Post Malone : "AUSTIN"

He continues down the path of sound that pretty much picks up where his last album left off once you get past the ballad he opens the album with. Even as pop ballads go, to his credit Malone choses to deviate  from the standard pop hooks , in favor of a more introspective vibe, it works , though even for this kind of things is not his best work. There is a more heavily layer almost gospel styled chorus of harmonies to create a bigger sound for "Something Real" that does not work off a groove I do appreciate that there is more guitar on this album. Things get a little happy for me on "Chemical" and his self deprecating lyrics are not enough to really offset that feeling for me, but it is well executed for what it is. 

"Novacandy" finds him still within the zip code of what Justin Bieber does if not for romanticizing drug use. Of the album's first four songs, this one plays the formula he uses the best. It plays to his strengths as a songwriter. The bulk of "Mourning' works of a sing song melody that feels like it was written for children. Perhaps it was. "Too Cool to Die' has more of an 80's feel to it in the same manner that the Weeknd has played off similar moods. Unlike most of his pop peers he only has four additional songwriters helping out on this album , rather than the team of 2 dozen most use these days. Mega Producer Max Martin does contribute to the track "Sign Me Up" . It smooths out the edges of Austin's linger attitude, and it rides a lukewarm middle ground.  To his credit he also does not litter this album with guest spots.

"Overdrive" finds things going into a limp middle of the road ballad that ironically talks about being uninspired. "Speedometer" is a little better, but sounds like if he made an album with the Shins, as it has lost of of it's edge. I am not hearing much from his trailer park gangsta side that gave his lyrics the charisma they once had.  "Hold My Breath" might be his best vocal performance to date. It is once again another descent in balladry. If John Mayer had face tattoos and drank Lean he might sound like this. Granted there are 17 songs on this album, this is only the 11th so it's too soon to say, as the rest of them could be slappers , but I am not expecting it.  On a song like "Enough is Enough' I have to separate my personal taste, from what is effective for Post Malone as an artist. I can hear where this song would open a few doors for him in the current state of the industry, though it's too happy for me.

The sound I prefer from him comes closer to being captured "Texas Tea" as it's darker, and a more honest lyrically take on his world. More acoustic guitars are strummed on "Buyer Beware" that also carries an 80s new wave feel at certain angles. If Justin Bieber did not get sidetracked going to church and just smoked weeds, I can hear him heading in a similar direction. Austin does not have Bieber's pipes, but works well with what he has. "Landmine' just breezed by. The lyrics about his friends taking vitamins, did not really do a lot for me. There is a slight Cure like melody to the guitars, but the song is over produced. If you were hoping "Greenthumb" was a bumping beat driven song about weed you would be mistaken. The last song is another ballad with more of a Coldplay feel to it, making this album all and all a let down. It is well made, and they committed cool sounds to tape, but the end product is a bunch of ballads that sound like background music for a network teen drama. I will give it a 6.5. 

Report to the Dance Floor- :Post Malone : "Hollywood's Bleeding"

If you are surprised I am covering this album then you must have missed out on my Taylor Swift review. It's ok it is only a few clicks back.  I see this guy as being about as Trap as Justin Bieber. Like Justin he makes some entertaining pop music. "Beerbones & Bentleys" was very hooky and well written. This is the bar this album is being held to. The opening title track is more atmospheric than his other stuff and not the most hooky The second song is better and plays more to his strengths. . He continues to sing more than he raps. Or another way to say this might be his supposed style of raps is sing song to the point of crossing over. By the time we get to "Enemies" he is locked back into his comfort zone.

The more new wave tone of "Allergic" is like the turn the Weeknd took on "False Alarm" . It's a cool song, but sets the record straight this is a pop album not a hip hop album. "A Thousand Bad Times" is another catchy song, though it justifies my Justin Bieber comparison. Lyrically this album falls along the same lines as the previous one. I might just need to grow on "Circles" is almost too happy for me. The bass contributes to this. The song is fairly guitar centered. Future joins him on "Die For Me" thus giving the song a stronger hip hop element. There is more auto tune on his voice on this one to conform more to the standard 2019 hip hop approach. Halsey also drops a pretty effective verse on this. He is doing what he does really well on "On the Road" which benefits from a solid groove.  Well... Ozzy is on "Take What You Want". It is a good song, but I am not sure how I feel for Ozzy's  sake.

"I'm Gonna Be" is an odd pop song. It might have to grow on me."Staring at the Sun" is another pop song, it has a lighter mood despite the lyrics though some what dialed in aside from the female vocal. There are however 17 songs so more margin of error. My guess is if this had been narrowed down to the 10 best songs it would have been am incredible album. The melody to "Sunflower" reminds me of M.I.A, what ever happened to her ?  It's beginning to add to the fact that this is a happier more upbeat album than the previous, perhaps he needs to do more drugs. At this point if you are not a fan of Malone you might wonder what   I consider a good song when it comes to Malone here,  this can best be explained by the song "Internet" . It is melodic pop with a drug glazed  attitude .  I am not looking for Morrissey quality lyrics. Sometimes he delivers this better than others "Goodbyes" just falls in the comfortable dialed in range of what he does.

"Myself" is well written for what it is and works for what he does. He needs to quit taking the meds the Doctors prescribe him and take the ones they are not.  "I Know" works , but is in the Bieberr zone. The last song "Wow" works for me after the second listen. The beat is pretty solid. I will give this album a 9, I could narrow this down to the ten songs that would make this a 10, but he would not stop while he was ahead so it is what is is and I am workign with what I am given.