Artist: Mac Miller
Release: Watching Movies With The Sound Off
Release Date: Out Now
Mac Miller wandered onto many fans’ radars with his ‘Best Day Ever’ mixtape in 2011, and mustered a following thanks to his conversational flows about smoking weed, banging your girlfriend and the size of the house he was going to buy his mum when he finally made it. His close musical and personal links with schoolmate Wiz Khalifa had him initially dismissed as an imitator piggybacking on Wiz’s success, but while Wiz’s fall from grace, at least amongst hip-hop heads, has been epically proportioned, Mac’s evolution has been steady and surprising. His development has been informed by the end of a long-term relationship, a lean addiction and subsequent recovery, as well as the inherent trials of his rising fame. His monologues still consider well-trodden topics like girls and weed, but Mac has become far more thoughtful, hard-edged and ambitious, and his technique has improved hugely.
‘Watching Movies With The Sound Off’ is a showcase for Mac’s maturity and lyrical development, complementing his flows with crackly, atmospheric production that suits his tone perfectly. Producers as diverse as Alchemist, Pharrell and Clams Casino weigh in with their contributions and Mac Miller himself (producing as Larry Fisherman) pulls the sounds together and smoothes the transitions. The instrumentals sit so well with the lyrical delivery that it’s obvious this is a proper, considered album with real creative energy put into it. Over these well-chosen and intricate beats, Mac contemplates the implications of his success with assured confidence, tackling issues like drug addiction, unwanted pregnancies and the decline of his family relationships “I still don’t got the heart to pick my phone up when my dad calls / Will he recognise his son when he hears my voice?”, as well as entertaining us with plenty of punchlines and braggadocio. It’s a combination that works, striking a balance between humour and pathos, complexity and simplicity, and makes for an enjoyable listen. The only issue is that many of the songs have the same woozy style, and Mac is seemingly incapable of varying his tone from track to track, which means that the album gets a little dull after a slightly unnecessary 19 tracks. Not every MC has to be able to switch up their vocal style at the drop of a hat; Jay-Z hasn’t changed his tone for about 15 years and it hasn’t done him too much harm, but although he tries, Mac Miller lacks the lyrical talent to make his words alone interesting, so the album does wear as it goes on. A couple of highlights include ‘Red Dot Music’ which features a typically brilliant guest spot by Action Bronson, ‘Gees’ with Schoolboy Q, and the Flying Lotus-produced single ‘S.D.S’. A great sophomore effort that, despite a long running time, is still well worth a listen.
7/10
