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In the years following the release of his 2015 smash single "I Took a Pill in Ibiza," Detroit-area pop maestro Mike Posner made a foray into the world of poetry and spoken word while also forming the Mansionz duo with blackbear. In the process, he toned down the party-loving public image and learned some fresh production tricks. He also lost his father, his friend Avicii, and the woman he loved. As a result, his third full-length, A Real Good Kid, is his most mature offering to date, brimming with thrilling production, radio-friendly catchiness, and an overall mournful mood that is often overwhelmingly emotional and cathartic. His late father's spirit imbues Good Kid with substance, linking the effort to the real world with a handful of spoken recordings peppered throughout the album to devastating effect. From opener "January 11th, 2017" -- where a simple "I love you so much" from his father sets the tone -- to "Drip," these audio snippets create a confessional aura between father and son, but also between artist and audience. This is vulnerable blood-letting, especially on that latter track, a heavy journey through Frank Ocean/Bon Iver territory that explodes in an emotional outpouring that is as exciting as it is uncomfortable. Balancing his pain with reassurance and consolation, Posner occasionally lightens the mood with pop gems that prevent Good Kid from becoming too depressing. "Staring at the Fire" is his search for meaning in this world, an attempt at social awareness that falls somewhere between Bright Eyes and Jon Bellion. "Wide Open" ruminates on faith and life, rattling chests with deep electronic bass that resonates as deeply as the lyrics. Other highlights include "Song About You," an irresistible blend of droning beats and melodic guitar strumming that processes Posner's losses with bittersweet angst. On the other end of the spectrum, "Stuck in the Middle" is a pastoral worldbeat ditty that is as lovely and uplifting as contemporaneous offerings from Coldplay or Mumford and Sons. At the close of the album, Posner's father requests "One More Song." The implied finality is heartbreaking, as Posner tells his dad, "Alright man, [one more] and then I'm out," before closing track "How It's Supposed to Be" strums to life. Here, Posner finds his closure with a "c'est la vie" attitude that is bittersweet and hopeful, exploding to life in a manner similar to Twenty One Pilots. Then, listeners are hit with a final word from the late M. Jon Posner, recorded in 1988, months after the birth of his new son, Michael. Showing off his child to some friends, he tells them, "He is a real good kid." If that line lands as it should, listening to A Real Good Kid will result in a real good cry. This album is not only about losing what you love, it's also about learning to let go.
© Neil Z. Yeung /TiVo
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Mike Posner, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2019 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Posner, Producer, Drum Programmer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Kuzma, Vocal Arranger, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ricky Reed, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Friedman, Producer, Vocal Arranger, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ethan Shumaker, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nate Mercereau, Producer, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Posner, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Bowen, Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Ricky Reed, Producer, Mixer, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - James Bowen Falson, ComposerLyricist - Adam Friedman, Producer, Additional Producer, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ethan Shumaker, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nate Mercereau, Producer, Guitar, French Horn, Percussion, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Jean Marc Belkadi, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2018 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Dan Wilson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mike Posner, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - MANNY MARROQUIN, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Frederic, ComposerLyricist - Ricky Reed, Producer, Drum Programmer, Synth Bass, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Ethan Shumaker, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nate Mercereau, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Dan Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Victor Indrizzo, Drums, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Posner, Electric Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Bill Malina, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eric Frederic, ComposerLyricist - Ricky Reed, Producer, Mixer, Programmer, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, Bass (Vocal) - Adam Friedman, ComposerLyricist - Ethan Shumaker, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nate Mercereau, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Arjun Singh, Tabla, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
James Valentine, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mike Posner, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ricky Reed, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ethan Shumaker, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nate Mercereau, Producer, Guitar, Drum Programmer, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2018 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
James Valentine, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Posner, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Pete Kuzma, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ricky Reed, Producer, Mixer, Percussion, Programmer, Drum Programmer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ethan Shumaker, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nate Mercereau, Producer, Electric Guitar, Piano, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, Bass (Vocal) - Daniel Caseras, Flute, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Posner, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Stewart Cole, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Pete Kuzma, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ryan Merchant, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Ricky Reed, Producer, Mixer, Programmer, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Friedman, Producer, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Ethan Shumaker, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shaina Evoniuk, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Nate Mercereau, Producer, String Arranger, Glockenspiel, Electric Guitar, French Horn, Trumpet, Recording Engineer, Synthesizer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Robert Dugan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matthew Schuler, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Posner, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Not Applicable, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2018 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Victor Indrizzo, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Posner, Acoustic Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stewart Cole, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Ricky Reed, Producer, Mixer, Programmer, Drum Programmer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Adam Friedman, Producer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ethan Shumaker, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nate Mercereau, Producer, Guitar, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, Bass (Vocal)
℗ 2018 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Mike Posner, Recording Engineer, MainArtist, StudioPersonnel - Not Applicable, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2018 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Victor Indrizzo, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Mike Posner, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Chris Gehringer, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ricky Reed, Producer, Drum Programmer, Synth Bass, AssociatedPerformer - Nate Mercereau, Producer, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, French Horn, Mellotron, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2018 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
In the years following the release of his 2015 smash single "I Took a Pill in Ibiza," Detroit-area pop maestro Mike Posner made a foray into the world of poetry and spoken word while also forming the Mansionz duo with blackbear. In the process, he toned down the party-loving public image and learned some fresh production tricks. He also lost his father, his friend Avicii, and the woman he loved. As a result, his third full-length, A Real Good Kid, is his most mature offering to date, brimming with thrilling production, radio-friendly catchiness, and an overall mournful mood that is often overwhelmingly emotional and cathartic. His late father's spirit imbues Good Kid with substance, linking the effort to the real world with a handful of spoken recordings peppered throughout the album to devastating effect. From opener "January 11th, 2017" -- where a simple "I love you so much" from his father sets the tone -- to "Drip," these audio snippets create a confessional aura between father and son, but also between artist and audience. This is vulnerable blood-letting, especially on that latter track, a heavy journey through Frank Ocean/Bon Iver territory that explodes in an emotional outpouring that is as exciting as it is uncomfortable. Balancing his pain with reassurance and consolation, Posner occasionally lightens the mood with pop gems that prevent Good Kid from becoming too depressing. "Staring at the Fire" is his search for meaning in this world, an attempt at social awareness that falls somewhere between Bright Eyes and Jon Bellion. "Wide Open" ruminates on faith and life, rattling chests with deep electronic bass that resonates as deeply as the lyrics. Other highlights include "Song About You," an irresistible blend of droning beats and melodic guitar strumming that processes Posner's losses with bittersweet angst. On the other end of the spectrum, "Stuck in the Middle" is a pastoral worldbeat ditty that is as lovely and uplifting as contemporaneous offerings from Coldplay or Mumford and Sons. At the close of the album, Posner's father requests "One More Song." The implied finality is heartbreaking, as Posner tells his dad, "Alright man, [one more] and then I'm out," before closing track "How It's Supposed to Be" strums to life. Here, Posner finds his closure with a "c'est la vie" attitude that is bittersweet and hopeful, exploding to life in a manner similar to Twenty One Pilots. Then, listeners are hit with a final word from the late M. Jon Posner, recorded in 1988, months after the birth of his new son, Michael. Showing off his child to some friends, he tells them, "He is a real good kid." If that line lands as it should, listening to A Real Good Kid will result in a real good cry. This album is not only about losing what you love, it's also about learning to let go.
© Neil Z. Yeung /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:37:06
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Mike Posner
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Island Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Alternative & Indie
© 2019 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 2019 Island Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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