Album Review: Mike Posner Is “A Real Good Kid”
Mike Posner’s new album, A Real Good Kid, is getting ready to be released on January 18, and it is a change for the Ibiza singer. It alters his sound, so much so, that you use his voice as the sole memory that this is Mike Posner. Yet, I am for it.
Some artists change, especially when they use their personal life to mold their artistry. For Mike Posner, it was the death of his father that spiraled him into self-analysis. If anyone has suffered the loss of a loved one or a parent, then they understand that it feels like you have lost a spiritual limb. Phantasm pains throb through your life as you still turn to that person for comfort; only to realize they are no longer there. Lyrically, Posner not only confronts his grief, but also his wonder over whether he will ever measure up to the man his father wanted him to be. In essence, is he truly his dad’s “real good kid”?
Vocally, Posner steams lyrics as if emotions can shower. He is so blatantly distinguishable, and he approaches heartbreak with a tender range. He holds verses as if he is a kid trying to figure out why flowers die or the sun disappears for half the day, but not seeking science for answers as much as spirit or life’s philosophy. Why do things work the way they work? Hence, it makes it sense that he changed his sound to a more simmered, folksy tune. While synths and analog rhythms are still used, he treats even the most digitized rhythm like a grounded guitar strumming alongside a river of questions for Life. You can literally hear his mind churning throughout tracks like, “Jan 11,” “Drip,” “Staring At the Fire,” and “One More Song.” For Mike Posner, Real Good Kid was not about making hits as much as achieving healing, which could give you a pop hit, as well.
From “Moving On” to “Perfect,” you get the feeling that A Real Good Kid was record made for Mike Posner, which is why you like it. The album feels insular and isolated, which a loved one’s death can spark in a person. Yet, I enjoyed feeling like I was listening to an artist reveal his person rather than a person reveal they are an artist. Posner dropped emotional veils to become a surprising comfort for the bereaved that truly do not feel like being their “old self” now that their loved one is gone. Thus, like Mike Posner, it is okay to become someone new, as long as you are still good. For More Information On Mike Posner And To Buy A Real Good Kid Click Here.
