Mac Miller, Circles | Album Review 💿

Mac Miller left the world at the untimely age of 26, but he leaves quite an addition to his discography with posthumous album, Circles.

It’s hard to believe that Mac Miller passed away September 7, 2018.  Quite a talented musician, his output during his short lifetime of 26 years was quite intriguing.  I’ll never forget being excited when his debut album, Blue Slide Park arrived back in 2011, bringing a youthful, fresh, and energetic personality into hip-hop.  Of course, he’d released mixtapes prior to that effort.  Miller is gone, but his legacy and music live on, something that his 2020 posthumous album, Circles showcases capably. Posthumous albums can be hit or miss, but Circles, which was in the works prior to his untimely death, is quite soundly executed overall.

“Circles”

“Well, this is what it looks like right before you fall…” Wow – that’s a moving, impactful opening lyric on title track and opener, ✓ “Circles.” “Circles” kicks off with light production work.  The sound has an alternative or indie sensibility, something one would most often associate with a singer/songwriter.  This truly sets the tone for Circles as a whole.  In regard to his performance, Mac Miller sings as opposed to rapping.  Miller has sung at various times throughout his career, including his Grammy-nominated album, Swimming, so it’s not surprising to hear him fully commit to pitch.  He takes a low-key, reflective approach to his performance, which is part of the charm.

✓ “Complicated,” the second track off of Circles, has more oomph in regard to the production work. Where “Circles” was more indie, “Complicated” adds some synths – a bit more of a contemporary, and urban touch.  Still, this is Mac Miller in singer/songwriter mode. He continues to show off his singing voice.  More notably, he continues to be reflective: “Inside my head is getting pretty cluttered / I try, but can’t clean up this mess I made…” The chorus, the centerpiece, sums up his state of mind at the time of recording this record:

“Without any complications
Does it always gotta, does it always
Gotta be so complicated?
Well, I’m way too young to be getting’ old.”

“Blue World”

Following to consecutive Jon Brion co-productions, Guy Lawrence takes over the production on the most ‘hip-hop’ cut on Circles up to this point, “Blue World.” “Blue World” sports more of the flow we associate with Miller, even as he continues to sing.  That said, here, Miller is more melodic-/pop-rap, which is a nice contrast within the context of Circles. Furthermore, things are saltier, with a couple of colorful words thrown in (“Okay, cool as fall feather / Fuck the bullshit I’m here to make it all better”).  Even with more of that Miller swagger in play, “Blue World” continues to explore the power of the mind (“Well, this mad world made me crazy / Might just turn around, do one-eighty”).

✓ 🤩“Good News” is the crowning achievement of Circles, period.  Another Jon Brion co-production, the sound of “Good News” is quite refined, with plucked strings, a subtle, but highly effective, dusty drum groove, soulful electric guitar, and superb, if modest keyboard/synthesizer touches. It’s quite ear-catching, even if it floats, opting for restraint as opposed to being dynamic.

Beyond the backdrop, Miller is on-point, continuing to be reflective. “I spent the whole day in my head / Do a little spring cleanin’,” he raps on the first verse, continuing, “I’m always too busy dreamin’, yeah / Well, maybe I should wake up instead.” On the second verse, he asks, “Why I gotta build something beautiful just too go set in on fire?” Quite deep and incredibly relatable.   The third verse is quite chilling and eerie, with the key lyric, “There’s a whole lot more for me waitin’ on the other side…”  The centerpiece, expectedly, is the chorus:

“Good news, good news, good news
That’s all they wanna hear
No, they don’t like you when I’m down
But when I’m flying, oh
It make ‘em so uncomfortable
So different, what’s the difference.” 

Listening to “Good News” in particular, it’s easy to be saddened knowing that Miller is no longer with us; he had so much to offer.  “Good News” is the total realization of his talent.

“I Can See”

✓ “I Can See” is another instance of hip-hop and indie/alternative Mac Miller co-existing. How so? While the production continues to be refined, there’s enough aggressiveness (clapping snares, and dizzying synths) that give it that hip-hop bite.  Miller continues his melodic trek, which is quite beautiful even if few might consider him, say, an elite singer.  “I Can See” benefits from a gorgeous chorus to complement the stunning production.

✓ “Everybody” caps off the first half of Circles quite respectably.  Rather than drop an original, Miller surprises with an Arthur Lee cover (“Everybody’s Gotta Live”).  Although it dates back to 1972, Miller makes this soulful cut sound quite fresh; his mellow singing vocals are perfectly suited.  The production isn’t overdone, anchored by drums, a robust bass line, and piano.

“Woods”

Mac Miller never gets too high on follow-up, “Woods.” Even though he’s chilled out and mellow, he reflects on matters of the heart.  “Hate love, heartbreak will have you bankrupt,” he asserts on the second verse, continuing, “Too many days in a daze, better wake up.” With much of Circles dominated by his more melodic side, it’s nice to hear him weave in some un-pitched rhymes as well.

Sure, “Good News” is the ‘king’ of Circles, but ✓ “Hand Me Downs” represents another absolutely awesome moment.  There’s a nice blend of alternative/indie soul, singer/songwriter, and hip-hop.  Miller continues to be on autopilot, never overreaching with his voice, yet being incredibly potent in regard to his performance.  After singing the first verse, he serves up a pretty sweet, rapped second verse, which sounds amazing over the subtle, but brilliantly executed production work. Also, worth mentioning, Baro Sura performs the chorus – a nice contrast to Miller, who sings the pre-chorus prior.

“Time moving slowly, I’m bouncing my head off the wall / I know nobody that knows where we’re going at all.” “That’s on Me” is another interesting moment from Circles.  It’s not the tour de forces of “Good News” or “Hand Me Downs,” yet it’s another sight to behold.  The chorus is simple, but both accountable and elegantly sung by Miller.  The production, another Brion collaboration, once more places the rapper/singer between genres – alternative/indie, R&B/soul, and singer/songwriter.

“Hands”

“Yeah, don’t need no chauffeur, fuck the backseat / No, I stay behind the wheel and never half-speed.” Something that is surprising is how few songs on Circles are explicit.  Miller certainly hasn’t refrained from cursing in the past, but there’s generally a greater maturity exhibited.  That said, “Hands” is one of the few songs that finds an f-bomb (or two or three) in play. Also, worth noting, it’s one of the few exclusively rap moments from Circles.  He’s entitled to a salty word or two, right?

Penultimate joint “Surf” moves beyond hip-hop, once more, finding Miller showing off his singing over the course of five-and-a-half minutes.  This slow-paced cut runs long, yet the soulful vibe is definitely worthwhile without question.  The music is beautiful, and “Surf” is perfectly suited for an instrumental outro.  “Once a Day” concludes Circles hypnotically.   How so? On the brief number, Miller’s vocals just suck you in, as does the simple, yet perfectly suited production work.

Final Thoughts

Sigh, Mac Miller, are you really gone? Ah, it’s sad all over again, listening to the incredible musicianship he exhibits throughout Circles.  Circles isn’t a lighthearted hip-hop album, and definitely contrasts his earlier, arguably more fun works. That said, this particular project is easily his most mature, and shows where he was going next in his career had he lived.  The “good news” is that despite his untimely death at the age of 26, the legacy of Miller lives on.  Circles is a superb addition to his discography.  It’s not perfect, but it’s pretty damn good if I do say so myself.

✓ Gems: “Circles,” “Complicated,” “Blue World,”  🤩 “Good News,” “I Can See,” “Everybody” & “Hand Me Downs”

Mac Miller • Circles • Warner • Release: 1.17.20

Photo Credit: Warner