Today I will be reviewing The Divine Feminine, an album by Mac Miller. Released in September 2016, The Divine Feminine has aged like fine wine as it closes up on its 9th year anniversary. Critically acclaimed by fans and experts alike and being my favorite of Miller’s projects, this intimate experience is the definitive journey through love and connection, blending together multiple genres like soul, hip-hop, and R&B to create the familiar Mac Miller sound that we love.
Starting off the ten-song tracklist is “Congratulations,” and in my opinion, this is the perfect introduction to the album. The delicate piano chords that echo throughout this song instantly enthrall you to the dream-like void created by the atmosphere of the song. The performances of the song are also nothing short of amazing, including the feature artist of the song Bilal, who really brought the progression of the song to the next level with his soulful vocals.
Shifting away from the slow, beautiful, and perhaps melancholic opener, “Dang!” is a groovy wake-up call for listeners. The bouncy and infectious production of the song is especially enhanced by Anderson .Paak’s hook and adlibs. My favorite part, however, is definitely Miller’s effortless flow and singing on the track. You just can’t help but nod nonchalantly when you’re dragged in by the addictiveness of this song, for sure one of my favorites.
Driven by the brass and horns, the jazzy quality of “Stay” is phenomenally immersive. The upbeat and romantic sound of the song is ear candy as Miller sings the narrative of pleading for his lover to stay and not abandon him. All these elements blend together to create an emotional but playful song that can be played anywhere, although the creative direction on the last leg of the song is definitely questionable.
Transitioning into my personal favorite on the album, “Skin” is one of the most underrated songs in the track list with only 64 million streams, making it the second least streamed song out of the ten. But as you listen to this song, it really makes you wonder why that is because it absolutely bangs. With its seductive production and Mac’s laid-back serenade of vocals, this is one of his most catchy performances.
Featuring a rich harmonizing performance from Ty Dollar $ign, this 8 minute song evolves in two distinct phases, each representing the highs and lows of a relationship. The first leg is hypnotic and punctuated, with its trappy beat and layered in guitar chords. Halfway, it transitions into a more dream-like section with a more loose performance from Miller as well as an arrangement of synths.
Moving on to the second half of the album, “Planet God Damn” kicks off with a delicate melody accompanied by hard-hitting drums, seemingly a recurring element in the album. Miller once again excels in his verses, but my favorite part of the song is by far Njomza’s feature vocals, her voice and choice of delivery is ethereal in combination with the production and makes you feel like you’re caught in a trance.
“Soulmate” is the least streamed song of the album falling right behind Skin with around 63 million streams. However, the quality of this song does not reflect the stream count because it is stellar, both figuratively and literally. The production quite literally sounds like the twinkling stars in the sky with its various arrangements of spacey bells and sound chops, really giving the song a special psychedelic feel. The drum pattern also changes multiple times throughout the song, making it feel free-flowing and natural.
Blending a gospel-like sound and soul, there is a rich choir sample in the background of the production in “We.” CeeLo Green is featured on the song, whose verse and delivery adds a vintage feel to this smooth and calming track. Miller’s performance is also up-to-par as always, fitting in to the song’s warm and inviting sound. The way the song develops is also absolutely heavenly, the backing vocals will for sure serenade you to sleep if you listen to it too much.
Bringing one of my favorite performances from Miller, “My Favorite Part” just happens to also include a silky and elegant feature from Ariana Grande, whose voice gives such a beautiful contrast to Miller’s laid-back and low tone of delivery. As the title suggests, this song is for sure also the “favorite part” of the album for many fans.
Closing on a high note, the production is some of the best the album has to offer with its constantly evolving samples, instrumentals. The song is made only more immersive with Kendrick’s pitched-down hook. Being the longest song of the album spanning 8 minutes and 20 seconds, it certainly doesn’t feel that way as the music is so good, time just slips by when you’re listening to the song. Concluding the album, in the last few minutes of the song is a unique and tear-inducing interlude that tells the story of an aged widow mourning and recapping the life of her deceased spouse.
The Divine Feminine is a sonic departure from Mac Miller’s earlier works, embracing more live instrumentation, jazz influences, and a more soulful approach. The album’s production is rich and textured, featuring intricate drum patterns and warm analog synths that always brings an intimate feel to the tracks. Miller’s flow is more fluid and melodic than ever, blending seamlessly with the dreamy soundscape. A beautifully crafted and deeply personal album, The Divine Feminine stands as one of Miller’s most cohesive projects yet. Subjectively, it continues to be my personal favorite album from Miller despite the release of several new posthumous projects as well as his other classics.
