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This Unruly Mess I've Made Image
Metascore
59

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 153 Ratings

  • Summary: The second full-length release for the hip hop duo features guest appearances from such artists as Anderson .Paak, Leon Bridges, Chance The Rapper, DJ Premier, Idris Elba, KRS-One, Kool Moe Dee, and Ed Sheeran.
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Top Track

Downtown
I went to the moped store, said "Fuck it" Salesman's like "What up, what's your budget?" And I'm like "Honestly, I don't know nothing about... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 17
  2. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. Mar 4, 2016
    80
    The album isn’t necessarily a classic, or better than The Heist, but it does prove Macklemore is here to stay.
  2. Mar 3, 2016
    76
    The title harbors on his crash-landed placement in the mainstream where he simply wants to co-exist while the music, albeit a times disjointed, makes up one of the most self-aware, socially conscious rap albums in recent memory, if not ever.
  3. Mar 3, 2016
    70
    Four years later, with This Unruly Mess I’ve Made, he’s dropped the album that Kanye haters wanted Kanye to make.
  4. Feb 26, 2016
    58
    It’s hard to think of a more apt title for this album than This Unruly Mess I’ve Made. Listeners can find everything that made Macklemore popular in the first place, mixed with everything that lead to the intense backlash against him two years ago.
  5. Mar 24, 2016
    50
    Though This Unruly Mess I’ve Made is decent, its biggest failing lies in its quality control. For every good song, there are two mediocre and/or forgettable ones next to them.
  6. Feb 25, 2016
    50
    Well intentioned but frequently clumsy (“I want to be Hugh Jackman/ you know jacked, man”), the record demonstrates that the duo’s skills haven’t yet caught up to their ambition.
  7. Mar 3, 2016
    30
    Many of This Unruly Mess I’ve Made’s flaws could’ve very well been forgotten, or at least temporarily swept under the rug, had the actual music been good.

See all 17 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 33
  2. Negative: 6 out of 33
  1. Feb 26, 2016
    10
    TUMIM is missing some of the catchiness The Heist offered, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. This time, whole album is more seriousTUMIM is missing some of the catchiness The Heist offered, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. This time, whole album is more serious while it remains easy to listen with some parts that will stay in your mind for some time. It kinda reminds me of RAM from Daft Punk with the way TUMIM is built. It also has a lot of variety, features some old school, some modern, some pop-like songs and while some of the songs may seem redundant on their own, it adds that ridiculousness and corniness to whole LP that Macklemore is known for. So if you are looking for some damn funny songs with sweet tones and liked The Heist, you may not like TUMIM. It's not that album that makes you think "wow I like rap and hip hop" as The Heist, and I don't even think it was Macklemore's aim this time. TUMIM to me is an album that is done for his fans and is honest and comes directly from his heart. Expand
  2. Sep 17, 2016
    10
    Great album. Great content. Love the song Kevin. Please keep doing your thing Macklemore. I made this account just to give you a positiveGreat album. Great content. Love the song Kevin. Please keep doing your thing Macklemore. I made this account just to give you a positive review. I listened to both albums back to back many times, great, inspirational albums. I'm really tired of rappers with drug, money, and violence themes gathering so much praise, makes no sense. Lyrically and creativity wise, not many are on this your... tiramisu Expand
  3. Feb 27, 2016
    9
    I'm truly impressed with this Record. Right when I played the first song, it captivated me. Not only do I appreciate the smart and thoughtfulI'm truly impressed with this Record. Right when I played the first song, it captivated me. Not only do I appreciate the smart and thoughtful lyrics, I also think that the usage of less electric-sounding beats and melodies that go more in the direction of classical R&B fits perfectly and makes this Album sonically cohesive.
    The first song, Light Tunnels featuring Mike Slap stood out to me especially. The idea of sharing the experience of an award ceremony in a song is something I haven't seen yet. And it works well as Macklemore himself seems to have experienced the events he's rapping about.
    Obviously, White Privilege II is already iconic. This 8 minute long masterpiece of a hip hop song about racism and the black-lives-matter movement has so many levels and details and changes inside itself and that makes every second of it worth listening - over and over again.
    But songs like Let's Eat featuring XP show that not everything about the Record is deep and serious. Let's Eat is a positive-sounding tune about not caring about one's weight but instead enjoying life.

    All in all i'm in love with Macklemore's new album and i'm sure it will rise to great success.
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  4. Feb 28, 2016
    7
    This album is filled with some good songs and a few completely unforgettable tracks. Fantastic production from start to finish and alsoThis album is filled with some good songs and a few completely unforgettable tracks. Fantastic production from start to finish and also incredible features (KRS-One, Melle Mel, chance the Rapper, Idras Elba). The Train, Light Tunnels, Downtown, Buckhot, Kevin, Growing Up, St Ides, are all great songs and worth listening. Not as strong, thoughtful, or fun as 'The Heist'. Many people will give this album a low rating because a lot of people hate Macklemore, but in reality it's an decent album. Expand
  5. Feb 28, 2016
    6
    Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' sophomore album reaches to be great but ended up being something much more subdued. Following the aftermath ofMacklemore and Ryan Lewis' sophomore album reaches to be great but ended up being something much more subdued. Following the aftermath of their success with The Heist, Grammy wins and infamously "robbing" Kendrick of Best Rap Album, Macklemore confides in us the struggle to identify the voice he has within the hip hop community as a white man, a theme that starts from the opening song Light Tunnels and ends with White Privilege II. As a concept, this would make for the album he needed to prove to the rap community that he is someone worth listening to, but sadly fizzles while meandering through others ideas present on this record.
    Before getting into it too much, let me just say that Ryan Lewis' production is the highlight of this album. To contrast much of the seriousness that Macklemore brings, he balances a warmth that is reminiscent of some of his work off the VS EP, while heavily improving upon the composition seen in the Heist, notably the inclusion of guitars and other strings, using the latter to invoke a cinematic feel at times.
    This album's strength lies in those moments where Macklemore is introspective, on songs such as Growing Up ft. Ed Sheeran, St. Ides, and Kevin ft. Leon Bridges, where he channels the rage left off from Otherside, a song off the VS EP. However, songs such as Let's Eat, and Brad Pitt's Cousin give the listener whiplash as the tone suddenly changes from contemplative on the previous track to "hey don't be too serious!". It's these songs that cheapen the album that I could do without, but it wouldn't be a Macklemore album without these moments.
    The stand out track for me Buckshot, with features from DJ Premier and KRS-One. The beat goes hard from the start, obviously a throwback to old school east coast hip hop. It's this exploration of Macklemore's roots and new sounds that should have been focused on more than anything else.
    Speaking of DJ Premier and KRS-One, this album had some amazing feature artists, from YG to Anderson .Paak, whose album "Malibu" I really enjoyed. And how the heck did he get Idris Elba on a track? Unfortunately, he failed to use the features properly in any song, as each artist trudged through whatever Macklemore wanted to have done. Chance the Rapper, usually the one to have fun, feels stiff in Need to Know, and Anderson .Paak barely gets a verse! What a waste.
    My final thoughts on this album, is that it really was unruly mess. It lacks coherence from track to track, but only by Ryan Lewis' production does it somehow mesh sonically. In truth, this album is not meant for the avid hip hop head, but it doesn't mean it was misguided by any means. What I find remarkable about Macklemore is his ability to draw in listeners and start a conversation. This album is meant for newcomers to the hip hop genre, and this album serves as a gateway to understanding the hip hop community and the struggles that originated this genre of music and its culture. If it makes the audience uncomfortable, Macklemore has done his job, and that's what he does so well.
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  6. Mar 4, 2016
    6
    This album as a whole sums up to one word for me: average. This is an average album, nothing terrible, nothing amazing, but it’s definitely aThis album as a whole sums up to one word for me: average. This is an average album, nothing terrible, nothing amazing, but it’s definitely a middle of the road project. I was very interested with how Macklemore was going to approach up to this project as, especially after the release of White Privilege II, but what I got was what I expected which was a decent album. I don’t really ask much of Mack, but I am definitely pleased with Ryan Lewis’ production on this project. My favorite songs on the album are Need to Know, Buckshot, and Bolo Tie, I thought those three hit very hard compared to the others, and in my eyes were standout tracks. The three lackluster songs on this album on the other hand in my opinion were Let’s Eat, Brad Pitt’s Cousin, and Dance Off. Although I enjoyed listening to Dance Off, I feel that the song is just completely pointless and has no value compared to the rest of the album. Expand
  7. May 6, 2016
    0
    "you're elvis, you're miley, you're iggy azalea" really? how dare you to be so HYPOCRATE? talking about equality and now, dissing a dead man"you're elvis, you're miley, you're iggy azalea" really? how dare you to be so HYPOCRATE? talking about equality and now, dissing a dead man and two girls? FOR REAL? MISOGYNY AS HELL. Expand

See all 33 User Reviews