Mac Miller - Balloonerism (Album Review)

 

Text review:

I last covered Mac Miller in 2020 with my written review of his acclaimed album Circles, a record released by his estate 2 years after the rapper’s untimely death. I found Circles to be a beautifully reflective album, and one which defied my expectations for a posthumous release. Unlike many cases of record labels exploiting an artist’s legacy for profit, Circles was the completion of a project which Miller had conceptualised, written, and recorded in the months before his passing, an introspective record with themes of vulnerability, alienation, and uncertainty for the future. Its tragic framing only intensified its impact, and for fans and critics alike it was more than just a respectful addition to his discography, but also its peak. Following up such a natural conclusion to his legacy with a second posthumous album, this time taken from recordings much earlier in Miller’s career… well, it certainly had me sceptical. How did it end up?

Well, if you’re a fan of Mac Miller then Balloonerism is probably going to work for you. Its stream-of-conscious lyrics offer Mac’s signature introspection and humour, whilst his flows and vocal delivery possess that endearing stoner energy he’s always been known for. Unfortunately, and likely owing to the album’s recording taking place over a decade ago in 2014, the psychedelic-jazz rap sound of Balloonerism really isn’t pushing the genre forward, or offering anything we haven’t seen elsewhere in Miller’s own discography. That being said, I can still appreciate the sound that Balloonerism achieves, and there are some genuinely interesting ideas here.

It’s a rougher and less polished record than Circles, it’s drum beats tripping and stumbling over its inspired sound palette of whirring synthesizers and evocative keys. The appropriately titled ‘DJ’s Chord Organ’ creates an expansive soundscape for the album’s first full song, accenting its psychedelic beats with more textual synths that build across the track. It’ll come as no surprise to fans of the genre that the album’s effortlessly cool bass grooves come courtesy of Thundercat, always a welcome presence on a jazz-rap record, but also one that will invite comparisons to the best of the genre, which this album isn’t quite matching.

Balloonerism is clearly not as conceptual, as inventive or as vibrant as many of its influences and contemporaries, but it is still a dynamic record with a lot of great components and some standout tracks. ‘Manakins’ and ‘Rick’s Piano’ are some late album highlights with some of Mac’s more focused and captivating storytelling, and the same can be said for the catchy ‘Do You Have a Destination?’. A song that I wish worked better for me is ‘Tomorrow Will Never Know’, the album’s 12-minute closing track which does not justify that runtime. It’s frustrating because the lyrics here are the most abstract and evocative on the record, almost reminding me of King Krule in how dark and atmospheric it gets. The line “give you a chance to start all over” is the last thing we hear from Mac on Balloonerism, and it seems to allude the themes of Circles and that album’s more reflective nature, I just wish the instrumental outro was more engaging.

Now, if there’s a consistent theme to the album, it’s struggle. On “5 Dollar Pony Rides” Mac sounds frustrated, with the disconnect between himself and the problems of the girl he’s interested in, whilst on “Stoned” he’s seemingly content with getting high and avoiding his own struggles even as they break through on **a track like “Excelsior”. Here, Mac is forced to confront the realities of growing up, hinting at the maturity and self-reflection that we would know he was achieved on Swimming and Circles. The weariness of those records is more of an implication here, placated by the drugs and other distractions that the album’s trippy production embodies.

Knowing where this abuse eventually led for Mac is a sobering extra dimension, and it does leave me with the question of how to contextualise this album in his discography. Where Circles was its logical and emotional conclusion, Balloonerism is a literal step back. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a jarring listen at times, with the context of Mac’s overdose looming over this record. In spite of that, this album remains a well produced and mostly well written record, with a few standout tracks and no real surprises. Mac Miller was never the boldest or most exciting rapper of his generation, but his place in the hip hop scene was definitely deserved and I do consider Balloonerism one of his best albums. It’s a solid 7 out of 10 from me, definitely more uneven than Circles and lacking in the maturity and self-reflection that made that album great, but the fans seem to be embracing it and if you’ve enjoyed Mac Miller before you’re going to like what you find here.

Favourite Songs: 'Do You Need a Destination?', 'Stoned', 'Manakins', 'Rick's Piano'

Least Favourite: 'Transformations'

Score: 7/10

Mac Miller - Balloonerism - 17 Jan 2025 - Warner (Album Review)