A K-pop boundary breaker

K-pop princes BTS became global hitmakers with 2017's upbeat and romantic Love Yourself 承 'Her', a concept album about falling in love. On its sequel, the boys tackle the opposite end of the spectrum—break-ups. Love Yourself 轉 'Tear' may be a darker chapter in BTS's catalogue, but it looks to the group's bright future and still packs a lot of pop punch. There's melancholy neo-soul on “Intro: Singularity”, and “FAKE LOVE” outlines a love-struck identity crisis over an electro/hip-hop hybrid. Tear has its lighter moments too: “Magic Shop” is all ecstatic future bass, and the sing-rapping on “Anpanman” gives the album a shot of upbeat energy.