Circles is the sixth and final album to be released from the late rapper, Mac Miller, and the first posthumous album to be released since his passing on September 7, 2018. The album is supposed to be a direct follow-up to Mac’s previous album, Swimming.

The two albums were actually supposed to be put together, conveying the phrase “Swimming in Circles”, as both work hard to pain Mac’s life and struggles with mental and emotional health, as well as his struggles with substance abuse, and failed relationships.

Circles is a deeper-dive into who Malcolm truly is and what he wanted for himself and for the world. It is a vulnerable and powerful album that powers through its weaknesses to give an absolutely beautiful message.

CIRCLES

Circles, the first track off the album, is a slow and melodic introduction into the world of the album, Allbum. On the track Mac states how he feels like he is in an endless loop, and how directionless he believes he is at this point in life. The song and album’s title are actually in reference to the last verse off of Swimming, Mac’s prior album.

COMPLICATED

Complicated brings a happier tone to the album, gliding from circles to a similarly laidback, yet more jovial take on a somber note. On this track the rapper soulfully croons about the stresses and complications of daily life. He complains on the bridge that he’s way too young to be feeling as old as he does. At the end of the track, Mac resolves to just take life one day at a time. 

BLUE WORLD

What would be considered the first certified banger on the tracklist, Blue World is the third track on the album, and speaks to Mac’s reflections on all that has happened in his life. Subtle references are made to his former girlfriend, Ariana Grande and the late rap legend, Biggie Smalls. The chopped and screwed melody underneath a groovy 808 produces a trippy audio picturesque that wraps the track up into a neat a lovable bow. 

GOOD NEWS

Good News was the first track to be released since Mac Miller’s death in September of 2018. This was also the first single released from this album. On the track Mac alludes back to the themes of his previous album, Swimming, and how the world expects such unbridled positivity from him, despite the negative feelings he experiences all the time. Simply shoving those emotions down is the only thing he believes he can do to make others happy. 

I CAN SEE

I Can See, the fifth track on the album, explores Mac’s outside perspective on his life, something he seems to have just acquired and is in awe and appreciation of. He is in a search for balance within himself and his life as well as looking for a fresh start within the first verse, as the second is all reminiscent and focused on how he got to the point where he is now. 

EVERYBODY

Everybody is actually an inspired cover of “Everybody’s Gotta Live”, the 1972 single from Arthur Lee. The song is layered with Mac’s key piano riffs and chords, however is more or less a more soulful iteration of the original track. 

WOODS

On Woods, Mac goes into relationships, more acutely, his own, and how convoluted, broken, and unfixable it became. He speaks on resorting to his vices to cope with the pain of ending the relationship. He alludes to his relationship as the “woods” and when he states he is finally out of them, he means that the worst has come and gone and he can finally begin to heal. 

HAND ME DOWNS

Hand Me Downs is the first and only track on the album with a notable feature, Baro. As in allusion to the previous song, Hand Me Downs focuses on Mac’s vices and coping mechanisms for the pain he’d been feeling, as well as his ever-evolving mental state. Baro rides smoothly over the chorus and the guitar centered production brings together a slightly sunny disposition for the track. 

THAT’S ON ME

That’s On Me has Mac Miller take full responsibility for his mental state and his struggle with mental health, using himself as something of an emotional scapegoat in order to be the voice his fans and friends need in order to get through whatever emotional and mental tribulations they are going through right now. The song is vulnerable and accepting, and the beautiful production surrounding it hits the message Mac is trying to send, home even harder.

HANDS

Hands is the second certified banger on Circles, and revolves around Mac looking at himself in the mirror and refocusing on his negative thoughts and aspects. He begins questioning himself and asking himself why he doesn’t simply waking from his bad dreams and focus on himself. It is said that the subject matter and aethetics of Hands is reminiscent of Mac’s 2014 mixtape, Faces.

SURF

Surf takes listeners back into Mac’s mental state, while taking a birds-eye-view of the various situations. It seems to be something of an emotional smorgasbord of various aspects of his life, mental health, experiences, and relationships, all coming in like waves, for the listeners to surf along to.

ONCE A DAY

The final track on his posthumous album, Mac Miller’s Once a Day brings the entire tracklist to a subtle head. One of the shortest tracks on the album, this is where Mac completely bares his soul for his listeners, and himself. He becomes painfully honest with himself and shows the scars and cuts he’s hidden away under the easygoing and lively exterior he portrayed. Once a Day explores his depression, his anxiety, his substance abuse, and finally, finding peace within himself.

Rest In Peace Mac Miller, you will definitely be missed.