Before reading 'Blue World':But never forgotten please click the link below to read the prequel article to this one.
With a tragic and unexpected loss we were gifted with what most of us thought would be the last album we'd ever get, 'Swimming.' But here we are in 2020 given 'Circles' a cosmic album of more Miller tracks thanks to legendary producer Jon Brion.
On January 8, Mac Miller's family posted a heartfelt letter along with a cover photo to his instagram letting fans know they will be gifted with one last album.
Delving into the new tracks of "Circles" Miller continues to tell the story of his fragility but also follows with "no right answer" and "no clear path" as stated from his family in an Instagram post.
Looking back at Miller's past albums there's a sense of cosmic growth behind the lyrical messages as well as the change in melody and harmony. He wasn't just another rap artist but a poetically talented artist who seemed to face the conflict of what went on in his mind, personal struggles and the world at large. Although he faced substance abuse, heartbreak and rapid elevation of fame, his growth as a musician matured and his music became more intimate and deep.
With that said, it's pretty safe to say that we are left to uncover the subliminal messages as we listen to this soft, plaintive album.
In the first track 'Circles' Miller says, "Well this is what it look like right before you fall stumblin around, you've been guessing your direction next step, you can't see at all." He continues later in the verse with, "I just end up right at the start of the line drawin cirlces."
It sounds like Miller is speaking from a directionless point of view, feeling as if life is in a continuous cycle and let's face it sometimes we do feel as if we are all just going in circles leaving us to guess where we will end up.
In 'Complicated,' the second track, we can pretty much confirm his feelings of life moving in a continuous cycle when he says, "Inside my head is gettin' pretty cluttered. I tried but can't clean up this mess I made."
As I continue listening to the album, the third track, 'Blue world,' begins and the verse I catch is, "Think I lost my mind. Reality's so hard to find when the devil tryna call your line. But shit, I always shine, even when the light dim."
I can't entirely speak for Miller on his behalf but from what I can gather as I listen to these tracks, is that like any regular person he chose to hide his pain behind a smile or in this case behind his music regardless of struggles he faced with his personal demons.
Miller at one point even said so himself by saying, "No matter where life takes me, find me with a smile."
I get the sense that Miller dealt with his personal state of mind by blocking out reality which brings me to the next verse in the fourth track titled, 'Good News."
"I spent the whole day in my head. Do a little spring cleaning, I'm always too busy dreaming."
Although Miller was not open with his struggles publicly, it's clear to see that he was better at expressing his emotions through his music, especially in his companion albums "Swimming" and "Circles."
I could continue to break down the rest of his tracks as I take in every lyric he wrote but I'll leave it up to you to take in how you choose to read the messages behind this posthumous album of Miller's cosmic view.
Although he's gone, his music and legacy continues to influence the music community.
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