By: Aaryan Sama
Rapper, singer, producer, actor, writer, stand-up comedian, and director–Donald Glover, better known by the moniker Childish Gambino, has proven himself to be a renaissance man, with his latest release “Bando Stone & The New World” serving as the grand finale of the Gambino character. Serving as a soundtrack for his upcoming short film by the same title, the 17-track album proves to be his most experimental body of work yet.
This album can brag about its ability to cover as many genres as it does within its 60-minute length. Gambino shines in a hardcore and industrial sound on tracks such as the opener “H3@RT$ W3RE M3@NT T0 F7¥” (which sounded even more grandiose live) and “Got To Be” while also delivering pop-influenced cuts such as “Real Love” and “Dadvocate.” Then there are the hip-hop tracks where OG Gambino fans would be delighted to see him rap again, such as “Survive” with Chlöe and “Yoshinoya,” which many suspect to have shots fired against Drake.
However, some of the album’s highlights don’t even fall under these genres. The three-track run from “Can You Feel Me” to “Cruisin’” is some of the most atmospheric music Gambino has developed throughout his career, featuring a wholesome father-son conversation through song on “Can You Feel Me,” a jazzy Hancock-influenced cut “No Excuses” which may age to be one of the best tracks in his discography, and a nihilistic yet ethereal “Cruisin’” featuring none other than Yeat.
The album does contain some duds such as “Happy Survival,” which is rather uninteresting and bland despite the collaboration with funk band Khruangbin. The closer “A Place While Love Goes,” while being an enjoyable track, does not live up to some of Gambino’s album closers such as “Stand Tall” and “Final Church,” and does not feel ambitious enough to be the final Childish Gambino song.
Nonetheless, with his final body of work, he produced another masterpiece, which I believe will be looked upon in a much better light as time passes. This album is a near-perfect culmination of one of the finest careers the music industry has ever seen.
Best Tracks: H3@RT$ W3RE M3@NT T0 F7¥, Lithonia, Survive, Steps Beach, Talk My S***, Got To Be, Real Love, In The Night, Can You Feel Me, No Excuses, Cruisin’, Advocate
Worst Track: Happy Survival
