On January 17th, five years following the release of “Circles,” we got Mac’s second posthumous album “Balloonerism.” Normally I am skeptical when it comes to posthumous albums, which can feel uninspired without the creative direction of the passed artist, or even a little unnerving. There were, however, a few details which lifted my hopes going into this listen. Fans have speculated that Miller recorded Balloonerism in 2014, which would mean he was there to oversee the production and vision. This would contribute to a more consistent sound throughout its fourteen tracks, and provide notable creative choices. “Circles,” the first posthumous album by Mac, was very well received, debuting at 3 on the US Billboard 200. If this album was anything like “Circles,” we were in for something special.
On first listen, I was pleased by the depth of Miller’s lyrics. There’s a lot of emotion behind his verses, which cover topics such as identity crisis, getting older, drug use and feelings towards death. While these themes occasionally repeat themselves throughout the album, Miller’s versatility keeps the vocals fairly unique. He plays on these topics well, without coming off as cliche or dramatic. “Me, I used to want to be a wizard, when did life get so serious?” Miller expresses on “Excelsior.” This song is not the first time Mac has shared his feelings on aging. In an interview, Miller voiced a contrasting statement: “A lot of people are scared to get old… I think whenever you get old, it’s gonna be awesome, cause I feel like you finally have an understanding of the world around you,” he stated.
After letting the album sink in, here is what I liked. The lead single, “5 Dollar Pony Rides,” was released a week before Balloonerism dropped, and was one of the better tracks to come from it. Few bassists can bring a song to life like Thundercat, and his funky feel-good harmonics were a highlight throughout the listen. SZA made an appearance on “DJ’s Chord Organ,” and while the track was a bit sleepy, her verse was far from it – another highlight. The psychedelic drones on “Stoned” are sure to put listeners in a relaxed headspace, and the electric guitar riffs elevate it to another level. After a few listens, I can say it is definitely my favorite track. My last mention is “Funny Papers.” Aside from being maybe the easiest listen on the album, its mellow lyrics were surprisingly strong – and felt like they were being spoken from the soul. Mac describes music as the one thing he could rely on. “Everything was quiet but the music.”
While technically, there were few flaws in the record, here is what I didn’t love. Following the smooth verse from SZA, the end of “DJ’s Chord Organ” seems to drone on for eternity. Many songs had the same issue, running for much longer than they needed to. With seven tracks at over four minutes, at least five felt like they could’ve been shortened. You might need to set aside time to get through the album.
Still, for an album released outside of Miller’s supervision, ”Balloonerism” is a solid piece, with plenty of standout songs. What do you think, will Mac Miller’s second posthumous album outshine the first?
