Arts and Entertainment
By Rory McNelley, Staff Writer
Mac Miller’s highly anticipated album, “Balloonerism,” was released last week just over a decade after it was recorded.
This is Miller’s second posthumous release since his death in Sept. 2018. Miller recorded “Balloonerism” between 2013 and 2014, around the time he released his “Faces” mixtape.
Miller’s estate announced the album’s release on social media on Nov. 21, 2024. The estate also teased the album at Camp Flog Gnaw on Nov. 16, 2024, a festival Miller appeared at throughout his career. Most of the 14 songs on “Balloonerism” have never been heard and are thought to be Miller’s last archived project.
Mac Miller was well known for his Pittsburgh roots. His first album’s titular location, “Blue Slide Park,” now houses a memorial site for the rapper.
Miller’s newly-released album stands out from his discography due to its unique production. This album focuses a lot on Miller’s experience with drug abuse and addiction. In songs like “Mrs. Deborah Downer,” he speaks about pills filling a void in his life and money coming with sadness. He states that he chases the high when he feels at his lowest.
Miller states in “Destination,” “Do you have a destination / I gave my life to this sh*t already killed myself.” The album explores Miller’s struggle with depression resulting from his fame.
Songs like “Stoned” and “Shangri La” are more relatable for the audience as they talk about Miller’s romantic relationships as a narrative.
This album’s production quality is incredible, and the lyrics only add to that. Songs like “Excelsior” are unique in their production with sound overlay of children playing while Miller reflects on innocence perfectly layered on the track.
Most of “Balloonerism” gives a glimpse into the struggles Miller went through. The album, released after his accidental drug overdose, focuses on the struggle and reliance on drugs and Miller’s feelings on emptiness. The uplifting background music and unique instrument use such as the harp and organ adds to the ominous feeling.
“Things never end up working out / I asked God to take me on a perfect day / there is no such thing as freedom,” conveys Miller’s hopelessness. This album was recorded almost four years before his overdose but shows Miller’s desire for freedom in death.
The album does end on a more uplifting note in the song “Rick’s Piano” including lyrics like “It gets better soon / the best is yet to come.”
Overall, this album in its production and experimental circumstances exceeds fan expectations. The production gives the album a perfect sound. Being even more meaningful having been released after his death.
