BTS's V's solo album 'Layover' received recognition for its artistic excellence by securing the 2nd place on Billboard's list of '2023 Best K-pop Albums.' Billboard announced the 'Top 25 Best K-pop Albums of 2023' on December 29. The rankings were based on albums in which Korean is the primary language, and they presented a greater vision and conceptual narrative that impressed Billboard pop columnists.
V's 'Layover' was classified as one of the albums where he constructed his own world based on music that inspires him as a solo artist and introduced it to listeners. In the introduction to 'Layover,' Billboard praised V's love for jazz and lo-fi soul, highlighting his old soul preferences and childhood experiences playing the saxophone. They emphasized that the album, born from V's past, shows a distinct territory for the star, different from BTS's other albums.
Billboard commended the album for providing a concise and immersive listening experience in under 20 minutes, analyzing the progression from the romantic melancholy starting with 'Love Me Again' and 'Slow Dancing' to the increasingly smooth and mellifluous journey reaching its peak with the powerful final tracks 'For Us' and the piano version of 'Slow Dancing.'
Overall, 'Layover' was praised for showcasing V's unique musical realm and demonstrating a significant departure from the style of BTS's albums.


Written by Mun Wan Sik
Translated by Lee So Yun