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Faces (mixtape)

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Faces
Mixtape by
Mac Miller
ReleasedMay 11, 2014
Recorded2013–2014
Studio
Genre
Length85:38
Label
Producer
Mac Miller chronology
Live from Space
(2013) 		Faces
(2014) 		GO:OD AM
(2015)
Reissue cover
Singles from Faces
  1. "Diablo"
    Released: September 3, 2014[1]
  2. "Colors and Shapes"
    Released: September 15, 2021

Faces is the eleventh mixtape by American rapper Mac Miller. It was independently released for free download on May 11, 2014. The mixtape is the follow-up to Miller's second studio album Watching Movies with the Sound Off (2013), and is considered by many to be his magnum opus for its dark and personal exploration of Miller's struggle with drug addiction and mental illness.[2][3] On October 15, 2021, Faces was commercially released on streaming platforms and vinyl.

Miller produced most of Faces himself and moved towards creating more psychedelic and jazzy instrumentals for his increasingly dark lyrical themes. Its jazziness is not a departure from Miller's previous work, as it echoes the project he released under the alias Larry Lovestein titled You that was also centered around jazz instrumentals. It continues to build upon and experiment with the psychedelic sounds of Watching Movies with the Sound Off. The mixtape features guest appearances from Rick Ross, Earl Sweatshirt, Schoolboy Q, Mike Jones, Sir Michael Rocks, Vince Staples, Ab-Soul and Dash.

Faces was named "Mixtape of the Week" by Stereogum on May 14, 2014,[4] given a 7.3 rating by Pitchfork,[5] and noted by Billboard on May 11, 2014.[6]

Background

[edit]

Mac Miller serves as the executive producer under his production pseudonym "Larry Fisherman", serving as the sole producer or co-producer for over half of the songs on the track list. ID Labs handled production for two songs, while Earl Sweatshirt produced the songs "Polo Jeans" and "New Faces v2" under his own production pseudonym, "randomblackdude". Thundercat, DrewByrd, Rahki, THC, Big Jerm and 9th Wonder produced one song each on the mixtape.

Faces includes various spoken word and movie samples interspliced throughout the album. These include Charles Bukowski on "Wedding", Hunter S. Thompson at the beginning of "Funeral", and Bill Murray from the 1979 comedy Meatballs at the beginning of "It Just Doesn't Matter". These samples had been credited as the reason that Faces had not been released on streaming services until 2021 despite high demand. Many of these samples were removed for the official release.[7]

On September 15, 2021, Miller's estate announced that the mixtape would be available on streaming platforms and vinyl for the first time on October 15, 2021. Alongside the announcement, a video for the song "Colors and Shapes", directed by Sam Manson, was released.[8]

When Faces came to streaming platforms on October 22, 2021,[9] it came as an 'updated' version. This new version included a new bonus track, "Yeah - bonus", after what was previously the final track of the tape, "Grand Finale".[10] Grayson Catlett wrote that given the circumstances of Miller's death in 2018, it would be surprising how many times Miller references his own death.[9]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
HipHopDX[11]
Pitchfork Media7.3/10[12]
PopMatters7/10[13]

Faces was met with critical acclaim upon release, and noted for its themes and exploration of psychosis, addiction, and mortality.

Faces was rated the eighteenth best rap album of 2014 by Rolling Stone.[14]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Upon its commercial release in October 2021, Faces debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, earning 67,000 album-equivalent units during its first week, of which 34,000 were traditional album sales. It was Miller's seventh album to debut in the top ten.[15] Its 32,000 vinyl sales in the first week set a record for an R&B/hip-hop or rap album, since MRC Data began tracking sales in 1991.[16]

Track listing

[edit]

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[17]

Faces track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Inside Outside"
Thundercat1:55
2."Here We Go"
DrewByrd2:48
3."Friends" (featuring Schoolboy Q)
Larry Fisherman6:38
4."Angel Dust"
  • Fisherman
  • Berg
3:43
5."Malibu"McCormickFisherman3:31
6."What Do You Do" (featuring Sir Michael Rocks)
Fisherman3:50
7."It Just Doesn't Matter"
3:37
8."Therapy"
  • McCormick
  • Dan
  • Jeremy Kulousek
  • Jacques Burvick
  • ID Labs
  • Big Jerm
4:10
9."Polo Jeans" (featuring Earl Sweatshirt)
randomblackdude3:42
10."Happy Birthday"
Rahki2:53
11."Wedding"
  • McCormick
  • Axel Morgan
  • Joshua Higginbotham
  • Axel Folie
  • JoeeBilli
4:10
12."Funeral"
  • McCormick
  • Dan
  • Fisherman
  • ID Labs
3:44
13."Diablo"
  • Fisherman
  • Berg
3:18
14."Ave Maria"McCormickFisherman2:56
15."55"
  • McCormick
  • Bruner
  • Dylan Rectenwald
  • Fisherman
  • Thundercat[a]
  • Dylan Reynolds[a]
0:53
16."San Francisco"
Fisherman2:44
17."Colors and Shapes"
  • McCormick
  • Bruner
  • Fisherman
  • Thundercat
5:31
18."Insomniak" (featuring Rick Ross)
  • ID Labs
  • Big Jerm
  • ShodBeats
4:06
19."Uber" (featuring Mike Jones)
Fisherman4:31
20."Rain" (featuring Vince Staples)
9th Wonder2:34
21."Apparition"
  • McCormick
  • Berg
  • Fisherman
  • Berg
3:28
22."Thumbalina"
  • Fisherman
  • Berg
3:06
23."New Faces v2" (featuring Earl Sweatshirt and Dash)
randomblackdude5:31
24."Grand Finale"McCormickFisherman3:36
Total length:85:38
Re-release edition (bonus track)[18]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
25."Yeah"
5:04

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies an additional producer
  • "Inside Outside" features additional vocals by Josh Berg
  • "Here We Go" features additional vocals by Stacey Dash
  • "Friends" features additional vocals by Jimmy Murton and Dylan Reynolds
  • "Therapy" features additional vocals by Syd and Tay Walker
  • "Polo Jeans" features additional vocals by Ab-Soul and Jimmy Murton
  • "New Faces v2" features additional vocals by Ab-Soul

Sample credits

Personnel

[edit]

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[17]

  • Mac Miller – lead vocals (tracks 1–14, 16–25), recording (tracks 3, 5–6, 8, 13–15, 18, 21; as Larry Fisherman)
  • Josh Berg – recording (tracks 1–4, 7, 9–12, 17–20, 22–25)
  • Ali Shaheed Muhammad – piano (track 6)
  • Rahki – drum programming, organ, piano, synths, rhodes (track 10)
  • Chris Smith – bass (track 10)
  • Corey Fonville – drums (track 10)
  • Stuart Bogie – saxophone (track 13)
  • Thundercat – bass (tracks 14, 23)
  • Ryan Baldon – recording (track 16)
  • 9th Wonder – recording (track 20)
  • Eric Dan – mixing (all tracks)
  • Mike Bozzi – mastering (all tracks)

Charts

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Diablo - Single by MAC MILLER on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. September 3, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  2. ^ EOrtiz (June 19, 2013). "Mac Miller - Watching Movies With The Sound Off". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  3. ^ Fairfax, Jesse (May 15, 2014). "Mac Miller - Faces (Mixtape)". HipHopDX. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  4. ^ Breihan, Tom (May 14, 2014). "Mixtape Of The Week: Mac Miller Faces". Stereogum, a member of Spin Music, a division of SpinMedia. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  5. ^ Jenkins, Craig (May 22, 2014). "Mac Miller Faces". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  6. ^ Stutz, Colin (May 11, 2014). "Mac Miller on New Mixtape 'Faces': 'Don't Tell My Mama I Got a Drug Problem'". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  7. ^ "Mac Miller Sued By Aquarian Dream For Uncleared "Faces" Sample". HipHopDX. March 20, 2015. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
  8. ^ "Mac Miller's Faces Coming to Streaming Services and Vinyl for the First Time". Pitchfork. September 15, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Mac Miller's 'Faces' Raises Questions About Posthumous Music". www.34st.com. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  10. ^ "Mac Miller's 'Faces' will Release on Spotify with New Bonus Track, "Yeah"". This Song Is Sick. September 28, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  11. ^ Fairfax, Jesse (May 15, 2014). "Mac Miller - Faces (Mixtape)". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  12. ^ Craig Jenkins (May 22, 2014). "Mac Miller: Faces Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  13. ^ Francesca D'Arcy-Orga (July 22, 2014). "Mac Miller: Faces". PopMatters. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  14. ^ Weingarten, Christopher R. (December 23, 2014). "Mac Miller, 'Faces' | 40 Best Rap Albums of 2014". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  15. ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 24, 2021). "Young Thug's 'Punk' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  16. ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 26, 2021). "Mac Miller's 'Faces' Makes Record-Breaking Vinyl Debut". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  17. ^ a b Faces (Vinyl liner notes). Mac Miller. Warner Records. 2021.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. ^ Haylock, Zoe (September 15, 2021). "Mac Miller's Faces Will Be Released on Streaming Platforms October 15". Vulture. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  19. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Mac Miller – Faces". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  20. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Mac Miller – Faces" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
  21. ^ "Ultratop.be – Mac Miller – Faces" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  22. ^ "Ultratop.be – Mac Miller – Faces" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  23. ^ "Mac Miller Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  24. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Mac Miller – Faces" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  25. ^ "Lescharts.com – Mac Miller – Faces". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  26. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Mac Miller – Faces" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  27. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2021. 42. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
  28. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Mac Miller". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  29. ^ "2021 42-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. October 22, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  30. ^ "Charts.nz – Mac Miller – Faces". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  31. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Mac Miller – Faces". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  32. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  33. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Mac Miller – Faces". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  34. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  35. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  36. ^ "Mac Miller Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  37. ^ "Mac Miller Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  38. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2021". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
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