Bando Stone and The New World
This album feels like it was made to be grand, which is exactly what you'd expect from a big name like Childish Gambino. Supposedly the last album by Donald Glover under the pseudonym 'Bando Stone and The New World,' it might be his most exquisite work yet, and if it truly is the last, he’s going out in style. From the moment you dive into the album, you know you're in for an enchanting experience. The cover art and the trailer for the accompanying film, set to be released in theaters, set the scene: you find yourself imagining a remote tropical forest, feeling lost but with a mission to accomplish, whether it’s imaginary or political. Donald Glover creates a fantastical setting to pour out all his creativity and sentimentality, telling diverse and profound stories, evoking emotions like potions. The vibe is otherworldly but draws from reality to blend the real and the fictional seamlessly. He mixes various genres like afrobeat, experimental hip hop, jazz rap, pop rock, and dance, each finding its space without overshadowing the others. One thing I really appreciate is when an artist takes all the sounds they love and blends them spontaneously, without it feeling forced or like it's crafted to fit an industry trend. Glover uses this blend to create a vivid mental painting of his artistic expression. There’s a lot of talk about grand albums that seem to be instant classics, and no one really knows how they come about. It all depends on the project's quality and how the audience absorbs it. I firmly believe this album is one of them. Everything here seems purposeful, and authenticity shines through like never before. Unlike Childish Gambino's past projects, this album shows a unique freedom, a detachment from the artsy persona that's always trying to prove something. Here, the artist steps away from that and delivers something overflowing with sympathy and empathy, yet doesn’t shy away from his sharp political consciousness. He might hide his intentions better here, but they still resonate for those who listen closely.
CHILDISH GAMBINO - BANDO STONE AND THE NEW WORLD
RATING - 8.6/10
FAVORITE TRACKS - Yoshinoya, Lithonia, We Are God
GENRE - Alt Rnb, Hip-Hop, Hyperpop, House, pop, rock