Mac Miller’s fifth studio album, Swimming, was released on August 3, 2018. And as many other people say, Swimming marked a fresh start for Miller from his past. It depicts Miller swimming away from his baggage from his DUI arrest and breakup instead of drowning in all of them. This album’s genre is more of soul and R&B, which really fits with the whole story of the album. Swimming is made of 15 tracks, equaling to 58 minutes and 40 seconds. This album really has no credited features, which also correlates with this album because he is focusing on himself. But vocal contributions include Dam-Funk, Dev Hynes, Snoop Dogg, Syd, Thundercat, and JID.
The first track of Swimming, Come Back to Earth, is an amazing track to start. The vibes of this track are immaculate for this album. And after his passing, this song hits entirely different with the stuff he talks about in this track. Especially with him saying “I just need a way out of my head, I’ll do anything for a way out of my head.”
Hurt Feelings is a good song overall with the chorus and verses coming from Miller being great. Hurt Feelings being the least streamed song on this album is crazy since that even though it is Swimming’s least popular song, it still is a great listen.
What’s the Use? is a great ending for this album. This track’s instrumental is so different, which makes it amazing and unique.
Swimming is one of the best HipHop / R&B albums of 2018. And it shows with practically no skips on this album, every song on Swimming is either good or great. Just being able to just play through this album and vibe, or you can dissect each lyric of these songs and find it very meaningful is awesome to me. But after his passing, lyrics like “I smoke just in case, don’t want to grow old” and “In an instant, I’ll be gone” have a different meaning now. But overall, Swimming is a near perfect album and a guaranteed amazing first listen, with the beat and Miller’s flow. The cheerfulness to this song is refreshing in contrast to the soulful tracks on this album.
Perfecto is just like the name of its track, perfect. The chorus is probably one of my favorites out of all of these tracks. The end is also a nice touch with what Miller talks about.
A fan favorite, Self Care is for sure one of the best songs in Swimming. This track is the epitome of a vibe. The complete contrast between both beats and vibes of the two parts of this song, for some reason, mix well together.The second part of Self Care is my favorite part of this track. But the first part is also still good.
Wings is another great track on this album. Just the parts where Miller sings is amazing to me. As explained very well by DJBooth.net, “If ‘Swimming’ is an album about saving yourself, then “Wings” is a song about turning the motions of ordinary life into our various life rafts.”
Ladders is another upbeat and catchy song on this album. Miller just talking about how you shouldn’t stop after reaching the top is inspiring. But the instrumentals like the guitar and trumpet in this track I take a liking to them.
One of my favorite tracks of this album, Small Worlds, is a really good addition to Swimming. Just the basic and calmness is just music to my ears. The ending of Small Worlds is superb while being very meaningful.
Conversations Pt.1 is literally as it’s named, a conversation in the first half. And the way he incorporates not fitting in and just being different from others to this song is cool.
Dunno is another good track for Swimming. Dunno is focused on the romance between him and his ex. Dunno just adds another layer of greatness to Swimming.
Jet Fuel is probably the best song off this album. With the chorus, adlibs, background vocals, tropical beat, and lyrics make this an absolute banger that is Jet Fuel.
2009’s intro is amazing with the piano. This song embodies the saying “All good things come to an end, but better times will arise.”
