The Rundown: Mac Miller, Watching Movies With the Sound Off
A track-by-track review of the rapper's sophomore effort.
1 / 20
The Rundown: Mac Miller, Watching Movies With the Sound Off - Mac Miller’s sophomore album, Watching Movies With the Sound Off, is a crossroads for the young MC. The follow-up to his 2011's debut, Blue Slide Park, includes 16 tracks and three bonus songs and features true school favorites like Action Bronson and Jay Electronica. Will the MTV idol continue to reach for greater crossover success? Or is he already jaded with the fame and fortune he’s received since hitting the mainstream airwaves? (Photo: Rostrum Records)
2 / 20
“The Star Room” - “The Star Room” is a strange entrance. “I’m still trapped inside my head, it kinda feels like it’s a purgatory,” announces Mac dramatically over sparse drum patterns. The melancholy vibe suggests he’s not necessarily happy with his new lifestyle. “If y’all could leave me the f--k alone, that’d be divine,” he says on the track, highlighted by bizarre voice effects.(Photo: Rostrum Records)
3 / 20
“Avian” - With complex rhyme schemes and simple metaphors like “Walking on a tightrope underneath a microscope, but close up we’re all just molecules and isotopes,” Mac showcases a cleverness that few of his peers can match. “I’m pissed off like a blind person looking for a restroom,” he spits in his best Eminem impression before comparing himself to Kenny Powers from HBO’s comedy series Eastbound & Down. The wordplay’s cool, but it’s his flow that shines, suggesting that he could indeed ride the sleepy piano loop in his sleep. (Photo: Manuel Nauta /Landov)
4 / 20
“I’m Not Real” (Feat. Earl Sweatshirt) - “If money buy you love, then love's not enough,” philosophizes Mac on the somber cut. He continues the lyrical acrobatics with lines like “This is a rather spooky action movie, roll it up and pass it to me.” (Photos from Left: John Ricard / BET, Roger Kisby/Getty Images)
5 / 20
"S.D.S." - Things get uptempo on “SDS (Somebody Do Something)” which features bouncing synths that sound submerged. “I close my eyes before I cross the street," brags Mac, “If a car’s ‘bout to hit me he ought to beep.” With his confidence peaking, Miller flips biblical references into Chappelle’s Show bars. (photo: John Ricard / BET)
ADVERTISEMENT
6 / 20
"Bird Call" - Mac gets disrespectful over tribal drums and whistles on "Bird Call.” “I used to give a f--k about success/Now I just wanna see Mila Kunis undress,” he rhymes, before threatening to "Hit your sister in the face with a Nerf ball."(photo: John Ricard / BET).
7 / 20
“Matches” (Feat. Ab-Soul) - Mac flips between vintage hip hop flows and bouncy new-age melodies on this collaboration with TDE’s Ab-Soul. Mac claims to be the Dalai Lama of the 18-year-old set, and compares himself to an R-rated movie.(Photos from left: Enrique RC/PacificCoastNews.com, Derek Reed / Picture Group)
8 / 20
“I Am Who I Am (Killin' Time)" [Feat. Niki Randa] - Miller slips back into his depression on “I Am Who I Am (Killin Time).” Apparently fed up with the aritificial nature of his fame, Mac claims to be “close to depression” as he asks if he can give back the world he inherited.(Photo: Frank Micelotta/PictureGroup)
9 / 20
“Objects in the Mirror” - Mac sings the hook himself on this experimental emo tune. One of the few times he steps out of the box without the help of a feature. Mac proves to have some futuristic songwriting skills. (Photo: Michael Underwood/PictureGroup)
Photo By Photo: Michael Underwood/PictureGroup
10 / 20
“Red Dot Music” (Feat. Action Bronson) - It may be the beat or it could be the fact that Action Bronson flows like Ghostface reincarnated. Whatever it is, this is one of the standout tracks as Action and Mac blame the drugs for their absurd behavior over a transient beat. (Photos from left: John Ricard / BET, Gary Miller/FilmMagic)
ADVERTISEMENT
11 / 20
“Gees” (Feat. ScHoolboy Q) - ScHoolBoy Q and Mac spit some verses that will "Make ‘em wanna add a couple pages to the Bible." Spazzing obnoxiously while instructing the world to "Suck my d--- before I slap you with it" is a lofty start.(Photos from left: Kevin Winter/Getty Images, Gary Gershoff/Getty Images)
Photo By Photos from left: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
12 / 20
“Watching Movies" - Mac gets political announcing, “It’s time for a revolution.” He surfs urgent sirens with flows that compare celebrity culture to Hollywood. It’s one of the strongest tracks released so far this year. (Photo: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
13 / 20
"Suplexes Inside of Complexes and Duplexes" (Feat. Jay Electronica) - "Abstract ideas won’t get you laid," laments Mac as he opens this rare Jay Electronica feature. Mac tries again to channel his inner Slim Shady but instead comes up short next to rap’s elusive lyrical giant. Despite a standout JE verse, it seems the Roc Nation emcee is saving his best bars for his long-awaited debut.(Photos from left: Roger Kisby/Getty Images, Terrence Jennings/PictureGroup)
14 / 20
"REMember" - Mac reaches for emotion again but fails miserably with this sad reflection of his personal views. “Everybody wanna talk to me about some business s---, I’m not really listening,” he admits with no shame before lamenting the opportunities his music has created. (Photo: Nguyen/PictureGroup)
15 / 20
“Someone Like You” - Miller loses his momentum with “Someone Like You,” a braggadocio yet sedated record that includes a cheesy '80s sample, the 500th hint that Mac is jaded by his lifestyle. “Wake me up from this bad dream,” he whines. (Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
ADVERTISEMENT