Summary:The second solo release for the Seattle rapper features guest appearances from Abir, Dan Caplen, Dave B, Skylar Grey, Kesha, King Draino, Lil Yachty, Donna Missal, Eric Nally, Offset, Reignwolf, Saint Claire, Otieno Terry, Travis Thompson, and Xperience.
While some fans might prefer Macklemore with Lewis, Gemini is a reminder that before the multi-platinum singles, hit albums, and thrift shop threads, he could handle himself just fine.
It’s a sprawling set that displays many different sides of his personality, from party boy (the old-school groove “Levitate”) to spiritual dad (the gospel-charged “Church”). Although it is uneven and feels longer than its 60 minutes, Gemini is held together by Macklemore’s Everydudeness and a loose mixtape quality.
Partying tunes like the funky "Firebreather" sometimes feel like not much more than a rich white guy bragging. But Macklemore's trademark awkward humanity comes through on "Good Old Days," a reflection on aging (with Kesha), and "Church," a thank-you letter to making it that's warm, vivid, earnest and earned.
It’s too long, and large parts of it are corny or forgettable, but in the context of Macklemore as a pop musician--and not a rapper--it doubles down on his strengths: well-crafted, sincere verses about his personal experiences combined with a better hook, usually provided by someone else.
The record is not wondrous, but it’s a light listen with a couple of good moments and a handful of clunkers. The weaker moments reveal his shortcomings as a rapper without being provocative or ponderous enough to provoke a firebomb, or even a raspberry, in response.
This is the same old Macklemore, stuffing all of his songs with drop-out catchphrases and horn solos and minutes-long American Idol-style belting, all starry-eyed and corny in the same way that, say, the music in a Broadway musical is.
This album deserve more praise then it's getting. Some of the songs are not the best perhaps but really its not a bad album. Macklemores WillyThis album deserve more praise then it's getting. Some of the songs are not the best perhaps but really its not a bad album. Macklemores Willy Wonka is awesome as well as Zara.…Expand
Overall, the album has more good songs than bad. How To Play The Flute is...awful. Levitate has a very similar sound to Mack & Ryan Lewis'Overall, the album has more good songs than bad. How To Play The Flute is...awful. Levitate has a very similar sound to Mack & Ryan Lewis' 'Dance Off' from TUMIM. The highlights of this album: Ain't Gonna Die Tonight, Willy Wonka, Excavate, Glorious, Firebreather and Good Old Days.…Expand
With the expectations so high, you could say Macklemore delivered a good, solid project. Less-left side of anything Macklemore has done sinceWith the expectations so high, you could say Macklemore delivered a good, solid project. Less-left side of anything Macklemore has done since his 2005 debut, "Gemini" is the most "rap" album he has made. With bangers like "Willy Wonka", "How To Play The Flute", and "Ten Million" and smooth pop-rap tracks like "Glorious", "Good Old Days", and "Zara", this album doesn't disappoint.…Expand
I've always been a fan of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. So when I heard Macklemore was going solo, I was excited as hell. A new album from one ofI've always been a fan of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. So when I heard Macklemore was going solo, I was excited as hell. A new album from one of my favorite albums of all time?! **** YEAH!! And then I heard the album... Well, its not bad, I guess. The production is solid, and the lyrics are ok. But I CAN'T STAND SOME OF THE TRACKS ON HERE!! Which is sad, because 'The Heist' is one of my favorite albums of all time. I'm disappointed that I have to give this album an "eeeeehhhhhh...". 6/10…Expand
The deep cuts like Good Old Days might be memorable, but Gemini is a fun but forgettable record. Maybe this only proves that MacklemoreThe deep cuts like Good Old Days might be memorable, but Gemini is a fun but forgettable record. Maybe this only proves that Macklemore wouldn’t be as much as effective without Ryan Lewis.…Expand
Of the four Macklemore albums this one is probably his fourth best. I like Macklemore and especially The Heist. But this album tries aOf the four Macklemore albums this one is probably his fourth best. I like Macklemore and especially The Heist. But this album tries a slightly different style with modern, generic, 2017 trap rap and it's just not my style. I actually miss Macklemore's pop-rap style. He still mixes some fun songs with some serious songs. The song featuring Ke$ha is a great song. But overall just a weak album.…Expand
I liked The Heist, it was a decent pop rap album, This Unruly Mess was horrible, but somehow this is worse. It's just normal Macklemore withI liked The Heist, it was a decent pop rap album, This Unruly Mess was horrible, but somehow this is worse. It's just normal Macklemore with everything bad turned up to 11. More bad lyrics, more mediocre beats, etc..
Ain't Gonna Die Tonight was OK except for Eric Nally squealing like a pig being killed, Glorious is actually pretty OK but not glorious. Marmalade is kind of a fun song but it's nothing I haven't heard before from Macklemore or Yachty. Especially Yachty. Willy Wonka definitely has some bars as Macklemore himself says, but the chorus(es) are mediocre at best.
Intentions made me want to intentionally end my life. Goo Old Days was meh. Nothing to really say about it. Levitate got me to fully experience the migraine the rest of the songs had been building up to. Firebreather is actually kinda OK, but that riff is ripped from somewhere. The feature from Reignwolf is one of the better ones on this album. How to Play the Flute is another OK song (two in a row. Somehow). I mean it's not the worst trap song.
Ten Million is the only song that doesn't have a feature and it's not good. I wish there were a word to describe my thoughts on this. I guess a long groan would be sufficient. It has interesting parts and also just terrible parts. When I first heard Over It I immediately wanted to stop listening, but against my judgement I went into, you guessed it, another bad song. After Zara I genuinely just wanted to stop. Just stop. Just like stop living. It's not that bad just this all gets on you.
I'm just not gonna list my thoughts on the rest of the songs. I have a headache too big from this album
Ratings why not:
Ain't Gonna Die Tonight 3
Glorious 2
Marmalade 1
Willy Wonka 4
Intentions light 1
Good Old Days strong 2
Levitate 2
Firebreather 5
How to Play the Flute 7
Ten Million 3
Over It 2
Zara strong 1
Corner Store 2
Miracle 2
Church 5
Excavate 3…Expand
