Hey, Check This Out! - Balloonerism

When it was announced that Mac Miller’s album “Balloonerism” was being released, fans like me were struck with an uncomfortable truth. This would likely be the last time we hear music from him for the first time, as Miller passed away in 2018 from an accidental drug overdose. Thankfully the project was recorded and almost entirely completed over 10 years ago, allowing the final product to be more artistically genuine than most posthumous releases. The project was originally shelved for being too experimental, and it is nothing short of breathtaking.

The music Miller was making between 2013-2014, including “Balloonerism” and the cult-classic album “Faces,” have been aptly described as drug-fueled. While Miller never shied away from referencing recreational drugs in his musical catalog, “Balloonerism” provides listeners with a blatantly clear representation of how his struggles with addiction shaped his worldview and fueled creative production. Substance use seemed to be an inescapable component to his ability to make music, and “Balloonerism” explores this crutch with unflinching honesty.

He openly criticizes and bargains with his addictions on tracks like “Friendly Hallucinations” or “Mrs. Deborah Downer,” contextualizing his relationship with drugs in the same way he raps about unhealthy romantic relationships. Despite how prevalent they are thematically, solely calling this a drug album would be a gross oversimplification, as “Balloonerism” is perhaps Miller’s most existential project.

Throughout the album, Miller grapples with his conception of mortality and his disillusionment with reality, notably on tracks like “Rick’s Piano” and “Funny Papers.” He explores the concepts of life and death with an otherworldly comfort and maturity at just 22-years-old.

In addition to the album’s thematic direction, the musical landscapes of the project are complex and he explores them fearlessly. Rich piano or chord organ sections are sonically pervasive across the project. The keys on each song have a hollow timbre and allow each track to take up a substantial amount of space. Having a musical groundwork like that allows for sonic elements like the guitars on “Stoned” or the intense vocal distortion that closes out “Do You Have A Destination?” to have a colossal impact.

“Balloonerism” serves as an indication that Miller was always bound to be a prolific songwriter. Without projects like this one, we likely would never have emotionally mature projects like “Circles” or sonically enthralling albums like “The Divine Feminine.” Now we finally see the full picture of Mac Miller’s prolific career. I’ll always be grateful for that.