Swimming (Mac Miller album)
Swimming | ||||
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Studio album by Mac Miller | ||||
Released | August 3, 2018 | |||
Recorded | 2018 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 58:33 | |||
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Producer |
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Mac Miller chronology | ||||
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Singles from Swimming | ||||
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Swimming is the fifth studio album by American rapper Mac Miller and the last album during his lifetime. It was released on August 3, 2018, by REMember Music and Warner Bros. Records. Production on the album was handled by Miller himself under the pseudonym Larry Fisherman, as well as Dev Hynes, J. Cole, Dâm-Funk, DJ Dahi, Tae Beast, Flying Lotus and Cardo, among others. The album has no credited features, but contains vocal contributions from Dâm-Funk, Dev Hynes, Snoop Dogg, Syd, Thundercat and J.I.D.
The album was supported by three singles: "Small Worlds", "Self Care" and "What's the Use?" It received generally positive reviews from critics and debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200.
Background
Miller announced the album through social media on July 12, 2018, alongside its release date.[3]
Music and lyrics
Throughout the album, Miller's break up with pop singer Ariana Grande is a common theme of inspiration, as it gave him the chance to experience self-love, healing and psychological growth, similar to the themes shown in his previous album, The Divine Feminine (2016). Lyrically, The Independent stated Miller addresses the acknowledgment of his temper ("Wings") and the pitfalls of fame ("Small Worlds").[4]
Concerning the album's music, Rolling Stone noted Swimming is "a continuation of 2016's The Divine Feminine, with a silky, deep vibe redolent of the L.A. alternative soul scene."[5] The song "So It Goes" has been said to incorporate "muted guitars and a spacey synth drone", while "Wings" has been described as "a spacious neo soul slow burner punctuated by the occasional sigh of a violin."[6] NME wrote that "Ladders" is "a buoyant radio ready bop, which sees his bars skitter across glorious brass lines and earworm riffs."[7] "Jet Fuel" was described as "sluggish, dancehall-inflected trip hop", and "What's the Use" as "synth-funk".[5][8]
Release and promotion
On May 30, 2018, Miller released three non-album singles: "Small Worlds", "Buttons" and "Programs".[9] The album was released on August 3, 2018, amongst other high-profiled albums, such as Astroworld by Travis Scott and Stay Dangerous by YG.[10]
The album's second single, "Self Care", was released on July 13, 2018.[11] The album's third single, "What's the Use?", was released on July 23, 2018.[12]
Critical reception
Professional ratings | |
---|---|
Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.4/10[13] |
Metacritic | 78/100[14] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The A.V. Club | B[15] |
Exclaim! | 7/10[16] |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Independent | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
NME | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Pitchfork | 7.5/10[17] |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Slant Magazine | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
XXL | 4/5[19] |
Swimming received generally positive reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 78, based on 13 reviews.[14] In a highly positive review, Chase McMullen of The 405 wrote: "Reductive comparisons notwithstanding, this is very much a Mac Miller statement. If he found his stride nearly three years ago with GO:OD AM, he's now confidently in full control, guiding Swimming down a surprisingly restrained, subtle journey into a heart's bleakest turmoil."[20] Meaghan Garvey of The Guardian described Swimming as "a patient record in sound and concept" and "an ambling 13-song journey towards self-acceptance, one that does not end in triumph."[6] Colin McGowan of The A.V. Club complimented the album's production and vocal delivery: "Miller sounds great when he's whining, croaking, stretching syllables like warm mozzarella. Swimming's spare, dreamy production allows him to do a lot of that."[15] Evan Rytlewski of Pitchfork concluded: "An album with nothing but time on its hands and an understanding that healing is a slow, tedious process, Swimming is most engaging when it details the simple things Miller tells himself to keep his spirits up."[17] Kyle Mullin from Exclaim! enjoyed the album, saying, "Whether Miller is singing on those funk-inflected highlights, or rapping on them with a flow that's airtight to their irresistible rhythms, he sounds like a would-be chart-topper, not to mention one of the most versatile and accomplished hip-hop artists working today."[16] For NME, Hannah Mylrea concluded: "Swimming isn't what you would have expected from Miller when he first started dropping mixtapes over a decade ago, but that doesn't matter. This album shows his growth as both an artist, and as a person who's had to deal with the most private aspects of their life being publicly dissected. It's a stellar – if somewhat overlong – artistic statement."[7]
Mosi Reeves of Rolling Stone wrote that Swimming is Miller's "most impactful album of his career", though noted a lack of lyrical depth: "If he could surface those demons with more vivid details and add texture to his lyrics instead of simply using them as a rhythmic device, then he may have a genuinely classic album in him yet. But if Swimming doesn't quite achieve greatness, it connects. You can hear his pain and perseverance, even if he struggles to put it into words."[5] Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic concluded that "Swimming is ample evidence that Miller can pick up the pieces and continue evolving, his grasp on thoughtful, introspective hip-hop getting stronger by the album."[1] Trey Alston of Highsnobiety concluded that Swimming is "the authentic self-destruction album so many artists have attempted before. Here, Mac is in rare form, chronicling his destruction and rebirth in a way that shows his acknowledgment of the path ahead, but reluctance to step on it without the certainty of companionship at the end. Whether he continues to walk that path is ultimately up to him, but the Mac that's featured on Swimming will find his way from the darkness. In the process, he's given us a beautiful means to mark the turn of his narrative."[2]
Commercial performance
In Mac Miller's home country of United States, Swimming debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 with 66,000 album-equivalent units, which included 30,000 pure album sales.[21] It serves as Mac Miller's fifth consecutive top-five album in the United States.[21]
Following Mac Miller's death on September 7, 2018, the album rose from number 71 to number six on the Billboard 200 with 67,000 album-equivalent units, of which 15,000 were in traditional album sales.[22] Additionally, three tracks from the album entered the US Billboard Hot 100: "Self Care" (number 33), "Hurt Feelings" (number 70), and "Come Back to Earth" (number 91).[23] "Self Care" becoming Miller's highest-charting song as a lead artist and second-highest entry overall, behind Ariana Grande's "The Way" featuring Miller, reached number nine in 2013.[23]
In Australia, Swimming opened at number 21 on the ARIA Albums Chart, becoming Mac Miller's third top-50 album on the country.[24] In Canada, Swimming debuted at number four on the Canadian Albums Chart.[25] It serves as Miller's fifth consecutive top-10 album in the country.[25] In the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number 37 on the UK Albums Chart, becoming the rapper's first top-40 album on the chart.[26]
Track listing
Credits adapted from Tidal.[8]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Come Back to Earth" | 2:41 | ||
2. | "Hurt Feelings" |
| 4:05 | |
3. | "What's the Use?" |
| 4:48 | |
4. | "Perfecto" |
|
| 3:35 |
5. | "Self Care" |
| 5:45 | |
6. | "Wings" |
| Alexander Spit | 4:10 |
7. | "Ladders" |
|
| 4:47 |
8. | "Small Worlds" |
| 4:31 | |
9. | "Conversation Pt. 1" |
|
| 3:30 |
10. | "Dunno" |
| 3:57 | |
11. | "Jet Fuel" |
|
| 5:45 |
12. | "2009" |
| Eric G | 5:47 |
13. | "So It Goes" |
|
| 5:12 |
Total length: | 58:33 |
Notes
- ^[a] signifies a co-producer
- ^[b] signifies an additional producer
- "What's the Use?" features background vocals by Dâm-Funk, Snoop Dogg, Syd and Thundercat
- "Self Care" features uncredited vocals by Dev Hynes and J.I.D
Charts
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA)[27] | 7 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[28] | 35 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[29] | 15 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[30] | 73 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[31] | 4 |
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[32] | 9 |
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[33] | 13 |
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[34] | 13 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[35] | 27 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[36] | 54 |
Irish Albums (IRMA)[37] | 14 |
Italian Albums (FIMI)[38] | 90 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[39] | 7 |
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[40] | 10 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[41] | 20 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] | 23 |
UK Albums (OCC)[43] | 17 |
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[44] | 3 |
US Billboard 200[21] | 3 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[45] | 3 |
Release history
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | August 3, 2018 |
|
|
[46] |
October 26, 2018 | Vinyl | [47] |
References
- 1 2 3 Yeung, Neil. "Swimming – Mac Miller". AllMusic. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- 1 2 Alston, Trey (August 8, 2018). "'Swimming' Signals a Beautiful, Gripping Turn in Mac Miller's Narrative". Highsnobiety. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ↑ "Mac Miller announces new album Swimming". The Fader. July 12, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- 1 2 "Album reviews: Miles Kane, James, Amanda Shires, Mac Miller, Helena Hauff". The Independent. August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- 1 2 3 4 Reeves, Mosi (August 7, 2018). "Review: Mac Miller Sheds His Frat-Rap Persona on 'Swimming'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- 1 2 3 Garvey, Meaghan (August 2, 2018). "Mac Miller: Swimming review – maturing rapper in search for self-acceptance". The Guardian. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- 1 2 3 Mylrea, Hannah (August 3, 2018). "Mac Miller – 'Swimming' album review". NME. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- 1 2 "Swimming / Mac Miller". Tidal. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ↑ "Mac Miller drops three new singles". The Fader. May 30, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ↑ "7 Albums Out Today You Should Listen to Now: Travis Scott, YG, Helena Hauff, More". Pitchfork. August 3, 2018. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
- ↑ Goddard, Kevin (July 13, 2018). "Mac Miller Drops Off New Single & Video "Self Care"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
- ↑ Lamarre, Carl (July 23, 2018). "Mac Miller Drops 'What's the Use,' Announces Swimming Tour: See Details". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
- ↑ "Swimming by Mac Miller reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
- 1 2 "Swimming by Mac Miller Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- 1 2 "YG, Helena Hauff, and more albums to know about this week". The A.V. Club. August 8, 2018. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- 1 2 Mullin, Kyle (August 9, 2018). "Mac Miller, 'Swimming'". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- 1 2 Rytlewski, Evan (August 3, 2018). "Mac Miller: Swimming Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ↑ Ordaz, Sophia (August 8, 2018). "Mac Miller: Swimming". Slant Magazine. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
- ↑ "Mac Miller Battles His Inner Demons on 'Swimming' Album". XXL. August 8, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
- ↑ McMullen, Chase (August 3, 2018). "Review: Mac Miller finally perfects his craft with the existential dread, and ultimate acceptance, of Swimming". The 405. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- 1 2 3 Caulfield, Keith (August 12, 2018). "Travis Scott's 'Astroworld' Bows at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart With Second-Largest Debut of 2018". Billboard. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- ↑ Caulfield, Keith (September 16, 2018). "Paul McCartney Earns First No. 1 Album in Over 36 Years on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Egypt Station'". Billboard. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- 1 2 "Mac Miller Charts Three Songs on Billboard Hot 100, Led by 'Self Care' in Top 40". Billboard. September 18, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
- ↑ "Travis Scott scores debut #1 with Astroworld". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- 1 2 "Drake Unseated From No. 1 By Travis Scott's 'Astroworld'". FYIMusicNews. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ↑ "Travis Scott's Astroworld scores highest new entry on Official Albums Chart". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Mac Miller – Swimming". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Mac Miller – Swimming" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Mac Miller – Swimming" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Mac Miller – Swimming" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ↑ "Mac Miller Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 201837 on the field besides the word "Zobrazit", and then click over the word to retrieve the correct chart data. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- ↑ "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 37, 2018". Hitlisten. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Mac Miller – Swimming" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ↑ "Mac Miller: Swimming" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Mac Miller – Swimming" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ↑ "Irish Albums Chart: 14 September 2018". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ↑ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 37" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- ↑ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
- ↑ "VG-lista – Topp 40 Album uke 37, 2018". VG-lista. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ↑ "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 15, 2018. Click on "Veckans albumlista".
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Mac Miller – Swimming". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
- ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
- ↑ "Mac Miller Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
- ↑ "Swimming by Mac Miller on Apple Music". iTunes Store. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- ↑ "Mac Miller – Swimming [Vinyl]". Amazon. Retrieved August 4, 2018.