Mac Miller - Balloonerism ALBUM REVIEW

[@WhatsTheBuzz_]

Huge praise to the estate for never compromising the quality of Mac's posthumous art!!

[@ProllyNotJake]

Holy crossover😭

[@safariholden]

on god, they really made the right choices for every project after he passed.

[@SeprexOG]

fax 😊❤

[@SeprexOG]

@@safariholdenyes!

[@ApartUhdabody]

I’m sayn

[@basedkitty]

I will never fully wrap my head around the fact that a 22-year old drug-addicted insomniac was able to craft/produce/curate both Faces and Balloonerism in just a handful of months sandwiched directly in between writing, recording, and touring Watching Movies and GOOD:AM. How someone that age had that level of creative output is beyond me. What a talented soul.

[@GoblinsteinsMonsterRoyalHog]

“It’s funny how the blessed ones had the most curses” - Juice WRLD.

[@elliottduroux]

It was all definitely related

[@cinnawaffls]

"I got the mind of a 109-year-old elder man, the passion of the Christ and the memory of an elephant" - he was an incredibly old and talented soul, his soul came into the physical world ready to get shit done and not have to search for a passion to dedicate eternity to doing

[@futurafrlx8874]

I mean, drugs do that to you.

[@Ghsttowncookout]

@@cinnawaffls if you feel like, a mufukin salamander

[@brotherbrod]

On the song Funny Papers Mac says "I didn't think anyone ever died on a Friday" and he himself died on a Friday. Also on the final track, that never ending phone ringing damn near moved me to tears because it felt like someone was calling Mac but he isn't here to answer it. RIP Mac.

[@wavy_prod6973]

yeah ariana grande called him 928 times on the day he died

[@lil_culture]

I think the phone ringing was put there for that exact purpose too

[@Big_Con]

Listening to Excelsior made me picture the scene as Mac laughing with us from above, he’s just having fun with the absurdity of childhood and i found it beautiful.

[@willisamaryllis]

@@wavy_prod6973this is untrue. I’ll never understand people’s obsession with them. They broke up a good bit before Mac had died.

[@nathanscahill476]

@@lil_culturethe ringing was there in 2014. nothing to do with her

[@Newhouse56]

Mac is the blueprint on how to handle posthumous releases

[@mateogarcia7812]

100%. Circles, Faces, and this are all excellent

[@OPUSmpk]

@@mateogarcia7812 Faces was released officially by Mac in 2014, it was just added to streaming services with a bonus track, not a Balloonerism/Circles situation

[@WhizzyFilthy]

its handled by his family that doesnt need money but also he had complete projects his music really just getting mastered

[@mrshaneobuenosnodgrass3328]

So true and tragic at the same time.

[@hasanz7585]

Faces came out in 2014 originally, but yeah I get your point

[@naquaman2034]

Whether it's a 2 or a 10, it's just good to hear Mac's voice again. Rest in peace, Malcolm. We all miss you.

[@HenryDT48]

i agree but when it comes to juice wrld, i miss him and want to here him again, but i dont want to here a single bit of new music because the people releaseing it dont care like they do for mac

[@naquaman2034]

@HenryDT48 I'm not a Juice fan, so I'm glad I don't have to deal with that bs. We're definitely lucky to have Mac's team. They are obviously part of what made him so great, and they care enough to maintain his artistic legacy. This shit is beautiful, man.

[@AllBetzOff]

@@HenryDT48 Fr man. Legends Never Die felt like a nice sendoff album. Then fighting demons felt like a mixtape rather than album. And PNE just wasn't good to me. Same thing with X

[@skynicovideo]

@@AllBetzOff X fs has the worst team of them all, i loved the mans music but his posthumous releases feel so lazy like they were only trying to make money off him

[@riversperception]

@@HenryDT48 completely agree on this, what a shame to say that it's a rare sight that labels release a posthumous release and have it respect the artist. i really adore how mac's label has stayed true to his vision

[@Xyforge]

Honestly a top 3 Mac album imo. His estate did a great job touching it up when compared with the leaked version. It's truly a rarity to see artist's estate/label respect their legacy and not basically graverob them just to put more money in their pockets.

[@datboiwildin]

agreed

[@kuppakassi]

with WMWTSO and Faces right?

[@jayday325]

Good AM is better than watching movies ​@@kuppakassi

[@jayday325]

Test

[@leo260]

they cut two of the best songs, smile and he finally sleeps

[@shade7887]

this is the most 9 sounding 8 review ever

[@cycjason9887]

Idk I feel like he's pressured to give a high score. Low-key probably 7

[@Wecangetit562]

Look at Samurai review he liked 7/8 songs still gave it a light 8 😂

[@nic_witout_the_k]

That sounds about right like what 🤷‍♂️

[@blue-pi2kt]

​@@cycjason9887 still can't believe how dirty Fantano did Watching Movies With The Sound Off

[@pokepokepoke64]

@@cycjason9887oh hell nah, this is easily the best and most concise Mac album

[@JustinSimpson]

The last track on Balloonerism has not left my head since I heard it. Those little "Coo Coo" whispers soaked in reverb and that muddled endless ringing phone feels like trying to reach someone even though you know they're never going to pick up, and that hits differently knowing this is a posthumous album...I hope that makes sense.

[@dir-gk]

See living and dying… are one and the same…

[@Nxt.damian999]

Tomorrow will never know is a very important song to me I still trip whenever I hear it. But that was the genius of Mac he always ended his albums with death and the end of the song perfectly represents death.

[@average-youtube-enjoyer-69]

Thanks bro I cried reading this

[@KATZFEY]

100%

[@LinotheKatKing]

It sounds like squid game to me

[@JordanNMusic]

Regardless of scores.. I’m just glad the estate didn’t milk Mac Miller’s music posthumously. They’ve treated his catalog with so much respect. Putting out music the way he would’ve wanted to. Hats go off to them 🫡

[@ManiacalMangoes]

Yep unlike juice and lil peep!

[@luhgeekytony]

Lil peep's camp has been handling his music well, theyve just been giving official releases to soundcloud singles recently​@@ManiacalMangoes

[@David-dv5ov]

Fr… I remember the producer of Circles was in tears talking about making the last song on the album, they clearly all care so much about

[@trevorfletcher6335]

@@David-dv5ovman rest in peace mac. This shit makes me so sad but happy that I got to grow up with mac in a way.

[@maximumcool25]

Where does everyone have this album in comparison to other Mac Lbums

[@JenkinsOwen]

That last track is one of the most moving pieces of production I've ever heard on a hip hop album

[@pablomogosi8712]

Slows down time doesn't it?

[@txrracxtta]

I loved this album but unfortunately I found it a boring, dragging slog. I'm glad others liked it where I couldn't.

[@Nightwave3k]

​@@txrracxtta Exactly. Thought I was alone lol

[@lil_culture]

@@txrracxttai genuinely cant see how anyone could hear the album that way tho, the production is insane, macs verses are pretty fresh as if they could’ve been written today, idk the whole album was super interesting to me. The only song i can see that gets boring and drags is the very last song but even then, that song just makes you feel like you’re slowly floating off into space, you can almost get lost in the song for a while. Id give it another listen while high maybe🤣🤣🤣

[@romanmunster1143]

@@lil_culturefr

[@ianjames6148]

Crazy thing about this album is according to one of the producer posted in reddit saying 90% it was recorded in a week. You can hear the sounds here that would come to influence a lot of the production on swimming. None of his peers were making sounds and ambience like this especially pre Blonde Neo Soul movement. And there’s something quite poetic about the last album that we hear from him being his darkest. Mac was one of a kind.

[@oscarleyva6485]

beautiful, well put.

[@dannybuchanan3661]

Maclib hasn't been cancelled yet, well put though.

[@NostrilNuisance]

about 2 weeks but correct, insane. literally one of the 9 said to have been made before choosing G am. this man was the definition of prolific, depression was a catalyst. an empowerment he gives to us, im honestly so tired of the depression drig addict labels. the man was an alchemical genius

[@larryfisherman15]

To me it feels a whole lot more closer to Faces than Swimming.

[@joelkivisto]

For example, RIcks piano was made in 1-2 takes while he was on the way to Ricks apartment in Malibu to hangout with him. The skit in the start is also from the same day

[@MyYouTubeNameisTaken]

Continue to rest in peace, brother. I wasn’t a fan of his early work. But, I started running into him in Pittsburgh and he was super nice every time I talked to him. He even knew who I was the first time I met him (we had mutual friends). I started really appreciating his music once I heard Faces and continued to enjoy his releases since. It was a gut punch for a lot of folks under 40 in Pittsburgh when he passed. I remember the vibe that day well. I was at a gallery crawl that I saw Mac at before, and a lot of us were openly in tears. This project does him justice and will continue to support his artistic legacy. Thanks to those who finished it and put it out. 🙏🏼

[@JacobLeffew]

Wish I could’ve met him, that’s so touching

[@billyalarie929]

This is incredibly sweet.

[@Ungalo872]

This really feels like Faces PT 2 for me, it's an incredible piece of work, thank god for the guys taking care of his music.

[@wattieiscute]

Faces is Balloonerism PT 2

[@lil_culture]

Even though it was made before faces, it really does feel like a sequel

[@anthonyreed4236]

Faces on the upswing

[@HaHaChatham]

Ballonerism is like the “Circles” to Faces’ “Swimming”

[@Humble-iq5ue]

​@@HaHaChathamoh very well put. I'll wait until tomorrow to play the new album; in the car. Make it special ya know 😊

[@blakehaggard-coversextras-2762]

“We are what we believe in…. There is no such thing as dreaming…” Beautiful

[@rccola6442]

Dylon dylon dylon!!!

[@_peadar_]

You can really tell that Dj’s Chord Organ was made in SZA’s Z period. It was so nice getting a release that took me back to that!

[@pablomogosi8712]

S/O to SZA man

[@Turbos-b3z]

I still miss Mac Miller. This project made me cry a few times.

[@joeclarke8818]

I hear you, that was me all weekend.

[@hakuza41]

me too, homie. I had to stop it the second time when I got to Excelsior because my heart breaks hearing him laugh boisterously on that track, being the goofball he is

[@jmarlened]

I get it

[@999abyss7]

album is 4/10 as usual and mac discography aint ever been rated in top 200 from tier 1 resources, so dont cry, read a book + ;listen to proper music so u can understand how overrated this garbage is

[@thebigcheese5114]

The song “Tomorrow Will never know” speaks so much to me and actually brought tears to my eyes. I am a recovering addict and alcoholic and I the slow fazing out drums with kids playing and the phone ringing with no one there to pick up reminds me of a drug addict overdosing and his life fading out as his family or friends are trying to reach them. I feel like the sounds he makes are his last breaths and his spirit leaving his body going into heaven with the kids playing as a flashback on his childhood innocence.

[@throwitoutthewindow]

Glad you’re getting sober homie, keep up the good work 💪🏻

[@lil_culture]

Thats EXACTLY what it felt like. Im goin through the same thing rn so it nearly brought me to tears too. Hope you’re doing better tho, its rough

[@thebigcheese5114]

@@lil_culture glad I wasn’t the only one with that takeaway from the song. Thanks bro hope you keep pushing strong through it!

[@jexcel98]

Or the kids playing represents what he's doing currently in his new body. Kids love to play and living and dying are one in the same

[@thebigcheese5114]

@@jexcel98 Nice interpretation. I was also thinking that the phone ringing with no one answering was him trying to reach God and not being able to.

[@stonetaylor]

Funny Papers will always be my favorite Mac song.

[@Thatguy55595]

I love it. I became a Mac fan around 15 years ago in high school but I still love Balloonerism. Best Mac album I’ve heard in a decade at least

[@leonardoleno5729]

Exactly Same here

[@gerardosantana4505]

Daniel Johnston - The Story of An Artist that’s the piano sample

[@Humble-iq5ue]

​@@Thatguy55595 oh you made it seem like his later albums sucked

[@Thatguy55595]

@@Humble-iq5ue they just weren’t for me. I grew up with Mac was a rapper that did some singing not a singer

[@rosswingo8714]

This album has had a deeply profound effect on me for some reason. Ive been coming back to it over and over the last few days and it has taken me to some very dark places. Listening to this album has felt like not only a cautionary tale but a mirror towards one's self, encouraging me to confront some things ive neglected for far too long. Feelings of regret, guilt, anxiety, deep sadness, but feelings of hope if I take the initiative to grow. These feelings will evolve as I sit with the album more but currently its a 10/10 and I can't thank Mac and his estate enough for giving us this gift. Its like a visit from an old friend, but you know they can't stay. Beautifully haunting album ❤

[@grumpydusty]

It hurts to keep loving someone that's gone. Ive got 3 of his albums mounted on my wall, they meant so much to me. Heartwarming and depressing that he had more greatness to share and couldn't be here to see it done. Makes me think of family and friends Ive lost while they were young, if only...

[@anthonyfoti4391]

This album is everything to me. My life around this release has been devastating. Nothing is more important to me than this.

[@IntenseCircumstances]

You know things will get better, the problem I've found is not knowing WHEN they will. Sending light & love, I hope you find solace in this moment of your life. A blip of sorts in the grander scheme of things.

[@fihsbonez]

@@IntenseCircumstancesgod bless you friends

[@wickedsamurai3323]

It’ll get better. It may get worse too but it will get better. Love to you and yours

[@teejayroyal]

Sending love your way bro, keep your head up

[@conjurer5725]

❤

[@m21645]

the fact this whole project was made in about 2 weeks 11 years ago, blows my mind. the production and sounds on this album do not sound like they are that old, mac was truly ahead of his time. rest in peace to my goat, thank you for sharing your beautiful soul and mind through your art. It is immortalized

[@Mello96315]

R.I.P Mac. Truly a generational artist

[@mik-d5e]

Love your pfp

[@elivincent3795]

generational gets thrown around way too much lol

[@Soft_Machine]

What did he do that was generational!?

[@ogshrimpsauce]

@@elivincent3795yes, but he was a generational talent for sure

[@elivincent3795]

@@ogshrimpsauce we can definitely agree to disagree. but i’m glad u like his music

[@codymenesini5102]

DJ’s Chord Organ is such a chilling posthumous song.

[@the_halfthug]

Sounds like an Angel sent back to Earth to tell us a story for a brief moment 🥺

[@pablomogosi8712]

I like the mini "education" on music he gives just before (F sharp) . He just LOVED sound

[@hakuza41]

reading this and realizing how right you are hit me right in the feels

[@alexgrey7626]

⁠@@the_halfthugwell, he recorded it in 2013

[@gerardosantana4505]

“DJ’s” is for Daniel Johnston, the album has a couple references of him.

[@homieturtle3558]

On January 8th, my girlfriends brother passed via overdose. Her brother loved Mac Miller so much to the point he knew all these songs before they even released. Her brother even looked like him. A day after his passing 5 dollar pony rides released. We received it as a sign from Mac, and man Mac really knew how to perfectly describe the feeling. My girlfriend is struggling with extreme derealization and I have no way to help her. It seems this album has brought comfort to her, having what feels like a piece of him so close to his passing. Mac is truly a special person

[@JacobLeffew]

That is beautiful, condolences to her brother 😞

[@-Teague-]

hope she finds healing. stay strong.

[@tommioslo]

was honestly never a huge mac fan prior to giving this a listen (nothing against him or his art; simply never really got around to going thru his discography and never was super hooked by any of what i heard) but man, i love this album. so so so fucking good. gonna have to dive back into everything else and see what i missed. RIP mac

[@m21645]

this was me a couple years ago, one day i sat down with a joint and listened to all of swimming, and completely changed the way i thought of mac's music. he's now my favorite artist ever. It's a lot but i genuinely recommend starting from the start and listening through. his progression from project to project is unreal

[@frustum7342]

@@m21645 agreed. one day u truly listen and it just hits, and u never go back

[@m21645]

@@frustum7342 his music talks to the soul, it's unreal. then you go and dive into the actual person he was and it's just like fuck, this dude was an angel.

[@wickedsamurai3323]

Get high and listen to faces it may change your life. It’s my favorite album ever

[@losr98]

I had the same feeling about his music before I heard faces. Never really saw the hype. Just thought he was another high school rapper that the preppy kids liked. I heard Faces and instantly knew he had much more depth and evolution in his sound. This was in 2014 I think. So I've been a huge fan of his since. Really the only artist death that really bummed me out and continues to. It's amazing that his family/estate have taken such good care of his legacy since he passed. You'd hate to see it go the way of a juice or X or Peep.

[@Canesugar7683]

I really love Rick’s piano. It has such a nostalgic and personal feel, and the message that the best is yet to come is hopeful but also really heartbreaking knowing that Mac died. It feels like a good final sendoff, like a goodbye. Happy tears

[@JeroldStudiosBestYoutuber]

I cried so hard listening to that one the first time 😭😭😭

[@taco_man2302]

I've only recently started listening to mac miller, starting from circles to swimming to faces and many more, when I heard hes word play and creativity with all different types of music. I fell in love with his music and when hearing about his album coming out 2 months ago I was so excited to be around for one of his old projects and my recent love for his music just had me geeked as if he was alive, it's so strange to hear a person who isn't around anymore. Bless mac and thank him for allowing his vision even if it was sad at the end, I'm greatful.

[@appleyardjr267]

Same. I barely got into him in 2021 and he quickly became my favorite artist. Pure talent. YT Larry fisherman for more music that didn't make it on albums. Just miscellaneous songs. Thank me later lol

[@appleyardjr267]

Look up his channel Larry fisherman to find even more music you never heard on an album just miscellaneous music

[@JeroldStudiosBestYoutuber]

I just started with this album and I’d like to explore his discography more

[@taco_man2302]

@JeroldStudiosBestKZbinr For macs personal side, circles and swimming is the best but for like more "Im him" would be faces for me, or maybe love is something you looking for which would be divine feminine which is the more happier side of mac, will say it can be sexual at times but youll like the beats and instrumentals as he explores alot of genres through out all his albums, you're bound to find one you really like bro.

[@Luzion]

mac miller was like “this is the most beautiful piece of music i’ve ever created let’s not drop it”

[@downfromthereeefters]

Check out his song Must Be. There's an upload of it on yt. It's incredibly beautiful. This is just the tip of the iceberg of his unreleased discography. He was so prolific.

[@imretro2182]

His label shelved it for being too experimental.

[@jmarlened]

Thank you for this review. Im not the typical Mac fan. Im in my 50s, grew up as a huge fan of 2Pac. His songs spoke to me like no other rapper when i was younger. A few other artists were meaningful to me over the years. When i discovered Mac- a little late- the Divine Feminine era- i heard something in him that i had never heard before. Since diving into his music, he has become such an important part if my daily life. Weird i know but i listen to music constantly and he is a big part of that. His music has gotten me through some things, has been my companion on hard days, on road trips, on trips home to PA ( Im from pretty close to where he grew up, just decades earlier). All this is to say that this young man wrote music that speaks to my soul like no one ever has before and this world was lucky to have him for the time we did. I wish he had been able to tackle some of those demons. Sorry for the rant. This new album definitely is beautiful.

[@gnarwhal7562]

It's amazing that he was just 22 years old when he made this, (yeah it wasn't exactly finished until now, but the creativity on display throughout Balloonerism is nothing short of impressive). Mac remains a one of a kind voice in the hip-hop scene. R.I.P. Malcolm James McCormick. "What's a God without a lil' O.D.? Just a G"

[@Tayden]

It's like 95-98% unchanged from the leaks, just higher quality audio

[@OGParudize]

^

[@thelyonking5812]

I’m so glad that Mac’s estate cares so much about his legacy and making sure everything released posthumously is of excellent quality. Rather than milking the vault to make money off his name, they really have put a ton of love and care into everything they have released since his passing. They put his classic mixtapes on streaming and every previously unreleased song or feature they have released has been of good quality. I wish other artists had estates this good. If this is the last Mac release then it was a fitting end. I’ve heard Madlib say he wants to release Maclib though, which would be amazing and I’m sure will be of great quality if it does release one day.

[@GameJunkyard11]

I far preferred Circles because I found its lyrics and instrumentation deeper, newer and more fleshed out, but I'm glad this album was handled so well after his passing. R.I.P.

[@NeutralMjolkHotel]

Personally Circles is a 10 for me. Not a single detail on it I don’t love. Beautiful album. This one is great too

[@ProDudeFilmsGaming]

yeah, i figure it makes sense considering he has a couple extra years of experience by then. Ricks Piano really hits hard when you realize, he was struggling to cling on to his inner-child that fueled his creativity at this point, and years later he succeeded in pushing forward and making better works of art

[@Nick_MyName]

@@NeutralMjolkHotelcircles is amazing but i cant listen to it because every time i get to the song everbody i get emotionalit shows how he wanted so much more out of life and that never happening is just so sad. RIP a pittsburgh legend

[@98loud]

​​@@Nick_MyNameGO:OD AM is even more heartbreaking imo. 100 Grandkids, Perfect Circle/Godspeed, Ascension. One of the lyrics that will always stand out to me is "I'm hoping not to join the 27 club"

[@Thatguy55595]

This is better than Circles by a long shot

[@eliasdiestler5869]

It is really interesting to read about how he made this track during his "big cocaine phase" alongside faces & before he produced GOOD:AM in his posthumous memoir, DOPE. Honestly this album is the hardest listen for me as a fan because of how much he mentions death, but what another great release by the estate. I am glad that Anthony spends a good amount of time putting context into this release (could've been even more!) Thanks for the solid review.

[@eliasdiestler5869]

Another interesting part of this album was that he featured an alter ego of himself, "Delusional Thomas" in that Quasimoto voice that he admitted he felt like represented his "darker" side when rapping in the higher pitch. Cool we got to see it on this one.

[@JblazeMostDope]

DUDE! Finally I can get your perspective... had this album leak downloaded forever but playing it through on official release with millions at the same time was a different feeling

[@DemKiLaude]

Damn this was leaked? since when? I though it collecting dust in the shelves for good prior to its release

[@Sleepyless]

Bro same, I had this album downloaded for years and when I battled depression it was my go to album, I wish they added he finally sleeps as a bonus on the deluxe edition tho!

[@Sleepyless]

​@@DemKiLaude Has been for years! Some leaks predate 2018 while the most fleshed out version was around 2020 iirc

[@ChildishLumbino]

same had the album for years and seeing people love it makes me so happy

[@joelkivisto]

@@DemKiLaude since 2018-2020, its crazy

[@ThisIsntKev]

Shout out Mac’s estate for handling everything so fucking professionally. The attention to detail and getting all of his friends and studio partners together to complete everything with Mac’s vision in mind has been unparalleled. Rest in Peace and happy belated to one of the BEST artists of our generation

[@novacane3407]

7 years after Mac’s death we are here still coming together talking about him. I’m so happy we got this album

[@KKamm]

I feel like the whole fentanyl poisoning case needs to be talked about in mainstream media more. Not even just Mac's, but in general it feels like it leaves a lot out to refer to being laced as "overdosing" even if it is technically true.

[@Nick-cy2tn]

No different than murder in my eyes if you are knowingly selling laced product to people

[@silence4686]

This is lowkey the first album that really felt like Mac was tryna talk to us from “the other side,” especially on Tomorrow Will Never Know. The sound effects definitely creates that sense that he is somewhere, just not here.

[@PikminMaster4]

An artist that passed too soon. So ahead of his time when it comes to his craft and detail to the music.

[@jackattackstopmotion3244]

It’s so hard to believe this album is over a decade old, it sounds like the next step after swimming and circles, it even has sza on it, the biggest hip hop adjacent pop artists 10 years after this album was made

[@AltBoomer]

I’m glad you review these albums cause it just reminds me that everyone else got to hear this record too. Thanks man.

[@Meltymorty]

Stoned was a perfect song to me

[@Nick-cy2tn]

Such a banger

[@JeroldStudiosBestYoutuber]

That guitar part was so Crispy

[@BasedSquibz]

I never listened to much Mac Miller before hearing about his passing, and only really listened to circles (loved it) after I saw your review. After this I should check out more, but from kind of an outsider perspective, the feeling I have after listening to this was just uncanny and kind of indescribable with how amazing and somber this album is. Knowing that we’re coming up on 7 years since he passed away just makes it all the much more so. Haven’t ever felt like this while listening to music before.

[@gio52903]

This is seriously going to be hard to top as my album of the year. I know it’s January but this is a stunning record.

[@FatTony_Football]

STUNNING😪🙌🏽

[@98loud]

I mean, technically this is a re-release. Even if it wasn't January I don't think this can be AOTY

[@AmericanAudits]

@@98loudthis is an official release, I was only leaked so it can be considered

[@Sleepyless]

​@@98loud How can it be a re-release if it was never actually released 😅, it was leaked for sure but we spent years not knowing the real tracklist for it and such

[@98loud]

@@Sleepyless "technically" is carrying that sentence on its back 😅 but no it just feels weird to give something like AOTY to something that has been floating around for as long as this has. It's like if Carti or Kanye or another artist with a whole discography of leaks released a coherent project with the best of the best of the leaks, I wouldn't feel right giving that AOTY considering it's something that we've sat with and even possibly grown nostalgic for. I feel like AOTY should be more of a snapshot of music in that time period, something that represents the way music is moving forward

[@JommlyYT]

DJ's Chord Organ, the second half feels like Mac descending from heaven to deliver another performance. The "YEAH"s at the end. Just sounds like him warming up while he floats down to greet us. The whole album is like a jovial frolic to the graveyard.

[@licoricelaces4205]

Larry Fisherman snapped on this one

[@djones4275]

I’ve been a fan of balloonerism since late high school and it’s so nice to see everyone love funny papers cause it’s been a top 5 song from him for me for so long. It sucks it took his passing for a lot of people to appreciate his artistry and expression. Much love to Mac hope you made it to the other side.

[@SnipeGhost]

my album of the year so far. rip mac.

[@screamingbanana4391]

Not much competition so far lmao

[@NicholasStulga]

@@screamingbanana4391 Ethel Cain and Bad Bunny would like a word.

[@flowerboi-1]

@@NicholasStulgadc for them

[@epzo]

@@screamingbanana4391Doesn’t matter mac miller is the best rapper in the world and is top 1 sorry

[@Guybutcool]

Love mac miller but top 1 is a fucking insane take.

[@OnePiece23463]

When I saw this project get released, I thought they were gonna milk the late Mac Miller for all they can. But, this is honestly a really good album. Consider me surprised and impressed!

[@biglargeguy7085]

though posthumous albums usually are below par with a lot of the artists previous work, macs people have done incredible with his.

[@OnePiece23463]

@biglargeguy7085 absolutely. It's really great that they're doing Mac Miller's legacy justice, they easily could have done worse

[@anachronismic]

This was so my concern, even having loved circles. You can tell he had been surrounded by people who love and respect him.

[@Crybaby-Media]

I love X . But his legacy after his death has been milked to shit and it’s depressing . It’s nice to see Mac treated with respect Also nice username Nakama

[@OnePiece23463]

@Crybaby-Media the one piece is real!!! The manga is so good right now, so glad to have read it

[@a92206s21007]

You’ve always shit on his projects when he was alive now that he is gone you finally see it

[@livingcolorinc]

This album is genuinely an instant classic for me! Absolutely loving it! Bought and played the vinyl a good 10+ times over the weekend! So happy to hear Mac’s voice again! We miss you Mac! RIP! 💙

[@reeseorta3052]

Anthony has a red mark under his eye, I am choosing to believe it is a red teardrop tattoo to mark his first kill

[@sircarlos3767]

I found this album a few years ago and have kept a few of the songs in regular rotation. Im very impressed with how true they kept to the unreleased version while improving it as well.

[@downfromthereeefters]

There can be a compilation album next with some of Mac's best unreleased art. Songs like Must Be, Pure, Pet Sounds, Speed Racer, Days, Rainclouds, Confessions of a Cash Register, The End Is Near, and so much more. They are album quality and would be a justified official release. Also, Conpletely Transparent should be returned to streaming services!!!

[@AmericanAudits]

Dude he’s got hundreds of really good unreleased songs that might not ever see the light of day due to people’s opinions about estate’s handling of an artist’s intellectual property after they pass. “Be smart” and “before I forget” are really good too if you can find them

[@MottoGrotto-ht1yg]

Confessions of a cash register is out on streaming on the RIP #1 - Prodigy album. Just a heads up :)

[@joelkivisto]

@@MottoGrotto-ht1yg thank you omg!

[@BreakFast-t9z]

Your review of faces mixtape was the first video i saw of yours Anthony. You were the only one who reviewed it at the time❤

[@simonstomalik]

Possibly the most innovative thumbnail I have encountered

[@xddx1694]

Please be a 9 please be a 9 Edit: it hurts

[@Simpossible-uq3qf]

close enough

[@xddx1694]

@@Simpossible-uq3qfclose enough

[@jlvk]

8 is the new 9 and 9 is basically a 10

[@elstovon]

@@jlvkAnd you’re basically coping

[@jlvk]

@@elstovon why are you so mad

[@xenolithic9691]

He did it all without a Drake feature EDIT: There needs to be a correction at around 2:44, about how Blue Slide Park was not received well with his fans. BSP debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200, the first independent album to do so since 1995.

[@deepfriedfishsticks8547]

But everyone considers it to be his worst album still,and it’s not only because the music that came after were better

[@sdfopsdmsdofjmp7863]

Sales != well received. Drake has released nothing but mid for almost a decade, of which only a few albums were decently received, yet his albums continue to sell.

[@yeintern]

@@sdfopsdmsdofjmp7863the only reason drake gets a lot more streams is because of his old music and his low quality tracks somehow gets more streams than his highs

[@sdfopsdmsdofjmp7863]

@ I'm just saying that an album selling well doesn't necessarily mean it's well received. Scorpion was very much not well received, yet is still getting streams like crazy.

[@appleyardjr267]

Definitely the worst album. Swimming and faces are my 2 favs then circles and macadelic then watching movies with the sound off then good am. I like Devine feminine more than blue slide park lol

[@Issahardt]

Every time I hear or think of this album, it brings tears to my eyes. Forever missing him.

[@Mizzhapp]

I managed to hold myself together through the majority of the album, but towards the end of Tomorrow Will Never Know...the finality of it all really hit me; beautifully haunting track. Genuinely made me anxious & a weight on my chest as if I were watching a horror movie. RIP Mac

[@Nick-cy2tn]

I don't think I've ever seen a such a universal outpouring of love for an artist, such a rare thing that he feels like a friend but we never met. Rest in eternal youth Mac

[@undyingdefect]

Mac’s (likely) last intentional album still having a yellow flannel makes me so proud as a longtime fan. LONG LIVE MAC MILLER 💙

[@christianvian1728]

thank you for these wonder comments on Funny Papers. When this project was first leaked, this track was immediately touching in the saddest and most raw way. Its hard not to feel when this one comes on

[@dahalofreeek]

I didn't know Mac had another album coming. A pleasant surprise for sure.

[@PoeticAlchemist]

I shed a few tears; I still went back to his old music not fully listening to a track, but it brought me back to the needle drop Anthony Fantano so now I'm ready to listen.

[@OGeorge187]

Great review. I can't believe Anthony originally gave Swimming a 3/10

[@treesuschryst]

It was an instant classic even before Mac's passing. That 3/10 was the most braindead take that I've seen in my life, for sure.

[@WeJammin]

He never liked Mac’s music until after he passed…. Fantano has 0 credibility when it comes to hip hop

[@SS-gx7tg]

@@WeJammin I used to get clowned on so hard for being a huge Mac fan, then after he died suddenly everyone was posting about how devastated they were - it really punctuated how disingenuous a lot of people are.

[@WeJammin]

@ bro same, been a fan since the KIDS mixtape

[@SS-gx7tg]

@@WeJammin lol same, I discovered Mac the day the Kool Aid n Frozen Pizza vid went live (was linked on High Snobriety), people used to rag on me so hard for liking Mac, calling him a corny backpack college rapper just ruthless disses, granted Mac got a bigger fanbase once he put out Macadelic, WMWTSO, Faces but even then I couldn't post about him online or even irl without people talking ish, then he passes suddenly everyone is acting like they lost their best friend it just felt so phony and gross. Not trying to gatekeeper Mac or anything, I just found it suspicious how everyone was magically a fan after he passed

[@Kokopelle]

I feel that for most of us Machead, its alot of puzzle pieces we not necessarily were missing. But pieces we havent heard before and it genuinly felt like we needed to hear every mood/moment in this album.

[@TheFranco259]

Funny papers & wings will always be my favorite Mac miller songs

[@DrDaydrinker]

love your vids, small note after blue slide park mac's next album was macadelic which was the first step into an experimental realm. after that came watching movies which went even further in that direction. Doesnt take away from your point but just wanetd to point that out, great stuff keep em coming!

[@WeekendUpdate7]

Rarely come to Fantano videos anymore because usually the comment section is unbearable. Beautiful comment section for the new Mac Miller album.

[@110metsfan]

He passed at 26 and put what close to 20 projects… he left this realm with a lot, but it feels like I lost a friend

[@obamasjumper]

not usually a fan of posthumous albums but this one felt right

[@harrylazarus]

It’s only been a few days but I adore this album so much. I’d highly recommend its accompanying short film for anyone who hasn’t had a chance to check it out !

[@misteraye]

12:51 killer posthumous ;)

[@AlkoWasAlreadyTaken]

This album is different in the sense that while yes, the lyricism was pitch perfect as always with Mac, it was the ATMOSPHERE that really lured me in. I don’t love the Transformations track, felt the most like a first draft kinda song to me, but the rest was outstanding, so looks like we agree. God bless Mac’s estate man, they’ve handled it with pure class. Long live Mac Miller ❤❤❤ this album gets a 9 from me.

[@joeborda899]

Yellow flannel? I already like this review

[@Ryboss_15]

It will always be so eerie yet beautiful to me how many messages were behind all of his lyrics that foreshadowed his passing

[@derek7523]

If this album was released while he was still alive, Melon would have given it a strong 3

[@audiosurfarchive]

Absolutely insane how well his estate has handled his posthumous records man. Truly top class stuff, especially thematics and sequencing of an album is pretty damn impressive for an LP that wasn't in progress.

[@sb77-fw5oi]

4:19 WHY IS HE ALWAYS GETTING THE TITLE WRONG

[@clemens9280]

I was hoping for you to enjoy it and now I'm just happy that this album gets what it deserves! It's amazing and one of my new favorite Mac albums!

[@goodlucktom]

Ai releases after artists pass are gonna be crazy if we don’t call it out now

[@benoseitutu9157]

“ The Best Is Yet To Come” 🙏🏾

[@add69420]

Excelsior is a bop🧙🏼‍♂️🪄

[@flloop8178]

Fantano’s writing style really shines when he’s making a positive review. It’s really nice to listen to!

[@SamKerby-b8k]

Cameron winter from geese review when

[@billyalarie929]

I didn’t listen to Mac much, but when he was on it was always a vibe of its own kind. You knew this kid had that talent you only find if you’re very lucky, if you catch a star at just the right moment. I’m glad they recognized what they had. Idk if record labels started mistreating him or what caused him to go over the edge, but man I’m sad that it happened.

[@Fishman26013]

Certified balloon classic

[@Zeverinsen]

It's the fact that after someone has died, you have all the time in the world to perfect what they've left, and that's what so many of the "post houmous producers" didn't take to heart. What you're given to work with is literally the last of what you'll ever get, so there's no reason to rush. Take your time and treat it with love and respect, because they won't be around to defend themselves or make something new to patch up the holes you make in their legacy if you blow it. They really knew what they were doing, and you can tell. It's almost like he's speaking to and through them. *_Hats off to them!_*

[@sorendipitous]

This is the most positive 8 I’ve ever seen him give

[@NvDvk]

Most sounding 9 that isn't a 9

[@awilddevereaux]

8 is a pretty positive score

[@dannymcdandan5557]

God I’m so incredibly inspired by how raw and creative this album is. It’s truly a loss not seeing how far Mac would’ve gotten creatively, he seemed like a peak was yet to come for him…

[@ese___e-v5g]

dont make me mad plz

[@NOVOJALITY]

I may be the minority when it comes to this but the first listen to this album, I felt in a way confused as if I didn't know if I should be upset or not. This entire project feels like something that was hidden for a reason. Its like opening up his musical journal filled with his deepest depressing thoughts and I felt this project felt too personal for it to be released to the public. Maybe its just me but this whole thing made my stomach drop especially knowing how he left us. The entire experience felt spooky and as I have seen others say, its almost like he is speaking to us from the dead. Overall I loved the album...that final track with the phone constantly ringing sent chills down my spine. RIP Mac, you truly did leave your mark on the world and we all hope you are at peace.

[@BaiePolaireMusic]

You just might need to do a redux soon and give it a 10 hahahahahaha

[@pranolang]

HAHAHAH

[@dyldragon1]

This gotta be my new favorite Mac project it's so comforting and haunting at the same time

[@SIR_7200]

Anthony, praising Dave Blunts for 14 minutes isn’t an album review.

[@XAN95-ICT]

Didn't know Anthony was a good AM enjoyer! that's probably my favorite Mac Miller album, which is really hard to say when faces and circles also exist

[@Stefan_Gerards]

you would've given it an 11 if it was called Meloonerism

[@JeroldStudiosBestYoutuber]

Or to pimp a balloon

[@Dons-dq9jc]

loved most of the album and had quite a few moments during songs that definitely brought a tear to my eye. glad this was officially released and love how well Mac's estate has handled his posthumous career so far.