quite clear that Jung Kook has been christened as his boy bands main breakout, and Golden makes a great case for that push. ~ Neil Z. Yeung
Rovi