On what he claims will be the final work under the 'Childish Gambino' moniker, Donald Glover gives us one more big peek into his creative - and chaotic - mind.
The career trajectory of Childish Gambino, and Donald Glover to a larger extent, has been a fascinating and exciting one to watch. He has shown time and time again to be a no compromises artist who isn't afraid to push boundaries and go the extra mile to achieve his vision. The same extends to his acting resume, with his varied and generally exceptional lineup of roles over the years rival other A list celebrities of this generation. The man played Lando Calrission for pete's sake.
Over time, the line between the man and the Childish Gambino alias started to blur. Maybe that's the reason why he recently announced the end (for now) of Childish Gambino. That's not to say we've seen - or heard - the last of Glover. That all brings me to perhaps the last Childish Gambino album, which is also the soundtrack for a movie of the same title Glover is producing (and starring in); 'Bando Stone and the New World.'
Across 17 tracks and just over 1 hour in length, Donald Glover delivers a notebook's worth of ideas, styles, influences, and storytelling devices at a steady and unwavering pace. From Slickly produced and quickly delivered rap songs to indie pop love ballads to soul inspired R&B, This is truly the culmination of every idea we've seen Donald Glover create under the Childish Gambino album. Littered with clips from what I presume to be the film of the same name and some daring production choices, Glover speaks about family, life, and ambition, with the wit and expletive fervor he has always been adept at along the way.
The opener, 'H3@RT$ W3RE M3@NT T0 F7¥', sets the tone right out of the gate, with a wide and aggressive synth underneath ultra processed and pitch shifted bombastic vocals. 'Lithonia' follows and completely shifts gears, giving us a soul filled rock track about facing harsh realities about himself and the world around him. Glover's son Legend even has a feature on the charming (but not very exciting) 'Can You Feel Me.' 'Bando Stone and the New World' shifts gears with nearly every track, delivering something more and more experimental/different as the track list continues.
The result is a fascinating, ear pleasing, exciting album overall, even if the pacing and vast mixture of ideas on display can make things feel a bit uneven at times. It feels like a fitting and resonant swan song for the Childish Gambino project, and it's a record I've already revisited a few times. There are ear worms, quirky production feats, and plenty of catchy lyrics throughout the runtime that I can easily recommend 'Bando Stone and the New World' to any fans of Childish Gambino or similar artists, or even if you are just wanting to take a musical journey that feels like a (gentle) roller coaster.
Standout tracks: 'H3@RT$ W3RE M3@NT T0 F7¥', 'Lithonia', 'Talk My Shit', 'Got to Be', 'Cruisin', 'Running Around', 'A Place Where Love Goes'
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