Post Malone’s Fifth Studio Album Graces The Airwaves

Austin Album Review – Post Malone

I’ve been listening to Post Malone since August 26th. No, I’m not being weirdly particular about when I became a fan, that’s the name of his first mixtape that premiered in May of 2016. That mixtape was straight fire, the most “rap” I’ve ever seen out of Posty, and the music that helped catapult him into the limelight. 

Five albums later we’re gifted with the 17-track masterpiece that is Austin. Each album before it was a league all its own, and without taking away from the greatness of them, I feel this album is his best release yet. Austin has a more 80s/pop vibe, so those who swear by Stoney might be left in the dust. We’re seeing much less of a hip-hop artist here, and I feel that’s decreased with every album since Stoney, but I’m not complaining. This album feels the most authentically Austin Post to me. It’s soft and catchy, we still get some goofs and gaffs, but overall it’s seriously such a beautiful album. Let’s jump in – 

Track one is named “Don’t Understand” and it begins with a somber acoustic guitar verse. Acoustic and Post Malone are the words that I’ve been personally dying to see fall into a sentence together. Austin has released acoustic bangers in the past, such as “Stay”, which appeared on his 2nd album, Beerbongs & Bentleys. “Don’t Understand” is a vulnerable and emotional tune that brings a tear to my eye. 

“I don’t understand why you like me so much, cause I don’t like myself. I don’t understand why you like me so much, wish I was someone else” 

Who can say they haven’t felt that way before? 

“Something Real” explodes onto the scene for the second song on the album. It starts off powerful and demanding. Am I hearing a choir behind him on the chorus? Wow. We get a taste of Post’s clever side with a classic sexual lyric here, “I can play that pussy like it’s Für Elise”, singing Elise to the tune of Für Elise. Clever. 

Track four, “Novacandy” really falls into the 80’s sound in my opinion. The music builds excitement and Post croons and shows off how diverse his voice is. Man, I love those high notes and his signature yodel-ish vibrato. “Too Cool to Die” behind “Novacandy” and it gives even more of an 80s vibe. I love seeing Austin explore this genre. He’s got the perfect vocals for the groovy and nostalgic sound. 

One of my favorite goofy lyrics from this album comes out of track eight, titled “Socialite”

“I’m feeling naughty up on a Sunday. Fuck in the backseat of a Hyundai. I’m calling her Shrek because she got a donkey.”

I ugly snorted at this lyric and rewound to make sure I heard it right. One of my favorite things about Post’s music besides the sheer beauty and diversity of it is that he always finds a spot to slide in a little haha for his listeners. 

I caught bits and pieces of an Instagram livestream that Post did the night prior to his album dropping, where he said “Speedometer is a song about sex, but don’t tell anyone”, then he giggled and hit play. It’s a mid-paced tune and a bit cryptic, there are a few tip-offs to what the song is about- 

“Turn the lights off and put the record on that you showed me that makes you so horny, let’s make a baby tonight”

“Hold My Breath” is one of my top favorites, it’s a slow jam with lots of high-pitched vocals. Did I already say I was a super fan of those Post Malone high notes? Tied in with it being a leisurely paced emo feeling tune, it totally has my heart. 

Remember how I mentioned the 80s feel to this album? “Enough Is Enough” REALLY exhibits this, particularly during the chorus. It’s very power ballad-y, as a fan of the good ol’ mega hit power ballad tunes from that era, I’m really feeling this one. 

We’re switching to a totally different vibe for “Texas Tea”, it’s feeling very Stoney/Beerbongs & Bentleys Post Malone to me. This song is badass, it’s super dramatic. It’s giving a slo-mo dance club party scene from a movie and it’s really tough not to groove along to this one. That bass line is THUMPING. 

Don’t throw tomatoes, but “Buyer Beware” doesn’t slap that hard for me. I don’t know if it’s the clappy, twangy tune that it’s set to or what. I can appreciate the lyrics and it’s not a skip for me by any means, but it’s not my number one. They can’t all be favorites, I guess. 

Not to worry, “Landmine” pulls me right back in. We’re getting more of that choir singing behind Austin in this, and the tune is a hopeful-sounding one. “Baby I’m fine, I’m just thumbing my way through a landmine.” Sweet in a sad way, but the assurance of being okay peeps through on this one. 

The last two songs on the album, “Green Thumb” and “Laugh It Off” share first place for me. “Green Thumb” is another sorrowful slow jam played on the acoustic guitar. I could be wrong, but I’m interpreting this song to be about someone who was once so full of life but has lost their passion. Felt that. Who hasn’t lost their way before? This one’s perfect to listen to as you stare out the window into the rain. 

Austin wraps with “Laugh It Off”, yet another acoustic tune (can you tell I’m a sucker for acoustic songs yet?) It’s a painful one, another emo tune but I feel these are the ones that really allow us to connect to artists on a deeper level. The little instrumental intermissions are pure magic, I feel like I’m transcending into an undiscovered plane of emotion I’ve never felt. I’m punched in the gut by the sorrowful lyrics but my eyes are full of tears at the sheer beauty of how incredible this album is. 

Austin Post has done it once again. This lyrical genius, genre-bending star never fails to deliver bangers. ‘Austin’ dropped on July 28th, and you can listen to it anywhere you stream music. There are even lyric videos up on his YouTube already.