Mac Miller’s “Balloonerism” brought his voice back to earth Friday with philosophical lyrics mixed with beautiful instrumentals. The late rapper’s most recent piece of art has left his fans enthralled at his work.
Miller tragically passed away Sept. 7, 2018, at 26 years old from an accidental overdose. His first posthumous album, “Circles,” was released in 2020, and 5 years later, the artist still displays the same creativity and storytelling genius he did during his life.
“Balloonerism” gives a peek into Miller’s alter egos, like Delusional Thomas and Larry Fisherman, but also dips into his struggle with self-medication and even seemingly eerie messages from beyond the grave. “Balloonerism: A Film Based On The Album By Mac Miller,” a film now available on Prime Video, was created alongside the album.
“Balloonerism” follows the spaced-out and laid-back feelings of “Circles” but with more strings and piano to accompany the music. The opening 30-second track, “Tambourine Dream,” features, as prefaced, the steady but fun rhythm of a tambourine.
Following the opening track is “DJ’s Chord Organ,” a highly anticipated song featuring SZA. The song is over five minutes long and begins with the long, drawn-out sounds of a chord organ. The song itself is very dreamy and flowy, with SZA accompanying the organ’s sounds in more of a sultry and deeper flow than in her typical work.
The lead single for the album, “5 Dollar Pony Rides,” is reminiscent of the jumpy, child-like wonder of his previous works like “K.I.D.S.” The song reintroduces the steady tambourine, a prominent bass line and more singing from Miller. It continues to be the most streamed song on the album, currently with over 9 million plays on Spotify.
“Stoned” is the standout track of the album. Including a sultry guitar riff at the beginning, it follows the story of Miller and a girl as they escape the crushing social pressures of the world to spark up together. As Miller has been known to have a methodical and intimate thought process writing about women in music, this track does not disappoint.
“Friendly Hallucinations” and “Funny Papers” are other popular picks from the album. Despite Miller’s funky and chill nature, he has been known for his somber tracks and the accompanying lyrics that have hit home for many avid listeners. In “Funny Papers” especially, he utters the lyric, “I wonder if He’ll take me to the other side,” a heartbreaking line for the many who continue to mourn his loss.
The final tracks of the album tie everything into a ghastly close. “Rick’s Piano” provides listeners with the promise of Miller’s voice over a piano track, with gentle percussion in the background. He utters the lyrics, “The best is yet to come” and “Why does death steal life?” tear-jerking lines for his fans.
“Balloonerism” closes on the nearly 12-minute long track, “Tomorrow Will Never Know,” a soft and echoey track that repeats many questions over and over. Miller ends his second posthumous album on the line, “If you could make it go away / Give you a chance to start all over.” The track fades into instrumentals for the remaining five minutes to end his latest collection of work.
“Balloonerism” by Mac Miller has left his listeners missing his style of rap and artistry, but appreciating the messages he had left for them. The flowy assortment of songs feels just like the kind of vinyl to throw on for any occasion. Miller’s legacy of “most dope” continues to prevail online and in everyone’s playlist.
Album Rating: 4/5
