Mike Posner has returned with a new album but not one of the songs is as good as his 2010 hit “Cooler Than Me,” which, to be fair, is the only Posner song I know. 

To me, the album wasn’t all that great. The production didn’t fit the lyrics of each song and a vast majority of the songs sounded the same. I understand what Posner was trying to do with the album though as the first two songs transitioned beautifully into each other, making the listening experience the whole way through actually mean something.

The album starts with a message to the listeners, stating that the album is 44 minutes long and best listened to the whole way through with no distractions. Posner then explains his emotions while writing the album.

The purpose of the album reminds me of Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department” in the way that the project wasn’t meant for everyone, but more as a form of self expression that lets the artist get their emotions out. This album was made for Posner and his most dedicated fans and that’s okay.

The album was not horrible though and I did like a good portion of the tracks. 

My favorite track was the acoustic version of the opening song, “Beautiful Day” which was more of a straightforward approach that lacked the strange beats and weird sounds present on other songs. 

The messages of each song were great and became the real standouts of the entire project for me. 

“Veil of Maya” was almost eight minutes long and basically just a therapy session. It felt like being at a worship concert and the lead singer just giving a sermon in the middle of the set. It felt slightly out of place in the track list, but definitely fit with the overall theme, despite the album having more of a hip-hop feel. 

I didn’t hate the album by any means, it just isn’t a genre I usually listen to and it clearly was not intended for a listener like me. It likely won’t be an album I listen to again, but if you are a fan of Posner, you will likely find some enjoyment in this record. 

Official Score: 5/10

Categories: Arts & Entertainment