Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have released their new album, This Unruly Mess I’ve Made, the hugely anticipated follow-up to his breakthrough album The Heist.
The 13-track collection of songs includes four tracks we’ve already heard: “Downtown,” “Growing Up,” “Kevin,” and the lightning rod of controversy, “White Privilege II”. Collaborations run deep this time around, with Chance the Rapper, YG, Leon Bridges and DJ Premier among the guests buoying the butterscotch delight of a record. Ed Sheeran guests on “Growing Up,” an obvious radio-baiting hit in the making.
“Light Tunnel” is fascinatingly self-aware, recounting award-night anxiety from a surprisingly relatable perspective. “Just look normal, don’t get turned into a meme. Relax. Breathe,” he flows.
Upbeat and full of self-deprecating humor as well as the obligatory pack-in of socially conscious raps, This Unruly Mess I’ve Made won’t be potent enough to fend off Mack’s biggest detractors, but it’s a solid record with strong replay value.
You can pick up This Unruly Mess I’ve Made here. Macklemore and Ryan Lewis will be performing at Neumos in Seattle tonight, and the show will be streamed live courtesy of Amazon.
