I’d personally listen to his whole discography overtime, you’ll get to see how he perfected his sound/craft. It’ll be worth it because swimming and circles are stunning albums
I 1000% agree. Even watch a few of his early music videos from KIDS and then watch a few videos from Watching Movies With the Sound Off. Then finish it off with perfection with Swimming and Circles. You really need to listen to it all to get the full picture.
@@EvanVanderVeen Kool-aid and Frozen Pizza was the first happy song that I heard of his. I loved hearing him evolve. I still cry when I realize he isn't still making music on our plane. ❤
This. exactly this. this is where he needs to go next , literally my fave project from him, besides macadelic . Watching movies with the sound off is the peak of the digital age of modern era rap/hip-hop no one else has trumped this project , maybe you could argue kdot or cole, drake but nah man nothing compares
Found Mac from KIDS when it dropped in 2010, then his Blue Slide Park album dropped and I wasn't feeling it at all. Once he dropped Macadelic he got my attention again then Watching Movies changed everything. I hope he checks that out next!
Same, I was in a post-hardcore band when Watching Movies came out and it completely changed my preference on music from rock to hip hop and I’ve never looked back
This mixtape is the most depressing and beautiful humanizing piece of art I have experienced in my 30 years on earth… this fucking kid was just… I get the Jay Z tweet
I listened to him since i was a kid so i saw his whole evolution. If i started with Faces, i would work backwards until KIDS and then once you finish that, start at GOOD AM and go to the end. You really can see where he flipped a switch. GOOD AM was the first album on a major label and the albums that follow. I hope his music gives you all the joy and feelings that it has for many of us.
GO:OD AM, Swimming & Circles are on repeat in the truck every day. Three albums that helped me with my depression. Like you, I’m straight-edged but Mac’s musicality is what brought me in. How much of a perfectionist he was, how articulate his beats were, his singing voice (I love the imperfections that make it perfect).
Therapy, for me at least, is a literal break in the album- he goes to therapy while being asked “how’s it feel” by his therapist. People who go to therapy usually tend to tell a happier story while there, hence the upbeat happier tone. Love the review, love the album
There's a strong duality in the hook. On one hand, it's a flex. "How's it feel hanging around someone as dope as me?" At the same time, there's a tenseness, a tone of social anxiety and insecurity. A concern if people like him or not.
Faces blew my mind when I first heard it, I was in 7th grade and for years I’ve always came back. I’m 21, and to believe he made this at 22 is amazing, this body of work is so expressive and honest! The project is like that quote “if you stare long enough into the darkness, it’ll stare back at you” and that’s how I think of this album! The art is like a dark creative abyss and I love it honestly. Grand finale, polo jeans, new faces, the whole damn thing is beautiful. Rest in power to Larry fisherman🙏🏽
The bonus track apparently was a song he made back when he made faces. Its great and it absolutely could have been on faces originally and would have been one of the high points in my opinion.
Blue Slide Park was in my opinion his take off project. K.I.D.S is heavily underrated and Macadelic is like a euphoric experience of audio stimulation. Recommend checking out his older works to see how far he’s come compared to his newer stuff off GO:OD A.M up to Circles
Appreciate you covering Mac. I grew up along with him and he felt like a big brother at times, and that friend you wish to help but can't at other times. It was sad to watch him spiral, and I genuinely feel like he was pretty close to making it out of the cycle when he died. If you watch his interview with Zane Lowe, that was recorded shortly before he passed upon the release of his album Swimming, and he seemed to be in pretty positive spirits compared to some of the darkness in his previous records. That said, his best hip hop albums are this and Watching Movies With The Sound Off, and his best r&b/neo-soul stuff can be found on Swimming & Circles (which should both definitely be listened to as one final collective piece in my opinion). There's great moments all throughout his discography, but those are the 4 records I turn to most. RIP Mac.
Circles (his last album he was working on when he passed) is the album I’d recommend if you only listen to one more Mac album. It’s incredible and very different from faces. It’s amazing his musical transitions throughout his life.
He actually says “love me, love me that fentanyl it numbs me, beautiful it gets ugly, turn you into a junkie” on the song someone like you on the watching movies with the sound off album
Faces to me is like a story about starting life, going through the ups and downs of different addictions, and death (which is typically how his albums are structured like). Ever since it came out back in 2014, it's been one of my favorite projects of all time. You should definitely listen to the bonus track as it's like the ending credits to a marvel movie, but it's bittersweet. The song's main background is like he's in purgatory and questioning if he is actually dead and accepting his grand finale or is he going through drug withdrawal and feels like death to the point where he's starting the circle of life all over again. Contextually, for me, it fits perfectly to the album and make it even more complete than it was before.
Happy Birthday to Ave Maria is my favorite 5 track run of any project ever. it is possibly one of the most raw and cohesive commentaries on existentialism that i've ever heard.
A two part discussion about his final two albums swimming and circles (swimming in circles is the connection there of course) would be fascinating. Furthers and completes the narrative of self hatred and his eventual building frustration with the world around him but the peace he’s come to with his unrest. A touching and fitting send off for one of the most influential artists from my adolescence
on the original release he uses samples from Bukowski speaking(on Wedding) and a scene from the film Gummo( on Polo Jeans). Definitely worth it to hunt down the original versions, adds even more layers to the vibe and story.
swimming and circles are both essential projects to understanding the mindset of an artist who tragically understood the dead end situation that he found himself in as a product of the hip hop industry
Having grown up with mac miller, part of what makes him so important to me as a hip-hop fan is how he constantly improved and put so much energy in his artistic craft. Faces is an amazing mixtape, probably my favorite work of Mac's, but all of his projects contain songs which are at the very least nice to listen and (more consistently as he got older) artistically genius music. Hope you can get around to listening to some other works of his. You definitely chose the realest, rawest, and most emotional of his works to listen to first. Most of his other works are not as dark, but are still awesome!
The thing about Mac Miller is the way his music career progressed, you really get the impression that he just wanted people to be happy, even while he's depressed. He started off kind of making party music before diving more into sensuality, and then cementing himself as a more introspective artist. Mac Miller's last album and first posthumous album (Swimming and Circles) were, i.m.o., his most well-written, and also his most emotionally naked. I don't watch much Dead End Hip Hop, but I do think there is meaning to them saying Swimming was too depressing for them to cover because they were concerned for Mac Miller's mental health. I have not heard this mixtape yet, but if it's exactly as you describe, this is probably like a prototype for the direction he was going to head in later.
You’re going to be blown away by the progression of his sound and talent throughout every release. I’m 25 and grew up not too for from where he did but never knew him. I was 14 when he was making more college raps in his early projects that I liked at the time and it was almost like a I matured and grew up with him almost. My music taste expanded as his did. There is absolutely nothing I can say to justify how talented he really was. Above all of that though, an ANAZING person. So kind hearted, funny, and humble. God damn it I’m crying
Faces, to me, is the greatest album ever recorded. Lots of other great albums are moving, grand, powerful but very few are so tangibly human as Faces. As a teen who had started drinking by himself to deal with an absence of community and a weird sense of existential dread, I credit Faces with making me realise that self destruction was a very real threat in my life, and helped me steer clear. Today I am 26, doing good, partner, apartment etc all on lock. The first time I met my girlfriend was on a dancefloor while Dang! was playing. It bums me out endlessly that I made it out of the slump when Mac couldn't. I guess having money and unlimited access to drugs is a dangerous lace for someone with self-destructive tendencies. RIP Mac for eternity. They'll be playing Colors and Shapes at my funeral.
I'd definitely go in order, one of the best parts of his discography is how each adapts his sound for each album. Watching Movies is great, but I'd probably say continue from Faces into Good AM, Divine Feminine, Swimming, then Circles. Really would not recommend jumping into Circles without hearing all that came before
You need to go back. To The High Life and KIDS and Blue Slide Park. Watch Mac go from young party kid to a depressed young adult who has more demons than he can handle
@@insertnamehere3363 At that point just listen to his whole discog, including macadelic and I love life. And to the OP, most definitely do not recommend anybody skip watching movies with the sound off. Such an important turning point.
@@foolycooly3763 I’ve listened to Mac and Delusional Thomas and Larry Fisherman’s mixtapes and albums. If he made videos on at least every Mac Miller Album not even mixtapes that would be awesome
I got into Mac's music shortly after his passing and was introduced to SWIMMING. As a person of a certain age ( Gen X) i grew up on 90s Hip Hop/ Rap i.e. Nas, Biggie, Wu- Tang (clearly I'm from the East Coast 🤭) I prejudged him and his work and never gave him a chance, im Ashamed 😞. Simultaneously Blew My Mind and Broke my heart. Production, Lyrics, Arrangements are all on Point. Circles, The Divine Feminine, K.I.D.S. , just a few of his many great projects.
i find your videos very interesting its very rare i find someone who does analysis type stuff on you tube that i constantly disagree with but is so compelling i have to hear them out ,especially with something that has so much discourse black holes as hip hop. why aren't my professors this cool
36:30 the saddest part of his whole story was that from the outside he was seemingly starting that redemption arc. GO:OD AM the studio release just this project dealt with a lot of the same issues. The divine feminine was sort of his tribute to the idea of love. And Swimming is where he really seemed to confront his issues with addiction and not just acknowledge them. Based on what's been made public is that he wasnt on some crazy bender when he passed but instead took drugs that were laced with fentanyl. He was getting ready to go on a very intimate tour for Swimming with Thundercat and it just seemed like he was making it through to the light at the end of the tunnel. Forever my favorite artist and I hope people can learn from his story.
Somehow you popped up on my algorithm and I'm glad you did. Mac Miller will forever be one of my favorite artists. The level of evolution he went through musically is remarkable. To me, he is a friend in my head, a friend I never met in real life. Love your commentary and open mindedness.
I appreciate you listening and reviewing and putting your time into Macs music. It’s so nice to see someone getting into his music because it is so personal and has saved my life. It continues to do so. Sharing that with someone else is even more beautiful. I respect what you’re doing and I suggest that you start with “KIDS” and make your way to “Circles” because it showcases his developing ability to fully express himself in his music. Kids is great music and The rest work up to Circles which is his soul.
His whole discography is diverse and evolves, as he does as an artist. Whatever you do listen to Circle last. It shows where he was going as a singer/songwriter, he was a musical genius.
You really did yourself a disservice by not listening to the bonus track, its amazing. Also, as a recovered addict, listening to straight edge ppl discuss drug use is like being an astronaut hearing someone talk about space whos never left the earth. Ease up on the preaching, my dude.
diablo is actually a diss track to kendrick, cuz kendrick did a verse on "control" on big seans song , and its macs response, since he got called out he had to respond the opening line is "the bar gets raised up, its just me and petey pablo "
haha mac actually has a track that was released on soundcloud in 2014 that’s titled “erica’s house”. in the intro of the track he says, “Stop fucking calling me Macklemore That's not my name Well, kind of, it's kind of my name” mac would’ve chuckled at your confusion. awesome vids man, keep it up!
Okay but skipping the bonus track was a big mistake. I would said anything added to faces would ruin it a weak ago. However, 8:21am was my favorite leak and a gift from his family to actually officially release it. I think you would be blown away.
I definitely think you'd like his other albums! My personal favorites are The Devine Feminine and Swimming, though you really couldn't go wrong with anything from his discography
His posthumous album Circles is a total masterpiece, and I think it is what you should listen to next. It is Faces and Circles which will go down as more or less undisputed classics. I also love GO:OD AM, such a fun and easy to listen to pop rap album. Interestingly just a year after Faces. He started to sound like he was getting better based on the lyrical content of his albums from there. His death hit me harder than any other celebrity's... I also had a great time watching "La Planète sauvage" for the first time and realising he sampled the main theme on "Insomniak". An interesting tidbit for you perhaps as a French professor!
This was great man, I love to see new Mac heads joining the club. If you enjoyed and perceive faces as a project about depression, you probably should give a listen to Swimming (in) & Circles, but every damn album of Mac is soul food.
Thanks for your insight, Mr Skye. Especially breaking down a few lyrics here is an interesting point of view from a kind of "outsider" (from the Mac realm). Cheers to you.
This is my favorite album of all time and it took 2 years after he passed before I could actually listen to it again without crying. "A shame that my tragedy my masterpiece"
This is a really nice opinion. Thank you to Professor skye for your thoughtful input. Ave Maria and San Francisco do wonderfully demonstrate Mac's ability to produce, and his skill in lyricism. They were my personal favorites aswell. His legacy lives on through his music, and I'm glad to see that this re-release has brought him some well deserved recognition.
Please do his whole discography. His art is so diverse and personal. It’s so intricate and deep. It’s so powerful and moving…. I, as a total stranger, beg you :)
First video I’ve seen on your page. Mac was on my playlist when I was in high school drinking all the time. I didn’t really listen to him just knew a couple songs. In Jan 2020 my uncle took his life and the album ‘Circles’ came out shortly after. There’s not a day since I haven’t listened to mac. The emotional response you had to Wedding, man I don’t feel like that song anymore but I have. I wonder how you’ll like his love related songs on other albums. This is amazing but definitely not all there is to him. Take the time even if you don’t use it for content. It’s worth it
highly highly highly suggest listening to the bonus song it's a masterpiece itself, honestly made my top 5 of songs in faces for me. I was expecting a lot for the bonus track and it excelled my expectations. its a really nice song
Very excited to hear your "homework" was Ave Maria!!! My personal favorite Mac song Shame the reissue didnt include the audio interludes of Bukowski and Hunter s thompson that were on the original release but glad the masses get to hear this classic
Good video professor, appreciate your take on this, I pretty much feel the same tbh. I'm glad Ave Maria is your favorite, I'd say it's one of mine too.
Great review. I definitely recommend checking out more of his discography. Especially ‘the divine feminine,’ ‘watching movies with the sound off’, and the elusive mixtape ‘i love life, thank you.’ Cheers, professor!
Honestly, his discography has the type of character arch you typically only read in the greatest novels of all time. When he mentions on Faces that he's ashamed that his tragedy is his masterpiece is so hauntingly accurate in retrospect. Being as you started at Faces, move forward, you'll see the arch. Then once you finish Circles you can treat the rest of his earlier body of work as a prequel.
Personally I love the last 3 albums (not inc. posthumous Circles) - GOOD:AM, The Divine Feminine & Swimming. Faces & WMWTSO I need to spend time taking in again.. I know they are masterpieces. I even love tracks off Blue Slide Park & of course KIDS!
i suggest you listen to Mac’s entire discography so you can get his whole evolution of the way he makes music through his career because it changes a lot over time.
Circles and Swimming are my two favorite albums of his. I have Circles on vinyl and it’s beautiful. Only album I don’t think is really important to listen to in his discography is Blue Slide Park.
"Some of the songs capture that playful energy. “Thumbalina,” a favorite for Berg, came about as a humorous response to complaints by Mac’s stuffy neighbors, who banded together to request he move. Berg showed him a Beastie Boys sample with the line “They got a committee to get me off the block,” and Miller brandished his trollish wit on the uptempo track." -GQ article of the making of Faces
I was the same age as Mac Miller and felt like I grew with him in a weird way. Same personal issues. My brother died of fetynol 3 months after Mac did. I was always a fan, but Swimming/Circles, along with the timing just brought it to a whole new level. Thank God we were able to get the music from him that we did.
you should listen to "Swimming" and "Circles" albuns. they are companions albuns and goes really really deep into his addiction and self-knowledge of his mind
@ 13:42 Mac actually does refer to himself as a rough rider on the song Suplexes Inside of Complexes and Duplexes from watching movies with the sound off, which might be a good next-listen. one of my fav deep cuts
Fantastic review. I had never considered the premise of the 'invitation', and it clicks with me. I always feel like Mac is someone I've known forever but just haven't seen in a while. E: I would suggest listening to the new track, it's very good.
As someone who is sober from drugs...when you're in the middle of your addiction all you think about is death and you accept the fact that you'll die from drugs. Its a thought and feeling that is always there. BTW you need to check out swimming and circles. Circles was released posthumously and the albums are companion pieces
Another great review, really love watching you analyse these records. I would definitely suggest listening to swimming and circles. His evolution is really on display and themes of mental health are even more present Edit: also the drug themes aren't as present as he is more mature and tried to be sober
Each Mac project has a completely different sound. We don’t often see RUclipsrs go back to Kids and go from there so it’d be interesting for you to dive into his breakout mixtape KIDS.
If you do decide to continue your Mac Miller journey, id recommend u get to Swimming. His last album he released while he was live, just a month before his death. He truly did sound like he was an inch away from sobriety and it was beautiful. I highly recommend it.
I came here from your kendrick and drake videos. I searched for Mac, and im very pleased to see you appreciate and compare him to such an amazing artis such as tupac. And the fact you appreciate kendrick. Please if you havent been listening to the other comments, listen to everything mac has done. Hes truly just an amazing human and i really wish he was still here to continue his legacy. Regardless he left us with amazing goated music that will always make me feel like we were connected.
Happy to see you enjoy one of my favorite artists, professor! I'd recommend checking The Divine Feminine next. It's an entirely different feel from this. It's a love/sex album with incredibly beautiful production. Very jazzy indeed!
Your description of wedding is funny to me because Mac uses women and love a lot as a metaphor for drugs…so basically your explanation was spot on just taken a bit to literally. Also the Happy Birthday, Wedding, and Funeral trio is representative of the 3 most important days of your life: birth, marriage, death. Also, you talk about how you feel as though his stories are true. San Francisco is literally about how he took acid on his birthday during a music festival in Australia lol.
the song happy birthday is a true story about one of his birthdays during the time he was recording faces. you should check out the short documentary they released for the reissue a couple weeks ago. its only about 6 minutes and provides a lot of context into the mind state and environment mac was in during the creation of the album
I’d personally listen to his whole discography overtime, you’ll get to see how he perfected his sound/craft. It’ll be worth it because swimming and circles are stunning albums
I 1000% agree. Even watch a few of his early music videos from KIDS and then watch a few videos from Watching Movies With the Sound Off. Then finish it off with perfection with Swimming and Circles. You really need to listen to it all to get the full picture.
@@EvanVanderVeen Kool-aid and Frozen Pizza was the first happy song that I heard of his. I loved hearing him evolve. I still cry when I realize he isn't still making music on our plane. ❤
You owe it to yourself to hear the rest. Swimming n circles are emotionally intimate masterpieces. Mac was a revolutionary beauty of a human being.
The “eat, drink, let the merry go round” line is also a double entendre. Marijuana is also referred to as Mary Jane. Mary go round= blunt rotation.
“Money is god”-2014, a guy that kicked incredibly dope shit
i was thinking of "eat, drink, and be merry" aswell merry-go round
Triple entendre
center stay still but the merry-go-round
sinners stay still but the mary go 'round
:O!!!!!! You just blew my mind. Thank you.
"Stop fucking calling me Macklemore
That's not my name
Well, kind of, it's kind of my name" - Mac on Erica's House in 2014
“Smoke till I’m asthmatic, embracing my bad habits. Traveling down a hole, I’m chasin a fast rabbit” underrated song for sure
Ooo look a salamander
Watching Movies With The Sound Off was the entry point for me. A Masterpiece.
This. exactly this. this is where he needs to go next , literally my fave project from him, besides macadelic . Watching movies with the sound off is the peak of the digital age of modern era rap/hip-hop no one else has trumped this project , maybe you could argue kdot or cole, drake but nah man nothing compares
Circles was my entry point. I was super late to the party. actually the party was over by the time I got there
Found Mac from KIDS when it dropped in 2010, then his Blue Slide Park album dropped and I wasn't feeling it at all. Once he dropped Macadelic he got my attention again then Watching Movies changed everything. I hope he checks that out next!
Same, I was in a post-hardcore band when Watching Movies came out and it completely changed my preference on music from rock to hip hop and I’ve never looked back
Mine was a little before best day ever dropped. Man its been a long time, shit.
This mixtape is the most depressing and beautiful humanizing piece of art I have experienced in my 30 years on earth… this fucking kid was just… I get the Jay Z tweet
the bonus track Yeah leaves you speechless
Greatest work of art ever created. This album is my life
Word
amen
I like jpegs
Everybody wanna be god besides god he wanna be like …
yeah i don't understand how this isn't in talks with the best hip-hop project ever. it stomps on anything else I've listened to
''One of them isn't very good, the other is Mac Miller'', I love this
DO HIS WHOLE DISCOGRAPHY PLEASE HES A GOAT
PLEASEEE
fr this is the best reveiw ive seen in a minute
Mac is the goat. Does this professor review all of his work? This was the first video I saw and clicked on it.
I listened to him since i was a kid so i saw his whole evolution. If i started with Faces, i would work backwards until KIDS and then once you finish that, start at GOOD AM and go to the end. You really can see where he flipped a switch. GOOD AM was the first album on a major label and the albums that follow. I hope his music gives you all the joy and feelings that it has for many of us.
Mac’s musical growth is something to behold. His early work was very fun and light hearted. Definitely go through his discography
Watching his progression is just something you had to be there for to really get it and relate.
RIP Mac
Word. I’m so greatful I was there for the whole journey and growing with him.
GO:OD AM, Swimming & Circles are on repeat in the truck every day. Three albums that helped me with my depression. Like you, I’m straight-edged but Mac’s musicality is what brought me in. How much of a perfectionist he was, how articulate his beats were, his singing voice (I love the imperfections that make it perfect).
his beats could be standalone pieces
I would also listen to the album “Watching Movies With The Sound Off”
Therapy, for me at least, is a literal break in the album- he goes to therapy while being asked “how’s it feel” by his therapist. People who go to therapy usually tend to tell a happier story while there, hence the upbeat happier tone. Love the review, love the album
There's a strong duality in the hook. On one hand, it's a flex. "How's it feel hanging around someone as dope as me?"
At the same time, there's a tenseness, a tone of social anxiety and insecurity. A concern if people like him or not.
Faces blew my mind when I first heard it, I was in 7th grade and for years I’ve always came back. I’m 21, and to believe he made this at 22 is amazing, this body of work is so expressive and honest! The project is like that quote “if you stare long enough into the darkness, it’ll stare back at you” and that’s how I think of this album! The art is like a dark creative abyss and I love it honestly. Grand finale, polo jeans, new faces, the whole damn thing is beautiful. Rest in power to Larry fisherman🙏🏽
The bonus track apparently was a song he made back when he made faces. Its great and it absolutely could have been on faces originally and would have been one of the high points in my opinion.
It’s good but I don’t think it sonically fits the project at all tbh
"my throwaways will trash ya" -mac
It's not faces era it's nearly a year older than recording of faces
@@thedirector684 a little less trippy but it fits the theme
Other mac albums you should definitely explore are Circles and Watching Movies with the Sound off
+good:am
Watching Movies is def the best introduction to him
@@royalwarlord2342 agreed
Blue Slide Park was in my opinion his take off project. K.I.D.S is heavily underrated and Macadelic is like a euphoric experience of audio stimulation. Recommend checking out his older works to see how far he’s come compared to his newer stuff off GO:OD A.M up to Circles
Appreciate you covering Mac. I grew up along with him and he felt like a big brother at times, and that friend you wish to help but can't at other times. It was sad to watch him spiral, and I genuinely feel like he was pretty close to making it out of the cycle when he died. If you watch his interview with Zane Lowe, that was recorded shortly before he passed upon the release of his album Swimming, and he seemed to be in pretty positive spirits compared to some of the darkness in his previous records.
That said, his best hip hop albums are this and Watching Movies With The Sound Off, and his best r&b/neo-soul stuff can be found on Swimming & Circles (which should both definitely be listened to as one final collective piece in my opinion). There's great moments all throughout his discography, but those are the 4 records I turn to most. RIP Mac.
Circles (his last album he was working on when he passed) is the album I’d recommend if you only listen to one more Mac album. It’s incredible and very different from faces. It’s amazing his musical transitions throughout his life.
He actually says “love me, love me that fentanyl it numbs me, beautiful it gets ugly, turn you into a junkie” on the song someone like you on the watching movies with the sound off album
Faces to me is like a story about starting life, going through the ups and downs of different addictions, and death (which is typically how his albums are structured like). Ever since it came out back in 2014, it's been one of my favorite projects of all time. You should definitely listen to the bonus track as it's like the ending credits to a marvel movie, but it's bittersweet. The song's main background is like he's in purgatory and questioning if he is actually dead and accepting his grand finale or is he going through drug withdrawal and feels like death to the point where he's starting the circle of life all over again. Contextually, for me, it fits perfectly to the album and make it even more complete than it was before.
Mac mentions fentanyl on Watching Movies With The Sound Off in a song called "Someone Like You"
My man, when you dropped Ave Maria as your fave track. that's the one
Mac Miller was brilliant!!!! Glad you’ve found him, hope you can enjoy and learn more of his work! 💙
Happy Birthday to Ave Maria is my favorite 5 track run of any project ever. it is possibly one of the most raw and cohesive commentaries on existentialism that i've ever heard.
I'm so glad faces is finally getting the recognition it rightfully deserves its one of the best works of art ever created
A two part discussion about his final two albums swimming and circles (swimming in circles is the connection there of course) would be fascinating. Furthers and completes the narrative of self hatred and his eventual building frustration with the world around him but the peace he’s come to with his unrest. A touching and fitting send off for one of the most influential artists from my adolescence
"to everyone who sells me drugs, don't mix it with that bullshit I'm hoping not to join the 27 club" -mac on "Brand Name"
on the original release he uses samples from Bukowski speaking(on Wedding) and a scene from the film Gummo( on Polo Jeans). Definitely worth it to hunt down the original versions, adds even more layers to the vibe and story.
swimming and circles are both essential projects to understanding the mindset of an artist who tragically understood the dead end situation that he found himself in as a product of the hip hop industry
Having grown up with mac miller, part of what makes him so important to me as a hip-hop fan is how he constantly improved and put so much energy in his artistic craft.
Faces is an amazing mixtape, probably my favorite work of Mac's, but all of his projects contain songs which are at the very least nice to listen and (more consistently as he got older) artistically genius music.
Hope you can get around to listening to some other works of his. You definitely chose the realest, rawest, and most emotional of his works to listen to first. Most of his other works are not as dark, but are still awesome!
The thing about Mac Miller is the way his music career progressed, you really get the impression that he just wanted people to be happy, even while he's depressed. He started off kind of making party music before diving more into sensuality, and then cementing himself as a more introspective artist.
Mac Miller's last album and first posthumous album (Swimming and Circles) were, i.m.o., his most well-written, and also his most emotionally naked.
I don't watch much Dead End Hip Hop, but I do think there is meaning to them saying Swimming was too depressing for them to cover because they were concerned for Mac Miller's mental health.
I have not heard this mixtape yet, but if it's exactly as you describe, this is probably like a prototype for the direction he was going to head in later.
You’re going to be blown away by the progression of his sound and talent throughout every release. I’m 25 and grew up not too for from where he did but never knew him. I was 14 when he was making more college raps in his early projects that I liked at the time and it was almost like a I matured and grew up with him almost. My music taste expanded as his did. There is absolutely nothing I can say to justify how talented he really was. Above all of that though, an ANAZING person. So kind hearted, funny, and humble. God damn it I’m crying
Faces, to me, is the greatest album ever recorded. Lots of other great albums are moving, grand, powerful but very few are so tangibly human as Faces.
As a teen who had started drinking by himself to deal with an absence of community and a weird sense of existential dread, I credit Faces with making me realise that self destruction was a very real threat in my life, and helped me steer clear. Today I am 26, doing good, partner, apartment etc all on lock. The first time I met my girlfriend was on a dancefloor while Dang! was playing.
It bums me out endlessly that I made it out of the slump when Mac couldn't. I guess having money and unlimited access to drugs is a dangerous lace for someone with self-destructive tendencies.
RIP Mac for eternity. They'll be playing Colors and Shapes at my funeral.
bro that's so dope, so happy for you!
I'd definitely go in order, one of the best parts of his discography is how each adapts his sound for each album.
Watching Movies is great, but I'd probably say continue from Faces into Good AM, Divine Feminine, Swimming, then Circles. Really would not recommend jumping into Circles without hearing all that came before
You need to go back. To The High Life and KIDS and Blue Slide Park. Watch Mac go from young party kid to a depressed young adult who has more demons than he can handle
@@insertnamehere3363 At that point just listen to his whole discog, including macadelic and I love life. And to the OP, most definitely do not recommend anybody skip watching movies with the sound off. Such an important turning point.
Don't forget about Macadelic
@@foolycooly3763 I’ve listened to Mac and Delusional Thomas and Larry Fisherman’s mixtapes and albums. If he made videos on at least every Mac Miller Album not even mixtapes that would be awesome
I got into Mac's music shortly after his passing and was introduced to SWIMMING. As a person of a certain age ( Gen X) i grew up on 90s Hip Hop/ Rap i.e. Nas, Biggie, Wu- Tang (clearly I'm from the East Coast 🤭)
I prejudged him and his work and never gave him a chance, im Ashamed 😞. Simultaneously Blew My Mind and Broke my heart. Production, Lyrics, Arrangements are all on Point.
Circles, The Divine Feminine, K.I.D.S. , just a few of his many great projects.
i find your videos very interesting its very rare i find someone who does analysis type stuff on you tube that i constantly disagree with but is so compelling i have to hear them out ,especially with something that has so much discourse black holes as hip hop. why aren't my professors this cool
36:30 the saddest part of his whole story was that from the outside he was seemingly starting that redemption arc. GO:OD AM the studio release just this project dealt with a lot of the same issues. The divine feminine was sort of his tribute to the idea of love. And Swimming is where he really seemed to confront his issues with addiction and not just acknowledge them. Based on what's been made public is that he wasnt on some crazy bender when he passed but instead took drugs that were laced with fentanyl. He was getting ready to go on a very intimate tour for Swimming with Thundercat and it just seemed like he was making it through to the light at the end of the tunnel. Forever my favorite artist and I hope people can learn from his story.
Somehow you popped up on my algorithm and I'm glad you did. Mac Miller will forever be one of my favorite artists. The level of evolution he went through musically is remarkable. To me, he is a friend in my head, a friend I never met in real life. Love your commentary and open mindedness.
He is a legend. That is why.
I appreciate you listening and reviewing and putting your time into Macs music. It’s so nice to see someone getting into his music because it is so personal and has saved my life. It continues to do so. Sharing that with someone else is even more beautiful. I respect what you’re doing and I suggest that you start with “KIDS” and make your way to “Circles” because it showcases his developing ability to fully express himself in his music. Kids is great music and The rest work up to Circles which is his soul.
His whole discography is diverse and evolves, as he does as an artist. Whatever you do listen to Circle last. It shows where he was going as a singer/songwriter, he was a musical genius.
You really did yourself a disservice by not listening to the bonus track, its amazing. Also, as a recovered addict, listening to straight edge ppl discuss drug use is like being an astronaut hearing someone talk about space whos never left the earth. Ease up on the preaching, my dude.
I love that you keep it real and aren't afraid to speak your mind, you earned a new sub
Mannnn, you have to listen to the bonus track. It's a whole experience in itself.
diablo is actually a diss track to kendrick, cuz kendrick did a verse on "control" on big seans song , and its macs response, since he got called out he had to respond the opening line is "the bar gets raised up, its just me and petey pablo "
haha mac actually has a track that was released on soundcloud in 2014 that’s titled “erica’s house”. in the intro of the track he says,
“Stop fucking calling me Macklemore
That's not my name
Well, kind of, it's kind of my name”
mac would’ve chuckled at your confusion.
awesome vids man, keep it up!
Okay but skipping the bonus track was a big mistake. I would said anything added to faces would ruin it a weak ago. However, 8:21am was my favorite leak and a gift from his family to actually officially release it. I think you would be blown away.
That bonus track was one of the best tracks in his discography
I almost fainted when you said you haven’t listen to MF DOOM. Please do yourself this service, and listen to Madvilliany by him. You will love it.
I definitely think you'd like his other albums! My personal favorites are The Devine Feminine and Swimming, though you really couldn't go wrong with anything from his discography
His posthumous album Circles is a total masterpiece, and I think it is what you should listen to next. It is Faces and Circles which will go down as more or less undisputed classics. I also love GO:OD AM, such a fun and easy to listen to pop rap album. Interestingly just a year after Faces. He started to sound like he was getting better based on the lyrical content of his albums from there. His death hit me harder than any other celebrity's...
I also had a great time watching "La Planète sauvage" for the first time and realising he sampled the main theme on "Insomniak". An interesting tidbit for you perhaps as a French professor!
This was great man, I love to see new Mac heads joining the club. If you enjoyed and perceive faces as a project about depression, you probably should give a listen to Swimming (in) & Circles, but every damn album of Mac is soul food.
Also, not giving the bonus a listen is understandable, but it’s fantastic. The production is incredible.
Thanks for your insight, Mr Skye. Especially breaking down a few lyrics here is an interesting point of view from a kind of "outsider" (from the Mac realm). Cheers to you.
This is my favorite album of all time and it took 2 years after he passed before I could actually listen to it again without crying.
"A shame that my tragedy my masterpiece"
This is a really nice opinion. Thank you to Professor skye for your thoughtful input. Ave Maria and San Francisco do wonderfully demonstrate Mac's ability to produce, and his skill in lyricism. They were my personal favorites aswell. His legacy lives on through his music, and I'm glad to see that this re-release has brought him some well deserved recognition.
Mac is my favorite artist ever and insrpired me to make my own. this review made me cry. thank you for giving him a chance.
Please do his whole discography. His art is so diverse and personal. It’s so intricate and deep. It’s so powerful and moving…. I, as a total stranger, beg you :)
Oh and it’s all so technically impressive. He was a multi-instrumentalist and played a huge role in the creation of every sound on all of his projects
He was also just a beautiful soul. Rest easy Mac, you were too good for this world. 💘🕊
First video I’ve seen on your page. Mac was on my playlist when I was in high school drinking all the time. I didn’t really listen to him just knew a couple songs. In Jan 2020 my uncle took his life and the album ‘Circles’ came out shortly after. There’s not a day since I haven’t listened to mac.
The emotional response you had to Wedding, man I don’t feel like that song anymore but I have. I wonder how you’ll like his love related songs on other albums. This is amazing but definitely not all there is to him. Take the time even if you don’t use it for content. It’s worth it
My favorite part of this is when you were geeking over "all my life they said I doesn't belong" 🤣
It really is delivered beautifully
highly highly highly suggest listening to the bonus song it's a masterpiece itself, honestly made my top 5 of songs in faces for me. I was expecting a lot for the bonus track and it excelled my expectations. its a really nice song
I just wanted to hear him rap again so bad 😞
Very excited to hear your "homework" was Ave Maria!!! My personal favorite Mac song
Shame the reissue didnt include the audio interludes of Bukowski and Hunter s thompson that were on the original release but glad the masses get to hear this classic
"Circles" is very different from everything else he did, but I feel like a late-30s professor would appreciate it
happy to see you get into Mac, great review as always
Good video professor, appreciate your take on this, I pretty much feel the same tbh. I'm glad Ave Maria is your favorite, I'd say it's one of mine too.
Just wrote an essay about this album for college, this monologue really helped me
Glad to hear it!
His verse in rain is really dope and the bonus track too, hope you check out and enjoy his discography cause his progression is really unique 🤘🏽
Great review. I definitely recommend checking out more of his discography. Especially ‘the divine feminine,’ ‘watching movies with the sound off’, and the elusive mixtape ‘i love life, thank you.’ Cheers, professor!
Honestly, his discography has the type of character arch you typically only read in the greatest novels of all time. When he mentions on Faces that he's ashamed that his tragedy is his masterpiece is so hauntingly accurate in retrospect. Being as you started at Faces, move forward, you'll see the arch. Then once you finish Circles you can treat the rest of his earlier body of work as a prequel.
GREAT INSIGHTS!!!
Personally I love the last 3 albums (not inc. posthumous Circles) - GOOD:AM, The Divine Feminine & Swimming.
Faces & WMWTSO I need to spend time taking in again.. I know they are masterpieces. I even love tracks off Blue Slide Park & of course KIDS!
This was one of the best album reviews ive ever seen! Very good job! Id love to see your review on Mac's album "Swimming" im sure you would love it.
i suggest you listen to Mac’s entire discography so you can get his whole evolution of the way he makes music through his career because it changes a lot over time.
Circles and Swimming are my two favorite albums of his. I have Circles on vinyl and it’s beautiful. Only album I don’t think is really important to listen to in his discography is Blue Slide Park.
I would highly recommend listening to Blue Slide Park if you've never heard Mac's music before. Mainly to understand the progression.
@@Tayden oh I’ve heard it. I just don’t really like it. But is nice to see how far he’s come since it
@@jordansonntag4748 there’s some gems on BSP for sure. PA Nights is one of my favorite Mac songs.
Dude you have no idea how important that album is to OG fans...
bsp is fantastic missed calls is top tier
the way this dude describes mac just make me so emotional like damn why u gotta go so deep like that😿😿😭😭
"Some of the songs capture that playful energy. “Thumbalina,” a favorite for Berg, came about as a humorous response to complaints by Mac’s stuffy neighbors, who banded together to request he move. Berg showed him a Beastie Boys sample with the line “They got a committee to get me off the block,” and Miller brandished his trollish wit on the uptempo track." -GQ article of the making of Faces
Thank you for your work, professor!!
I really appreciate your review ! Please do more mac 💙
alright man you’re really good understanding music and lyrics.. please pick another of his albums, promise you you’re going to be mindblown
He mentions fentanyl in his album watching movies with the sound off. Song - someone like you
I was the same age as Mac Miller and felt like I grew with him in a weird way. Same personal issues. My brother died of fetynol 3 months after Mac did. I was always a fan, but Swimming/Circles, along with the timing just brought it to a whole new level. Thank God we were able to get the music from him that we did.
you should listen to "Swimming" and "Circles" albuns. they are companions albuns and goes really really deep into his addiction and self-knowledge of his mind
@ 13:42 Mac actually does refer to himself as a rough rider on the song Suplexes Inside of Complexes and Duplexes from watching movies with the sound off, which might be a good next-listen. one of my fav deep cuts
Please do more Mac Miller. Swimming or Circles would be amazing!
Fantastic review. I had never considered the premise of the 'invitation', and it clicks with me. I always feel like Mac is someone I've known forever but just haven't seen in a while.
E: I would suggest listening to the new track, it's very good.
As someone who is sober from drugs...when you're in the middle of your addiction all you think about is death and you accept the fact that you'll die from drugs. Its a thought and feeling that is always there. BTW you need to check out swimming and circles. Circles was released posthumously and the albums are companion pieces
I love that you love Ave Maria! It’s been my favorite song on here since the first time I listened to it
Much love from the Burgh! Mac is the face of our city
Listen to the bonus track, it's awesome!
Another great review, really love watching you analyse these records.
I would definitely suggest listening to swimming and circles. His evolution is really on display and themes of mental health are even more present
Edit: also the drug themes aren't as present as he is more mature and tried to be sober
Each Mac project has a completely different sound. We don’t often see RUclipsrs go back to Kids and go from there so it’d be interesting for you to dive into his breakout mixtape KIDS.
If you do decide to continue your Mac Miller journey, id recommend u get to Swimming. His last album he released while he was live, just a month before his death. He truly did sound like he was an inch away from sobriety and it was beautiful. I highly recommend it.
I came here from your kendrick and drake videos. I searched for Mac, and im very pleased to see you appreciate and compare him to such an amazing artis such as tupac. And the fact you appreciate kendrick.
Please if you havent been listening to the other comments, listen to everything mac has done. Hes truly just an amazing human and i really wish he was still here to continue his legacy. Regardless he left us with amazing goated music that will always make me feel like we were connected.
Mac did mention fentanyl in Watching Movies With the Sound Off, in Someone Like You: "Love me, love me, that fentanyl, it numbs me"
Happy to see you enjoy one of my favorite artists, professor! I'd recommend checking The Divine Feminine next. It's an entirely different feel from this. It's a love/sex album with incredibly beautiful production. Very jazzy indeed!
Your description of wedding is funny to me because Mac uses women and love a lot as a metaphor for drugs…so basically your explanation was spot on just taken a bit to literally. Also the Happy Birthday, Wedding, and Funeral trio is representative of the 3 most important days of your life: birth, marriage, death.
Also, you talk about how you feel as though his stories are true. San Francisco is literally about how he took acid on his birthday during a music festival in Australia lol.
the song happy birthday is a true story about one of his birthdays during the time he was recording faces. you should check out the short documentary they released for the reissue a couple weeks ago. its only about 6 minutes and provides a lot of context into the mind state and environment mac was in during the creation of the album
he had a line in watching movies that said "that fentanyl it numb me"
Bonus track is heart breaking