Of all the headlines in Rap this year, Mac Miller’s reemergence has to rank up there. Following the release of his 2011 debut album Blue Slide Park—and the blistering 1.0 rating he got from Pitchfork—some listeners dismissed Miller as an Eminem wannabe sans the lyrical dexterity. As they saw it, he was a flash-in-the-pan whose lily-white rhymes weren’t that original. Though the album succeeded commercially, the harsh criticism of it forced Miller into an addiction to promethazine, a habit he reportedly didn’t break until fall 2012.
So when Miller dropped his sophomore album, Watching Movies with the Sound Off in June, no one could blame you for ignoring it. It’s not like he gave you many reasons to stick around. But Watching Movies was good. Like, “Holy shit, I can’t believe this is good” good. From it, you could tell that Miller harnessed all that negativity into a cathartic stream of emotion. He didn’t reach so hard for superstardom; instead, Miller slowed down and tapped into his pain. Watching Movies… wasn’t as lively as Blue Slide Park, but it was far more natural.
Maybe that’s why Miller asks permission to perform 2011’s “Best Day Ever” on his new live album, Live from Space, recorded during “The Space Migration Tour” this past summer. The set features nine choice selections from his days on the road with The Internet and five entirely new studio songs. “I know we usually do new shit,” Miller tells The Internet band member Taylor Walker. “But I feel like I’ve got some fans in here that would appreciate if we could just do some old shit real quick.” From there, Miller and the band give the song new life, transforming the syrupy track into a soulful stomp. A grizzly tune like “Watching Movies” is even more aggressive with The Internet’s fluid orchestration.
As a result, Live from Space is a coming-out party for the band and a moral victory for Miller. While he does a good job connecting with the fans in Salt Lake City, St. Louis and elsewhere, these songs wouldn’t have the same umph without the improvised hijinks we hear from the rapper and his cast of characters. There’s the random rendition of D’Angelo’s “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” that Miller swears they didn’t practice, and the electro-funk jam that concludes “The Question.” It seems the crew has fun in practice and on stage, and that synergy is evident throughout the live portion of this LP. But Miller is ultimately the album’s biggest hindrance. New tracks like “Earth” continue Mac’s 2013 momentum, but there are only so many times you can listen to Miller drone through live, off-key versions of “Youforia” and “REMember” without wanting something brighter.
Ultimately, this album faces the same shortcoming as most live recordings: that you can’t truly appreciate the music until you’ve seen it performed. There’s no way to see the fans’ faces or feel their adulation when their favorite songs drop. You can’t feel the stadium rattle or watch the band actively simulate Miller’s catalog. Live from Space isn’t that visual, so the live tracks quickly lose steam after a few listens. It shouldn’t dissipate Miller’s momentum this year. If anything, it puts a nice ribbon atop the rapper’s valiant comeback.
Great album, Mac is always consistent.
NO
Mac can sing?
Why is every rapper nowadays a fruitcake??
I think you butt-fucked too many 10 year old locs in the streets homie. Now you think everybody is gay.
Not every rapper, only your favorite. Go listen to Gucci Mane he aint a fraud!
I just can’t understand why people like this guy.. No hate. I really tried.
I use to feel the same but his Movies album was pretty good & I started to give him a spin, he’s alright, at least your honest & not just spewing bull shit like everyone else on this site.
^^ How im feeling. I listened to his Movies album on a whim and actually really dig it.
Check “Eggs Aisle” on this record, cool mellow track
cant hate on him he improved so much since his first album
mac is hard, I think.
I get hard whenever I see mac’s big, white cock moving around on stage
That is just your opinion and you can just keep it
Haven’t listened to this guy since Asleep in the Bread Aisle. Don’t plan on it.
Too bad for you because he’s a lot better now.
That was another white gimmick college rapper. Can’t believe people support this fucking trash…The kid is monotone and has no charisma…it’s like listening to a down syndrome kid read the alphabet over a beat.
Asher Roth isn’t a gimmick, he made one song and his label tried to market him that way.
He’s done with the label now. listen to Pabst & Jazz by Asher real hip-hop over dope production
I’ll listen to Mac’s live album with the 5 new songs before I listen to any of these other bum rappers any day of the week. PEACE. MOST DOPE!!!!!
Didn’t even hear this yet. Just wanted to say great review. I liked Watching Movies. I couldn’t really fuck with anything before that but he absolutely killed that Bronson collab on Bronson’s Blue Chips 2. Best verse I heard him spit flow wise. He’s getting better and better. So keep doing that. And he fucks with all my favorite artist so he’s well connected and it’s pure hip-hop.
Ra Rugged Man Diabolic Action Bronson Asher Roth Eminem Yelawolf Evidence are dope white mc’s.
Mac boring geek nerd macklemore is a confused homo and MGK is an annoying faggot
Beanie Sigel is too hard for hiphopdx they trying to lock up his quotes like the legend himself
It was pretty decent overall.
Fresh
he might be consistent, but he’s still wack as shit. don’t buy this garbage, but if you do, use it as a weed plate or a Frisbee for your pet. 0/5
but I only gots a hamster yo
whole thing is very tight. its a fuckin live album, what do you expect?
Gucci Mane realest rapper outthere:
– this nigga throws bitches out his car while driving
– shoot niggas dead
– beat niggas up.
Gucci aint no fantasy nigga like:
– mobb deep,
– nas escobar lol nigga only had a ticket for parking his car wrong
– 2pac never gangbanged
– rick ross
lol you literally just told me your super gay
I totally agree with you on everything except that he is the realest LMFAO tho. Hear the song bingo it has gucci mane, soulja boy and wocka flocka in it fucking funny ass song
whats the common denominator of gucci, waka, and soulja boy? they all wack and must suck a mean dick, because no sober A & R would even associate with these crackheads if they dont. sorry if i talked bad about your boyfriend gucci
I didnt like Mac till this song… This is DOPE
this faggot again… shit i hate this looser looks gay acts all happy and shit and i am white, this guy deserved passing out in the concert
loved the new stuff, enjoyed the live
He proves that he is a real and serious + grown up musician with this live tape. Well done!
i beleive this is an incredible,amazing and mind blowing collaboration. All one needs to do is to download and enjoys quality music
thats clearly a typo. dx and the users have the same rating? must be seein shit. anyway objects in the mirror live is my jam, the rest is pretty good.
incredible. Black Bush is my favorite
My most favorite album EVER!! No matter what mood I can listen to this❤️ I was too close to seeing Mac Miller LIVE?? REST EASY MAC ??