Circles

by Mac Miller

Overview

On September 7, 2018, just a month after the release of his critically acclaimed fifth album, Swimming, Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller died from an accidental drug overdose. His struggles were no secret, but there was a glimmer of hope on Swimming that hinted that better days might be around the corner. While those possibilities were unfortunately lost with his passing, Miller did manage to record extra material that ended up on the posthumous set Circles. Intended as a companion piece to Swimming (i.e. "swimming in circles"), the album was completed by producer Jon Brion (Fiona Apple, Kanye West), who maintained the laid-back vibe and introspective mood of its predecessor. Subdued and reflective, the beats hit softer and the reliance on piano and Brion's quirky production choices make for a lush, comforting listen. With the bittersweet benefit of hindsight, the album's lyrics shed some light on Miller's state of mind at the time of his death, providing clear signs that the rapper was in need of more help and support. For fans, Circles will be a tough listen, as Brion's often-playful musical backing belies the sadness and resolve in Miller's voice. On "Complicated," he languidly raps that he's "way too young to be gettin' old" atop shiny synths, later wondering "Why does everyone need me to stay?" on the frustrated "Good News." On "Surf," he makes it even clearer, deciding he's "gotta get going before I'm gone." Even when he's singing someone else's material, as on "Everybody," a cover of Arthur Lee's 1972 song, he manages to make the original lyrics sound even more dour, concluding that "Everybody's gotta live/Everybody's gonna die." If Miller hadn't passed, Circles would be an insightful, focused addition to his strong late-era catalog, shining a necessary light on emotional and mental health struggles and sobriety through his deeply reflective lyrics and the wonderfully enjoyable and warm production work by Brion. Instead, it's yet another reminder of lost potential and a life cut tragically short. ~ Neil Z. Yeung

Product Details

Release Date:	05/29/2020
Label:	Parlophone / Warner Records
UPC:	0093624905592

Tracks

1. Circles
2. Complicated
3. Blue World
4. Good News
5. I Can See
6. Everybody
7. Woods
8. Hand Me Downs
9. That's on Me
10. Hands
11. Surf
12. Once a Day
13. Right
14. Floating

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Mac Miller   Primary Artist,Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Guest Artist
Wendy Melvoin   Bass,Guitar
Jon Brion   Bass,Drums,Piano,Guitar,Cymbals,Harmonium,Keyboards,Novachord,Percussion,Reed Organ,Vibraphone,Synthesizer,Organ (Hammond)
Matt Chamberlain   Drums
Erin Stevenson   Vocals (Background)
Shea Taylor   Horn,Drums,Strings,Synthesizer
Jeff Gitelman   Guitar
Carmel Echols   Vocals (Background)
Samantha Nelson   Vocals (Background)
Lemar Guillary   Horn
Thundercat   Bass
Vic Wainstein   Guitar,Synthesizer
Tony Royster Jr.   Drums
Malcolm McCormick   Guitar,Guest Artist
Brandyn Phillips   Horn
Fabian Chavez   Horn
Baro Sarka   Drums,Vocals
Mono Neon   Bass
Baro Sura   Drums,Vocals

Technical Credits

Greg Koller   Mixing,Engineer,Recording,Studio Personnel
Eric Caudieux   Engineer,Recording,Studio Personnel
Wendy Melvoin   Artist
Jon Brion   Artist,Composer,Producer,Studio Personnel,Additional Production
Matt Chamberlain   Artist
George Forrest   Composer
Shea Taylor   Artist,Composer,Producer,Recording,Studio Personnel
Stephen Bruner   Composer
Robert Taylor   Composer
Ben Fletcher   Assistant,Studio Personnel,Recording Assistant
Arthur Lee   Composer
Jeff Gitelman   Composer
Robert Wright   Composer
Jeff Sosnow   A&R,Studio Personnel
John Armstrong   Assistant,Studio Personnel,Recording Assistant
Josh Berg   Recording,Studio Personnel
Rouble Kapoor   Assistant,Studio Personnel,Recording Assistant
Ross Ferraro   Engineer,Recording,Studio Personnel
Mac Miller   Producer,Studio Personnel
Vic Wainstein   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Drum Programming,Studio Personnel,Associate Producer
Tony Royster Jr.   Artist
Malcolm McCormick   Composer
Alexander Spit   Producer
Garrett Stevenson   Composer
Manzano   Composer
Gabe Stevenson   Composer
Guy Lawrence   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Studio Personnel
Ben Sedano   Assistant,Studio Personnel,Recording Assistant
David Ruoff   Composer
Ira Grylack   Engineer
Patricia Sullivan   Mastering,Studio Personnel
Elias Klughammer   Composer
Eric Dan   Composer,Producer,Studio Personnel
David X Eli   Producer,Studio Personnel
Zachary Acosta   Recording,Studio Personnel
Baro Sarka   Composer
Mono Neon   Artist
Stefan Durandt   Engineer,Recording,Studio Personnel
Baro Sura   Artist