MAC MILLER Vinyl & CDs

Review: Swimming by the late Mac Miller, released in 2018, stands as a poignant testament to the rapper's artistic evolution and introspective depth. The album is a sonic exploration of self-discovery and resilience, addressing themes of mental health and personal growth. Miller's introspective lyricism, coupled with lush production and jazzy instrumentation, creates a soulful and immersive soundscape with tracks like 'Self Care' and 'Ladders' showing his lyrical vulnerability and musical versatility. Swimming not only received critical acclaim but also serves as a bittersweet reflection on Miller's artistic prowess and leaving an indelible mark on fans in the process.

Review: When rapper and multi-instrumentalist Mac Miller died of an accidental overdose in 2018, he left behind an unfinished two-part album project: "Swimming" (released last year) and "Circles", which has now landed on wax after getting a digital release earlier in 2020. It's a musically diverse and mostly introspective affair, with Miller shuffling between styles wearily and switching roles (singer-songwriter, rapper, multi-instrumentalist, beat-maker) seemingly at will. While such role hopping could have resulted in a sonic mess, the set sounds surprisingly coherent, not least because the thread running through it all is Miller's painful soul searching and well documented mental health issues. As a posthumous full stop to a life ended all too soon, "Circles" certainly hits home hard.

Review: When rapper and multi-instrumentalist Mac Miller died of an accidental overdose in 2018, he left behind an unfinished two-part album project. The first of the two sets, "Swimming", was released last year; now its bittersweet companion, "Circles", has arrived to complete Miller's discography. It's a musically diverse and mostly introspective affair, with Miller shuffling between styles wearily and switching roles (singer-songwriter, rapper, multi-instrumentalist, beat-maker) seemingly at will. While such role hopping could have resulted in a sonic mess, the set sounds surprisingly coherent, not least because the thread running through it all is Miller's painful soulsearching and well documented mental health issues. As a posthumous full stop to a life ended all too soon, "Circles" certainly hits home hard.