Pussy, money, weed.
Mac Miller gets them all, and in his third studio album, GO:OD AM, he’s decided to let everyone know.
Miller made his first mixtape at age 15, but it wasn’t clear until sophomore studio album Watching Movies with the Sound Off he was taking a more serious approach to his music.
In GO:OD AM, Mac proves he has officially made it to the mainstream.
While he hasn’t “sold out” or tried to appease to any certain group, he’s clearly making music appealing to the masses. He’s on the rise, and based on the quality of his new release, he’s not stopping any time soon.
Mac starts the album off with “Doors,” a smooth piece his friend Tyler the Creator produced. He raps, “Didn’t mean to cause you pain, I just needed to escape / They saying that I’m sober, I’m just in a better place.”
The quiet, honest nature of this song leads one to believe the rest of the album will be a “down-on-his-knees” confessional. While this assumption isn’t completely wrong, it doesn’t capture the essence of the whole album. During the few times his lyrics are brutally honest, it’s only for a line or two.
Upon first listen, it’s clear GO:OD AM deserves attention. The album’s songs are varied in style, and Mac’s flow is rarely repetitive (see track 8, “Clubhouse”). But this doesn’t always apply to his lyrical content.
Most of the songs feature lyrics containing run-of-the-mill rap themes: wealth, marijuana use and his apparent stockpile of women. While they’ve certainly become commonplace, Miller risks leading listeners to believe he hasn’t developed at all since his early days.
What stood out in this album was the occasional reflection on his stress. This time around, Mac’s lyrics prove he’s a far different man than in the days he produced K.I.D.S. At the time he was still doing mixtapes, Mac was a young kid flaunting money he didn’t have, rapping about skipping school and loving life.
Life still appears to captivate Mac in GO:OD AM, but his wealth and fame have obviously brought new problems; he now smokes weed to cope with life, and finds himself wishing he had more time to spend with loved ones.
On “Perfect Circle/God Speed,” Mac raps, “I wash these pills down with liquor and fall / Leave it to me, I do enough for us all.” It’s as if he’s scattered these lines throughout the album to contrast the up-tempo instrumentals and positive lyrics.
For his fans, the album offers some worthwhile insight into how Miller has coped with stardom. While those looking for a social critique or spiritual cleansing ought to look elsewhere, GO:OD AM, through its creative punchlines and incredible flow, proves Mac is back.
Rating: 4.5/5
