Must (album)

Last updated
Must
2PM - Must.png
Studio album by
2PM
ReleasedJune 28, 2021
StudioJYPE, Seoul, South Korea
Genre K-pop, R&B, Pop
Length31:07
LanguageKorean
Label
2PM chronology
The Best of 2PM in Japan 2011–2016
(2020)
Must
(2021)
With Me Again
(2021)
Singles from Must
  1. "Make It"
    Released: June 28, 2021

Must is the seventh Korean studio album by South Korean boy band 2PM. The album was released on June 28, 2021. It is the first release by 2PM since all of the group's members were discharged from their mandatory military service.

Contents

Background

It was announced in January 2021 that 2PM would make a full group comeback later in the year after Junho completed his military service. [1] On March 20, 2021, Junho became the final 2PM member to be discharged. [2] On the same day, South Korean news outlet Ilgan Sports reported that the group's comeback was scheduled for the summer. JYP Entertainment confirmed that 2PM was working on a new album while noting that “the exact timing of the release will be announced later on." [3]

On June 7, 2021, JYP Entertainment posted a video titled The Hottest Origins on its official social media channels. It revealed that 2PM's seventh Korean studio album, their first in almost five years since Gentlemen's Game, would be released on June 28, 2021, with the title Must. [4]

During the group's hiatus, "My House", the title track of the group's 2015 album No.5, climbed back to the top spots of multiple music streaming charts. The members said that the success of the song impacted the production of Must. [5]

Composition

The album's lead track, "Make It", is a pop song with jazz and soul elements written and composed by member Wooyoung. "I started my work by asking myself two questions ― what should I say if I get to meet my true love and what should I do if 2PM has to make its comeback right now?" he said, explaining the inspiration behind the tune. [5] It opens with a retro guitar riff and lays its foundation within classic string bass and synth. [6]

The album's ten tracks, seven of which were written by 2PM members, borrow elements from jazz and pop while maintaining 2PM's signature sweltering electronic sound. The tracks "Moon & Back" and "The Cafe", on the other hand, utilize a pulsating 808 drumming for a familiar R&B inflection. [7]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
IZM Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]

Release and promotion

Must was released on June 28, 2021, alongside a music video for the title track "Make It." It opens with a meteor colliding with the surface of the Earth, and the storyline revolves around the members being captivated by a beautiful woman while ignoring the apocalypse around them. [10] A TV comeback special of the same name premiered globally on the cable channel Mnet and the digital channel M2 an hour after the album's release. [11]

For two weeks, 2PM performed the tracks "Make It" and "OK or Not" on TV music programs to promote the album, starting with M Countdown on July 1, 2021. [12]

Track listing

Must track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicArrangementLength
1."Intro." HotSauceHotSauce1:00
2."Make It" ( Korean : 해야 해; RR : Haeya hae;lit. Must)
  • Jang Wooyoung
  • HotSauce
HotSauce2:59
3."OK or Not" ( Korean : 괜찮아 안 괜찮아; RR : Gwaenchanha an gwaenchanha)
  • Jun. K
  • Lee Hae Sol
Lee Hae Sol3:28
4."On My Way" ( Korean : 보고싶어, 보러갈게; RR : Bogosipeo, Boreogalke;lit. I Miss You, I'll Come See You)
  • Jun. K
  • Lee Hae Sol
  • Jun. K
  • Lee Hae Sol
Lee Hae Sol3:01
5."Champagne" ( Korean : 샴페인; RR : Syampein)
  • Ok Taec-yeon
  • Raphael
Raphael3:05
6."The Cafe" ( Korean : 집 앞 카페; RR : Jib ap kape;lit. Cafe in Front of My House)Wooyoung
  • Toyo
  • Sean Michael Alexander
  • Sqvare
Toyo3:40
7."Moon & Back"Emily Yeonseo Kim
Jinbyjin3:27
8."Two of Us" ( Korean : 둘이; RR : Dul-i)Kim Won
  • Kim Won
  • Yoo Young Ho
Yoo Young Ho3:11
9."Hold You" ( Korean : 놓지 않을게; RR : Noji aneulke;lit. I Won't Let You Go)Jun. KJun. KFlum3n3:56
10."My House" (acoustic version) (Korean : 우리 집; RR : Uri jib)Jun. K
  • Jun. K
  • LEL
LEL3:20
Total length:31:07

Charts

References

  1. "2PM, 올해 6人 완전체 컴백 기대감 최고조..'우리집' 열풍 드디어 재현하나". Herald POP (in Korean). January 14, 2021. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  2. "2PM's Junho discharged from military". The Korea Herald . March 20, 2021. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  3. "2PM still "preparing" comeback album, JYP reaffirms". NME . April 21, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  4. "2PM to return after 5-year-break with new album titled 'Must". Korea JoongAng Daily . June 7, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "After success of 'My House,' 2PM seeks to extend winning streak with 'MUST'". The Korea Times . June 28, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  6. "Watch 2PM's Dramatic Music Video for 'Make It'". Rolling Stone India . June 29, 2021. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  7. MTV News Staff. "2PM's Comeback Was Never A Maybe — It Was A Must". MTV News. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-06.
  8. Ramli, Sofiana (July 2, 2021). "2PM – 'Must' review: a classy, carefree comeback from one of K-pop's most beloved veterans". NME . Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  9. Kim, Sung-yeob (July 2021). "Must". IZM. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  10. "Watch 2PM survive an apocalypse in dramatic music video for 'Make It'". NME . June 28, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  11. "2PM members get together after 5 years for June 28 comeback show". Korea JoongAng Daily . June 21, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  12. "'엠카' 세븐틴, 브레이브걸스 꺾고 1위… 2PM·NCT DREAM·이달소 컴백 [종합]". 엑스포츠뉴스 (in Korean). 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2025-08-27.
  13. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2021-07-19" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  14. "Gaon Album Chart – Week 27, 2021". Gaon Chart (in Korean). Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  15. "2021년 06월 Album Chart" [June 2021 Album Chart]. Gaon Music Chart. Archived from the original on December 10, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  16. "2021년 Album Chart". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). Retrieved January 10, 2022.