• Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Jun 18, 2013
Metascore
73

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 17
  2. Negative: 0 out of 17
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  1. Jul 8, 2013
    70
    Watching Movies is Miller’s most enduring, and endearing, project yet.
  2. Jul 2, 2013
    70
    You could spend a week with Watching Movies and pick out a handful of great-to-amazing tracks for yourself, but I still find it quite a challenge telling anyone what the songs are actually going on about.
  3. Jun 24, 2013
    70
    Watching Movies with the Sound Off is a quantum leap in artistry, but it’s not without faults; the album’s about three songs too long, and a couple of the tracks in the back end just plain run together.
  4. Jun 24, 2013
    80
    While Watching Movies with the Sound Off lacked that strong single to support the album’s release and the young Mac still has time to fully develop the direction in which he proceeds from at this point in time, the Most Dope spitter crafted a cinematic achievement that is definitely most dope.
  5. 70
    Ultimately, however, it’s hard not to notice that the production outshines the delivery.
  6. Jun 20, 2013
    80
    These sounds are heavier and Miller flows naturally in this element.
  7. Jun 19, 2013
    80
    Whatever adolescent deficiencies Mac Miller dealt with throughout his prodigious rise as Rostrum’s second brain child, Watching Movies With The Sound Off genuinely keeps him grounded for a calculated performance that will earn him the respect he’s craved since his Easy Mac days.
  8. Jun 18, 2013
    80
    Mac Miller emphatically joins a higher tier of rap artists with Watching Movies, an effort that at once silences his detractors and rewards his faithful following.
  9. Jun 18, 2013
    65
    It may be hard to take Mac Miller seriously at times, but it's just as hard to dredge up any overwhelmingly negative feelings about Watching Movies save for two [the cover art and the deluxe edition feels like there's some filler material ].
  10. Jun 18, 2013
    70
    There's no new "Trump," but the horn-spiked "Goosebumpz" brings a whole different ruckus and one of Miller's best punch lines.
  11. Jun 18, 2013
    80
    Mac Miller’s sophomore effort is a surprising and focused album from an artist fed up with his public perception. He does enough here to prove his point.
  12. Jun 17, 2013
    70
    Without the hooks or the lofty lyrics, the album seems made exclusively for Miller's fans or those who right-click indie rap mixtape links on the daily. Those audiences should find it an interesting trip, admirable artistic growth, and an attractive, entertaining step in the right direction. Others will likely be flummoxed.
  13. 75
    On his new Watching Movies With the Sound Off, the willfully goofy Miller has evolved--to a point.
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 150 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 12 out of 150
  1. Jun 21, 2013
    1
    This album sounds like noise. There are about 3 good songs on the entire album. Mac Millers lyrics might have gotten better but his productionThis album sounds like noise. There are about 3 good songs on the entire album. Mac Millers lyrics might have gotten better but his production suffered a lot. He needs to go back to his roots and stop going mainstream. Full Review »
  2. Jun 18, 2013
    8
    In Mac Miller's debut album, it was clear that he had not quite found a style of his own, a style he was comfortable with and that appealed toIn Mac Miller's debut album, it was clear that he had not quite found a style of his own, a style he was comfortable with and that appealed to an audience. Starting with the mixtape Macadelic, and continuing through features and randomly released songs, Miller slowly began to change his style and his efforts have paid off in Watching Movies With the Sound Off. While he has not appeared to completely discover his place in hip-hop yet, this album gives fans and critics alike a sense that he has cemented a place in the genre, an isn't leaving any time soon. The album's lead-off, "The Star Room" is a perfect intro to a great album. In Blue Slide Park, it felt as if the whole album was one big filler track, but here we see great lyricism and flow. One thing I could do without on the album however is the over-use of vocal pitching, Miller often pitches his voice down in parts where it would sound better normal tone. In some parts of the album it seems Miller gets lazy, with yawner tracks like "Someone Like You" and "Youforia". There is a little something for everyone in this album, with high-energy "Watching Movies" and 'Red Dot Music", and more calm tracks like "Avian", "Objects in the Mirror" and "Suplexes Inside of Complexes and Duplexes". While I don't think it would be right for him to sell out and just make catchy hook songs, I think atleast 1 or 2 anthem style songs that would get chart success would delve him into further territories in both monetary gain and he would gain more fans. Overall, in Watching Movies With the Sound Off, we see a more open Mac, sometimes self-pitying, and a Mac that is still changing. Expect albums in the future to continue to evolve, and himself as an artist to grow and prosper. Full Review »
  3. Jun 18, 2013
    5
    I dont get the praise. I hated his first album and I find myself bored at the end of WMWTSO listening session. There are few standout tracksI dont get the praise. I hated his first album and I find myself bored at the end of WMWTSO listening session. There are few standout tracks (especially Objects in Mirror) but besides that, album is filled with corny punchlines, nonsense metaphors and rhymes about getting high and fu***g bit***s. And we dont need any other young rapper with "shock value". Full Review »