After an unintended break, for which I am eternally apologetic for, let's continue our BTS Album rewind!!
While we wait impatiently for that Spring Day coming in 2026, let's take a look back at each BTS album, starting from the very beginning! Welcome to our weekly BTS Album Rewind!
DARK & WILD
BTS released Dark & Wild on August 20, 2014. It was their first studio album in a year and a half. 'Danger' was the title track, with 'War of Hormone' promoted as a secondary single. And boy were we in Danger. The concept was meant to be darker and wilder than previous albums. BigHit said this:
The boys are no longer in their school uniforms. They have become tougher, singing that their love is not to be treated lightly. A year and two months into their debut, BTS made sure that the visuals, performance and all the elements of their first studio album are flawless. Tracks that highlight the different genres of hip hop—South, West, Boom Bap and Trap—provide a clear direction of BTS' music. The title track “Danger” is a tightly-composed hybrid hip hop song with a piercing punk-rock guitar sound that features stark rap, a powerful hook and exhilarating shouting. (source
Tracklist
- Intro : What am I to you
- Danger
- War of Hormone
- Hip Hop Phile
- Let Me Know
- Rain
- BTS Cypher PT.3 : KILLER (Feat. Supreme Boi)
- Interlude : What are you doing now
- Could you turn off your cell phone
- Embarrassed
- 24/7=heaven
- Look here
- So 4 more
- Outro : Do you think it makes sense?
HELLO HELLO, TELL ME WHERE TO LISTEN RIGHT NOW:
LOOK HERE for discussion questions:
- What were your first impressions of this album? And what is your impression now?
- How do you think the boys grew from their first three albums? In what way?
- Which song is your favorite from the album? Has that changed over time?
- Any other general feelings/thoughts about this album?
NEXT UP: The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, PT. 1 화양연화 on January 5th.
Want to look back at previous threads?
*Note: BTS Album Rewind will not include singles, compilation albums without any new songs included, or Japanese albums that consist of only Japanese versions of existing songs.
Again, I deeply apologize for the unintentional break but we're back on track!!
by lisafancypants
9 Comments
Oh this is good timing because I just read these chapters in “Beyond the Story”! Thank you 🫶
ties in so nicely with the album missions on the b-cd app (where D&W is one of the albums)
Thank you so much for compiling these! Dark and Wild has a special place in my heart as it’s one of my favourite ever albums of Bangtan!
I first listened to this album back when I was a baby army. I was listening to the whole of BTS’ discography from top to bottom and I remember being obsessed with the tones of this album (Spoiler alert: I still am lol) and as every other album of Bangtan’s, the way the tracks flows from one song to another is flawless! I still am obsessed with it just as much and eventually when I came to know it didn’t perform well back when it was released in ‘14, I couldn’t believe that a masterpiece like this didn’t get the hype it deserved, it was definitely way ahead of its time but I know it’s loved now by many as it deserves!
As BigHit described, it definitely was different from their previous albums and had a mature sound to it, but I still cannot fathom they were barely 2 years into their careers when they came up with this masterpiece!
Choosing one favourite song from Dark and Wild is a difficult task but if I were to choose one, it will be ‘Let Me Know’. And it hasn’t changed. I used to hear this song at night with headphones on and let me tell you, it’s a heavenly experience! The different adlibs and instruments going on in the background, the rap blending in with the vocals, and the ending which makes you ascend?!! It’s one of my favourite songs from Bangtan for a reason!
Thank you again for this wonderful series! Looking forward to the rest of the albums! 💜
Look Here changed my brain chemistry forever when I was outside on a beautiful Spring Day during active lockdown. As did Joon’s intro. Embarrassed is a vibe and my morning alarm. Somehow this album is the most frequently mentioned as “underrated” but we all love it so much????? How does it rank so low on album rankings but most of us would die for it? Make it make sense.
Anyway, I love Dark & Wild.
was listening to Embarrassed a few days ago on repeat, one of my fave bangtan songs
My first impression was very strong because I had no idea BTS had this in them. I’m a Baby Army, so when I went down the rabbit hole, I only knew their pop stuff, so when another Army told me to start with their old music first, m sezi (I was surprised in Kreyol lol). I just couldn’t believe they were making old school beats in 2014 lol In the US, mumble rap and trap were taking over (We were in No Flex Zone territory), so Dark & Wild felt like a throw back. I could hear their youth in these songs, so they were super endearing to me.
This album really cemented their respect and love of hip hop for me. The classic BTS harmonies and runs are all throughout this album. I can also hear the influence of American Hustle life too : beatboxing, harmonies, beats, rap style, etc. I know a lot of Armys weirdly dislike this album, but it’s soooo foundational. You don’t get the BTS of today without Skool Era albums and Dark & Wild.
Favorite song: Let Me Know
I was listening to this yesterday and as someone who’s really not an album person overall because I almost always find fault with at least one song, I can’t think of any flaws with this one. It might just be my favorite Bangtan album.
Intro: What am I to you was my Top song this march on Apple music.
Another favourite is Rain, but WAITY is just so confessional and cathartic, it grabs you and it keeps you, I don’t quite know how to explain it.
Dark & Wild is THAT GIRL for me!! I was so shocked when I heard it flopped on release but this album slaps. It is a no skip for me. Rain & Hip Hop Phile give my brain good tingles. Danger, Cypher pt 3, and So 4 more? absolute bangers. Embarrassed, hilarious choreo. Look Here?? Now that’s my girl. The stacked harmonies. The beat. Namjoon’s verse? 🫠🫠🫠 Need I say more?