Mac Miller, Swimming | Album Review 💿

Mac Miller returns with arguably the most personal, honest, and mature album of his career with his fifth studio album, ‘Swimming.’

After releasing three singles initially unattached to a project (“Programs”, “Buttons”, and “Small Worlds”), Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller finally announced a new album.  Swimming marks his fifth studio album, arriving two years after the solid, if uncharacteristic The Divine Feminine (2016). 2018 has been turbulent for Miller, who endured a break-up with Ariana Grande, not to mention an arrest for a DUI and hit and run in California. Despite the bad, he channels his energy on the personal and reflective Swimming. 

“Come Back to Earth”

Talk about a mood, “Come Back to Earth” kicks off Swimming in mellow, yet ‘heavy’ fashion.  Miller seems to be in the midst of storm, and filled with regret about the mistakes he’s made. “Oh, the things I’d do / To spend a little time in hell / And what I won’t tell you / I prolly never even tell myself.” “Come Back to Earth” is a terrific opener that superbly sets the tone for Swimming.  For those who need a bit more punch – a beat to anchor things down – he follows up with “Hurt Feelings”. Though it still lays back, “Hurt Feelings” packs more energy and punch. It’s great to hear Miller spitting bars. 

“What’s the Use?” 

“I’m so above from beyond you take the drugs to make it up / Way up where we on, space, shuttle, Elon.”  “What’s the Use?” is a prime example of Miller being authentic and getting personal.  The results are awesome on this groovy cut, which features throwback, soulful production.  Notably, he’s assisted with background vocals by Thundercat, Snoop Dogg, and Syd. On the chorus, he pop-raps about alcohol making him incredibly reminiscent. On the verses, his relationship and break-up with Ariana Grande seems to fuel his rhymes. He mentions the haters trying to bring him down on the second verse: “Look how far we came, still they throwin’ dirt on my name / But it never worried my brain.” Besides the authenticity that he showcases, the record is hypnotic.

The concept of swimming continues on the lush “Perfecto” – “I’m treading water, I swear / That if I drown I don’t care.”  The song seems to explore an ‘imperfect’ relationship and Miller’s substance abuse.  At the end, he states, “She put me back together when I’m out of order / Perfect.” AG?

“Self Care”

“I switched the time zone, but what do I know? / Spending nights hitchhikin’, where will I go?” Some of Miller’s life experiences seem to fuel “Self Care”. Following the moody instrumental intro, he delivers the aforementioned, sung chorus, which is mysterious and quirky, partially because of the imperfect pitch.  For half of the first verse, he drops straight, unpitched bars, though the pitch returns.  While his singing isn’t as strong as his rapping, the singing adds to the vulnerability characterizing this particular song, partially referencing a break-up.

On the second verse, he mentions his DUI: “That Mercedes drove me crazy, I was speedin’.” Prior to the third verse, there’s a beat switch, with the tempo slackening as Miller speaks on his state of oblivion (“I was, thinking too much, got stuck in oblivion”). To be relatively simple lyrically, “Self Care” is complex at the same time. All in all, this is an emotional record that successfully captures Miller’s current headspace and status in rap.

On the slow, continually reflective “Wings,” Miller seems to be in a better place mentally. A number of lyrics point to a more optimistic outlook, such as “Never felt so damn good where I’m at,” as well as “The sun is shinin’, I can look at the horizon.” While he’s on a ‘high’ on the groovy, mid-tempo “Ladders,” he knows that the comedown is inevitable. Clearly, he wants to preserve things. “Somehow we gotta find a way / No matter how many miles it takes / I know it feels so good right now / But it all come fallin’ down.” Miller’s flow, and the horns are huge selling points.

“Small Worlds”

“No need for shame, I get more peace at slow speeds.” “Small Worlds”,one of three singles released prior to the announcement of Swimming, was the only one to make the album.  Mac Miller’s nonchalant, chilled-out attitude is quite effective.  Beyond his mellowness, he has a superb backdrop to work with, in all its soulful glory.  The old-school production is representative of soulful sounds of Pennsylvania and the East Coast rap sound. Like “What’s the Use” earlier, it’s hypnotic, feeling and sounding ‘faded.’ There is notable a change of pace within the last minute, where he’s accompanied by piano and finger snaps, while his rhymes pack a bit more punch.  There’s plenty to dig about “Small Worlds.”

“Conversation, Pt. 1” finds Miller speaking about being judged by others since becoming famous.  He makes it clear to the haters, “It ain’t your money till you make it / Otherwise, it’s just a conversation.” Also, notably, on the first verse, he’s addressed about his reckless lifestyle (“All you do is sit around the house getting faded”). It’s a thoughtful moment, among many appearing throughout Swimming. “Dunno” has a previous relationship written all over it.  That previous relationship seems to be Ariana Grande, though of course, he doesn’t mention her directly.

“Jet Fuel”

“Now I’m in the clouds, come down when I run out of jet fuel / But I never run out of jet fuel.” Expectedly, Mac Miller is in ‘beast mode’ on “Jet Fuel,” which encompasses both his glow and swagger, as well as his substance abuse. It’s lengthy, but easily among the crowning achievements on Swimming. Penultimate joint “2009” finds Miller examining his life since getting into the rap game and releasing his first project.  “It ain’t 2009 no more / Yeah, I know what’s behind that door.”  “So It Goes,” the third-straight, five-minute-plus number, closes Swimming out, continuing to reflect on life, where he came from, the mistakes he’s made, and where he goes from here.  He sums it up perfectly with the titular phrase and a more carefree, ‘it is what it is’ attitude.

Final Thoughts 

Mac Miller has come a long way from being an immature kid with a pretty sick flow.  Listen to Blue Slide Park (2011) against Swimming (2018) and the maturity he’s rapping with now is on a totally different level.  The authenticity, honesty, and blend of more abstract and direct rhymes truly makes Swimming a great album.  Sometimes it feels bogged down with heaviness – 58 minutes is a lot of reflection – but never does he miss the mark.  It could use a feature or two to mix things up, but all in all, a strong LP.

Gems: “What’s the Use?”, “Self Care,” “Small Worlds,” “Conversation, Pt. 1” & “Jet Fuel”   

Mac Miller • Swimming • Warner Bros. • Release: 8.3.18

Photo Credit: Warner Bros.