Circles Mac Miller Album Review

Ivana Gilger / Editor / The USD Radio

Mac Miller
Album: Circles
Producer: Jon Brion
Release Date: January 17, 2020

Malcolm James McCormick, known by stage name Mac Miller, was an American rapper and singer. He was born January 19, 1992 and passed away due to an accidental drug overdose on September 7, 2018. Mac Miller was greatly influenced by OutKast, Beastie Boys, A Tribe Called Quest, and Lauryn Hill. After his passing, several of his albums appeared on the Billboard 200. 

Mac Miller began his career with party rap and slowly transitioned into songwriting with strong lyrics. His lyrics are very relatable to the younger generation. Each one of his songs tells a story unique to him. Miller raps or sings about struggles he has been through, women he has loved, the parties he has experienced, his goals in life, and so much more. He has a very distinct sound, and when one of his songs comes on, you immediately know it as Mac Miller. He has music for every type of occasion: from getting ready to go out, late night vibes, or music you want to sing every word to. Miller has a very down-to-earth style of music, with a very laid back sound. 

Mac Miller released his posthumous album, Circles, on January 17, 2020. It is a forty-eight minute long album consisting of twelve songs. The majority of the album is Miller singing, rather than the typical party rap sound he normally produces. Miller always lets himself be vulnerable in his music, but Circles takes the listener to a very personal place he allows us to enter. The album is about awareness and acceptance within his own mental health. Miller was fighting with many demons in his head. Circles taps into mental health and how Miller deals with depression and anxiety. He constantly finds himself lost in the thoughts in his head, with no escape. However, because Miller learns to accept the darker times and days, the album comes across as a little more optimistic. He is very self-aware with what he is dealing with, which is the first step to overcoming any battle. 

I listened to the album for the first time with my headphones in, sitting on my bed late at night. I felt every emotion as I heard Miller singing with his raspy vocals. Chills ran throughout my whole body. I was excited to receive new music from one of my favorite artists, but saddened listening to the words and hearing his angelic voice again after his passing. I find peace in the fact that Miller was able to fight through the negativity and find his own happiness in life. 

The album Circles is the second part to the last album he released, Swimming, before passing. Swimming is the first part of what was supposed to be a trilogy. In this album Miller originally sings about his daily battles with himself. It is the album where he first writes about his personal mental health issues. The concept of the two albums put together is the idea of swimming in circles. In the song “So It Goes” from the album Swimming, Miller sings, “My God, it go on and on Just like a circle, I go back where I’m from.” Miller is stuck in this constant loop, a hole he finds himself in, struggling to find the way out. Circles show it is ok to be lost in this life. It is about realizing that some things will be out of our control, but to just try to find the beauty in the little things. 

The song “Good News” was the first song to be released before the posthumous album dropped. The album begins with the song “Circle” which is everything Miller is feeling put into a song. The first song that really spoke to me was “Complicated.” This song has a more upbeat sound to it compared to some of the others. This song is about asking for just one simple day. Life is extremely complicated and only gets tougher as we get older. Miller is reminiscing on the easier days, and is asking for a little break. Another favorite song is “Hands.” I really enjoy this song because the very first time I heard it it instantly brought me back to his 2013 album Watching Movies with the Sound Off. Although every song is divine in its own way and deserves a listen, the last song I will mention is “Surf,” which is the second to last song on the album. When Miller sings, “Yeah, well, sometimes I get lonely, not when I’m alone; But it’s more when I’m standin’ in crowds that I’m feelin’ the most on my own; And I know that somebody knows me, I know somewhere there’s home; I’m starting to see that all I have to do is get up and go” it brings me happiness hearing it. I like that Miller is trying to find something positive in every situation and feeling he finds himself in. The album ends with “Once A Day” which is about what Miller faces on a day to day basis. The album Circles is different because it is almost completely composed off of Miller’s vocals, rather than rap. I think that this made the album more personal and relatable to the listeners. The third album to the trilogy was supposed to go back to rap, so Miller could remind all of his fans that he still loves to make party music. 

Mac Miller tragically died at the young age of twenty-six. He had a great sense of humor and truly wanted to live life to the fullest. He struggled for years with drug abuse. In one of his singles, “Kool Aid and Frozen Pizza,” which was released in 2010, Miller raps, “I got a hundred billion flows to come/ I hope you know the lyrics to every single song/ So when I’m at a show everyone can sing along.” Mac Miller died accomplishing this goal. He is loved and appreciated by millions. His music is universal. He had an extremely bright future ahead of him. Mac Miller was truly one of a kind. 

Track List: 

1. Circles
2. Complicated
3. Blue World
4. Good News
5. I Can See
6. Everybody
7. Woods
8. Hands Me Down
9. That’s On Me
10. Hands
11. Surf
12. Once A Day 

Recommended if you like: Ab-Soul, Earl Sweatshirt, Kid Cudi, Frank Ocean 

Album Highlights: Complicated, Surf, Woods, Hands Me Down, Good News