Rank: 4/5
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis are back with more of the same: goofy, laughable dance tracks and hard-hitting social commentaries on their sophomore album “This Unruly Mess I’ve Made.”
Macklemore kicks the album off with the song “Light Tunnels,” a scathing analysis of the absurdity and general worthlessness of modern award shows.
Specifically, he’s referring to last year’s Grammy Awards, where his immensely popular debut album “The Heist” won Best Rap Album over Kendrick Lamar’s influential “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2014.
Even Macklemore will tell you how much of a mistake that was. He’s confessed on social media that he feels he unjustly stole the award from Lamar. In this opening track, he explains that Grammys are most often awarded to whichever artist is most popular at the time.
“They want the gossip, they want the drama / They want Britney Spears to make out with Madonna / They want Kanye to rant and to go on longer, ‘cause that equates to more dollars,” he said.
The album immediately moves on to the rather goofy, albeit well-produced, single “Downtown.” This moped-themed rap anthem feels very reminiscent of the songs that Macklemore built his fame upon, particularly “Thrift Shop.”
Whimsical dance tracks like these aren’t lacking on “This Unruly Mess I’ve Made,” either. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis deliver a spiritual successor to their 2009 hit “And We Danced” with “Dance Off,” one of the album’s most satisfying moments if only because of nostalgia. It comes complete with features from actor Idris Elba and singer Anderson .Paak.
On the other hand, “Brad Pitt’s Cousin” is arguably the worst song on the entire project.
Macklemore is most effective when he’s offering his social commentaries, not when he’s trying to be as goofy as possible.
Thankfully, “This Unruly Mess I’ve Made” has its fair share of thought-provoking and impactful rhymes, as well.
In the song “Kevin,” Macklemore touches on the dangers of drug dependency by chronicling the series of events that led to the death of one of his close friends at the hands of pharmaceuticals.
“We’re just trying to minimize the fear of being alive / And now my little brother is in the sky / From a pill that a doctor prescribed / That a drug dealing billion dollar industry supplied / And the cops never go and profile at night.”
Other notable tracks include “St. Ides,” which focuses on depression and the endless cycle of addiction, and “Need To Know,” which features a fantastic verse from Chance The Rapper.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis close out the album with the track “White Privilege II,” a sequel to Macklemore’s 2005 track that examined the role that skin color plays in hip hop.
“They’re chanting out, ‘Black Lives Matter,’ but I don’t say it back / Is it okay for me to say? I don’t know, so I watch and stand / In front of a line of police that look the same as me / Only separated by a badge, a baton, a can of Mace, a mask / A shield, a gun with gloves and hands that gives an alibi.”
All in all, “This Unruly Mess I’ve Made” is hurt by a handful of awkward dance tracks, but those unfortunate moments can be largely forgiven thanks to the insightful social commentary Macklemore is known for.