The ups and downs of life tend to become amplified when living a life of young stardom. Mac Miller may only be 23, but the Pittsburgh native has already experienced these types of trials and tribulations over the course of his already eventful career. Miller set a well-documented precedent for independent mixtape success in the early 2010’s, flourishing off of viral hits such as “Donald Trump” and “Knock Knock” while developing a rabid fan-base in the process. However, after his debut studio album Blue Side Park got shunned by critics, a new Mac began to take form with an excessive amount of drug usage leading to a stylistic artistic shift. Desire to appeal to the masses was swept under the rug and the experimental side of Miller was brought to the light on psychedelic influenced projects such as Macadelic. In 2013, Mac dropped his second album Watching Movies With The Sound Off and it became clear that Miller’s artistry evolved for the better despite the struggles being faced in his personal life. Flash forward to present day, Miller is signed to Warner Bros and has recently released his major label debut GO:OD AM. And after kicking his more serious substance abuse habits, Miller is able to offer a new level of focused energy on this album while building upon the improved musicality of his previous releases.
As the listener begins their GO:OD AM journey, the realization sets in that this body of work is a merging of worlds for Miller, a young artist on a quest for sobering self-discovery but determined to do so with a smile on his face. This uplifting spirit shines early and often on tracks such as “Brand Name” which features Mac taking a step back to live life and avoid joining the infamous ‘twenty seven’ club list of celebrities who have died at that age. From both a lyrical and sonic perspective, there is a rejuvenated bounce on GO:OD AM that allows Miller to put his creativity on display in a lighter room as opposed to the darker, gloomy settings of previous projects. With humorous wordplay such as “I’m a deranged motherfucker, took too many uppers, Now it’s Rush Hour, Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker” and the creative song structure of tracks such as the catchy two-part single “100 Grandkids”, it is refreshing to see Miller not take himself too seriously and simply create music fueled by both entertainment and the authenticity of his personal experiences.
The consistency of Miller’s honest lyrical aptitude builds a strong backbone for GO:OD AM, but the album is even more impressive due to the fact that it remains cohesive despite its variation of songwriting methods and sound patterns. Along with a generally high grade performance from Miller’s wisely selected producers (ID Labs, DJ Dahi, Vinylz, Frank Dukes, tyler the Creator, and FKi are all aboard), a specific testament to this quality is the seamless back-to-back sequencing of “Time Flies” and the infectious “Weekend”, featuring Lil B and Miguel respectively. Any emcee who can create a natural cohesion between two artists who are so distinct from each other is one that has full control over his art, and there is a strong feeling that Mac never gets lost while guiding the direction of GO:OD AM. This attribute is tested to the maximum throughout the album, especially on the records in which Miller decides to let loose and make music that ‘makes white people mad’. Songs such as “In The Bag”, “When In Rome”, and “Cut The Check” (featuring a standout verse from Chief Keef) all excel in their aggressive, trap-orientated influence, even if the last person you would expect them to come from is Mac Miller.
Just like the rest of us, Mac Miller finds himself on a winding road trying to figure out what life is really all about. Fame, depression, addiction, and love are all at the forefront of Miller’s mind with each theme playing a prominent role over the course of GO:OD AM, especially on the latter half of the album. The unabashed sincerity allows the audience to directly connect with Mac on songs like “Perfect Circle/God Speed”, “ROS”, and “Ascension” with emotionally wrenching lyrics such as “I don’t know how the f*ck I’m supposed to look into my parents eyes when I’m scared to die” showcasing Miller’s willingness to share thoughts from the dreariest doldrums of his mind and deliver them in a manner that raises the quality of his music. Holding a maturity beyond his years with the craziness of the music industry to thank, Miller incorporates dramatic elements into GO:OD AM with ease, resulting in a strong replay value rooted in the search for answers that can only be found through experiencing the best and worst life has to offer.
GO:OD AM proves to be a well-crafted balance of Mac Miller’s musical output over the past several years. With the youthful fun aspects of his early work being accompanied by the darker subject matter/lyrically grown up style of his recent projects, an ideal equilibrium is met because the scale doesn’t tip too far toward either direction. Rather than blatantly attempt for radio success, singles such as “Break The Law” showcase Miller’s fine-tuned flow and sharp mic skills but unlike his more recent work, Mac isn’t so lost in a bleak existence where the pressure of the world lies upon his shoulders. Miller does not transform from sinner to saint on GO:OD AM and if you aren’t a fan this album most likely won’t turn you into one, but during Miller’s transitional phase he discovers clarity in the search of who the person is that he enjoys being. When Mac Miller asks “what’s between heaven and hell” a brand new me is the answer and letting go of the fear to be happy is what represents the overarching message of GO:OD AM. Because of this, we can all smile knowing we’re in a better place when approaching life with this mentality.
Repeatable: “Break The Law”, “Weekend”
Skippable: “Clubhouse”
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