On January 17, Mac Miller’s second posthumous studio album (his seventh studio album overall), “Balloonerism,” was released. Like his first album, “Circles,” this album was released two days before the singer’s 33rd birthday. “Balloonerism” is considered to be one of Miller’s ‘lost albums,” with 14 tracks lasting a total of one hour and five minutes long.
The album takes on a deep and dreamy atmosphere, focusing on the theme of Miller overdosing and being high (hence the ‘balloon’ metaphor) while reliving his life. As he watches his life play before him, he slowly gets closer and closer to death. When Miller wrote this album, he was in a time where his chances of overdosing were steadily increasing as he knew he could not control his addiction. This album was not only an autobiography on his life of being in the music industry, but also a message to his listeners and fans around the world what drug addiction looks like.
“DJ’s Chord Organ (feat. SZA)” (Explicit)
“You’ve been up for three days with one nap
I know you miss the nighttime
I know you miss your lifetime”
“DJ’s Chord Organ (feat. SZA)” opens up with both singers, Miller and SZA, talking about their trouble with their personal identity due to their drug addiction. With this loss of sense of self, it leads to their mentally exhausted state, which makes their addiction even worse. Though the song may not seem like much from the surface with its simplistic melody and minimal lyrics, it only makes the message much more powerful. It gives the track and the overall atmosphere of the album a whole new layer of authenticity, which prepares the listener for what is to come.
“Mrs. Deborah Downer” (Explicit)
“Even pills turn to powder, baby
Said, even pills turn to powder
The world wanna crush ‘em down (Crush ‘em down)”
Miller brings out his alter ego, “Larry Lovestein,” which represents his vulnerability in his trance of doubt, disappointment, and overall confusion as he reflects over his life. He reflects over the multiple battles that he fought during his life, and how he loses more of himself in each of them. He witnesses himself face these problems, yet he knows that there is a small part of him that is slowly but surely improving. The song reflects Miller’s life in the industry, which seems fulfilling and easy, yet it is the complete opposite.
“Funny Papers” (Explicit)
“Yeah, somebody died today, I
I saw his picture in the funny papers
Didn’t think anybody died on a Friday”
“Funny Papers” circulates around the metaphor of news in a newspaper. Miller reads this newspaper as he battles his own internal thoughts of the meaning of anything in life. Miller writes of the negativity read on such paper, which is followed with positive news. He tries to explain that nothing in life is permanent, and though there will be struggles, they won’t last forever.
After listening to the album, it surely does leave people thinking. Though the album is about Miller’s life, it leaves the listeners to their own depiction of what the album means to them as well. The creativity of the album tells both a story and a message, bringing awareness to people who struggle with addiction. Miller successfully brings light to such battles, and even though the artist has physically left, he still remains to be one of the most beloved music artists of our time.
