Rating: 7/10
Last Friday saw the release of Mac Miller’s second posthumous album, “Balloonerism,” almost seven years after his death.
The album’s release is thanks to Miller’s efforts in several 2014 recording sessions, during which he experimented with various ideas. Some of these ideas made it onto his 11th mixtape, “Faces,” while “Balloonerism” unveiled the rest.
“Balloonerism” is a hauntingly beautiful meditation on the hardships of growing up. Although it is missing the flare of Miller’s production style, resulting in a somewhat monotonous overall sound, “Balloonerism” is a piece that undoubtedly gets better as one continues listening.
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Despite lines such as “Your b—- like a bad fart, all she do is linger,” the album does deliver deep-cutting lyrics that encapsulate Miller’s battle with drugs and alcohol.
Its strongest track, “Funny Papers,” unpacks the beginning and end of life and the battles fought between them. Poets and rap enthusiasts alike will find the song a breath of fresh air.
The lack of variation leaves something to desire. Most of the album follows a style of jazz-R&B fusion with elements of hip-hop weaved in throughout. Miller’s complex sound creates a fascinating listening experience in short bursts — but when this style remains stagnant for 14 tracks, it is difficult to argue that many of the songs stand out.
Granted, SZA — in true SZA fashion — delivers a divine vocal performance on “DJ’s Chord Organ” as the album’s only feature artist. Yet as captivating as her voice is, especially juxtaposed with Miller’s, it is hardly enough to carry the remaining tracks.
Regardless, it was a brilliant move from Miller’s team that makes the album far more worth a listen.
Sam Mason, commissioned by Miller himself, produced a short film also titled “Balloonerism” inspired by the album’s music. It is a necessary accompaniment to the project, giving listeners and viewers a storyline to embrace.
The film uses beautiful yet unsettling visuals between Tim Burton’s and Wes Anderson’s styles. It follows a group of children transformed into animals being chased down by the “turtle of time” while select tracks from “Balloonerism” play in the background.
Riddled with symbolism and unnerving allusions, seemingly to Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and others, Mason’s work pairs perfectly with Miller’s anxieties of growing up and succumbing to the temptations of substance abuse. It captures Miller’s longing for simpler times elegantly.
“This feels the most like he was enjoying rapping and singing,” said Skye Paine, associate professor in the modern languages & cultures department at SUNY Brockport, about the album. “He’s thinking about childhood and youth and innocence, and I think for him, this sound is really just pre-addiction. I don’t think it’s pre-fame, I don’t think it’s pre-music, I think it’s just pre-this disease that is taking his life.”
Watching this film before listening to the album undoubtedly enhances the experience and adds a necessary layer of depth. It truly shows how these songs work best as movie music but could still be a valuable addition to a late-night drive playlist.
