SMILE! :D by Porter Robinson | Album Review
The 3rd Album From The Atlanta DJ That Makes You Dance And Cry
LISTEN TO SMILE! :D : APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY
And we are back with an album review of this brand new record from Porter Robinson SMILE! :D.
If this name doesn’t tell you much at first, do not worry. I got you.
Porter Robinson is an American DJ, producer, and singer-songwriter. His most prevalent genres usually fall into the lane of electro and synth pop alongside other types of electronic music. If you’re unsure whether this person is new or simply unfamiliar to you, it’s more probable that you’ve just never heard of him.
It has been a long journey for Porter since his debut record Worlds in 2014. After the success of this record, Porter went on a huge break because of depression and mental health issues, taking 7 years before his second LP Nurture. Now coming back in 2024, we have finally got some more new material from him.
Known for its raw vulnerability, Nurture, the artist’s previous record, features some of the most emotionally charged electronic tracks you’ll ever come across. The name of the record accurately captures what the artist was going through, as his second LP took a turn at the introspective and personal acknowledgment of his past, and present. After the explosive energy of the Worlds, Porter has shown a completely different side of himself that gave him a stream of a new fanbase, and incredible critic and user acclaim.
However, a significant amount of time has elapsed since 2021, and fans have been eagerly waiting for the next chapter of Porter’s life, the record. The only remaining question was: What happens next?
In a twist of irony, Porter has made it clear that the topic of the record does not involve self-reflection. With the cover art of a smiling balloon and the title SMILE! :D Porter hinted that this album might not be centered on that topic, or maybe it is?
If, with Nurture, we have seen Porter’s self-reflection era, here we are the witnesses of the Porter braggadocios, silly, vibrant, and colorful era with some pretty unexpected turns.
Porter himself talks about the record as his most fun, and most heartbreaking record at the same time, naming it his most interesting work, and truthfully it is.
The more you listen to the record, you understand that behind the dynamic hyper-pop tracks like “Knock Yourself Out XD” or “Cheerleader.” Porter’s disguise of arrogant and annoyed is the most dominant, whereas, on the following track “Russian Roulette”, this facade starts to fade.
From explosive all-over-the-place, fun, and vibrant production, you gradually transition toward the less energetic and raw Porter Robinson voice that gets you the highest emotional peak of the record so far. With the uptempo electronic synths in the background and melancholic notes of the haunting guitar, we observe the dramatic change in the track’s mood.
After the ambiguous “Russian Roulette”, we are back to the snappy and ear-catching “Perfect Pinterest Garden”, whereas Porter’s distorted vocals play an amazing support instrument, adding another volume to the track’s melodic part.
The following two tracks, “Year of the Cup” and “Kitsune Maison Freestyle,” diverge completely from the initial tempo established in “Knock Yourself Out XD” and “Cheerleader.” One adopts a more relaxed and heartfelt approach, while the other teeters on the line between Porter’s confident and shy personas.
With plenty of those tracks, we notice how two-sided the smile that Porter talks about is. It may be the warming and wholesome reminiscing, or it may be the fake smile of a braggadocious person who covers “something that is haunting you”.
Talking about reminiscing, Porter touches on this topic explicitly in “Easier To Love You”. In the company of soft pop, smooth drums accompany Porter’s charming vocals, creating a melodically pleasing atmosphere, making it one of the most sincere tracks on the record.
In the following track “Mona Lisa” we are back to something more dynamic. Frost Children, the only artist featured on that record, assisted Porter in the pop-rock-infused atmosphere. This indie rock atmosphere notably stirs up the record’s sonic aspect before the 2 highest emotional peaks of the album.
By concluding the record with the poignant tracks “Is There Really No Happiness” and “Everything To Me,” Porter leaves us on an emotional note, grappling with questions of fault and pondering the potential missteps that may have led him to his current situation.
When we examine the entire record from the first track, we can observe a noticeable trend. On the initial track, Porter adopts a confident and renowned persona, while with the closing track “Everything To Me,” his tone and pitch shift to a more open and heartfelt style, ready to directly engage with the listener.
Personally, I love this record. While the Nurture has been a much harder listen to me sonically, and lyrically, SMILE! :D is Porter’s easiest work to get into.
This record delves into several soundscapes, ranging from art pop and indie rock to the most prevalent electro pop. Despite some songs like “Year of the Cup” and “Kitsune Maison Freestyle” being not my biggest favorites, they are essential for the complete listening experience.
If you find yourself liking EDM and indietronica music, this record just might be right for you. On the other hand, if you’re not particularly familiar with this kind of pop music, it might feel a bit all over the place in the beginning.
As I have already said, I love this record. This might not be one of the best records that I have heard this year, but it is certainly one of the most wholesome ones.
FINAL RATING: 7.9/10 ( GREAT )
FAVORITE TRACKS: “Cheerleader”, “Knock Yourself Out XD”, “Everything to Me”, “Is There Really No Happiness”
LEAST FAVORITE TRACKS: “Kitsune Maison Freestyle”, “Year of the Cup”
Scores guideline:
0–2 (dramatically bad)
2.1–4.5 (bad)
4.6–6 (mediocre/mid)
6.1–6.9 (Ok)
7–7.5 (good)
7.6–8.6 (great)
8.7–9.9 (amazing)
10 (perfect)
