Watching Movies with the Sound Off

Mac Miller - Watching Movies with the Sound Off
Critic Score
Based on 13 reviews
2013 Ratings: #548 / 1115
User Score
2013 Rank: #164
Liked by 204 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

80
HipHopDX

Miller doesn’t pander for a clear cut radio single, nor does he let the fear of Internet backlash obstruct his experimental approach. 

80
Exclaim!

Mac Miller emphatically joins a higher tier of rap artists with Watching Movies, an effort that at once silences his detractors and rewards his faithful following.

80
XXL
Mac Miller’s sophomore effort is a surprising and focused album from an artist fed up with his public perception. He does enough here to prove his point.
80
Clash
These sounds are heavier and Miller flows naturally in this element. He still likes a good time, but he’s giving us more of himself in the process. Looks like he’s growing up after all.
75
Entertainment Weekly

On his new Watching Movies With the Sound Off, the willfully goofy Miller has evolved — to a point. ”Objects in the Mirror” and ”Aquarium” are surprisingly self-reflective, but the dumb-fun party jams are half as infectious as before, and twice as misogynistic.

70
Pitchfork

Watching Movies with the Sound Off is a quantum leap in artistry, but it’s not without faults; the album’s about three songs too long, and a couple of the tracks in the back end just plain run together.

70
PopMatters

Miller remains the one part of the equation that’s a bit of a hard sell, even as he releases what is clearly one of independent hip-hop’s most inspired, balanced albums through the first half of 2013.

70
AllMusic

Without the hooks or the lofty lyrics, the album seems made exclusively for Miller's fans or those who right-click indie rap mixtape links on the daily. 

70
NME

Now in possession of a clearer sense of his own identity, the stoned haze of cloud-rap engulfs Miller’s rhymes as he undercuts the fug with animated lyrics and a keen sense of humour

70
Consequence of Sound

Watching Movies is Miller’s most enduring, and endearing, project yet. 

70
Rolling Stone

Hologram status is a long way off. But he’ll settle for you believing he’s for real.

60
The Needle Drop

Mac Miller's followup to Blue Slide Park is an improvement on all fronts. While it's not gonna be one of my favs for the year, Mac is seriously reaching for the potential that I've felt he's had for a while with creative production choices, better flows, and some impressive features.

50
SPIN
New underground MCs who should know better assist rap bozo for co-signs of convenience.
StygianHollow
65

He's naked behind that sheet..... 😱

Favourite tracks: The Star Room, ★ Objects in the Mirror, Red Dot Music, REMember

SirCumsized
84

I mean it’s a top 3 Mac album

In 2013, Mac switched up his style from a fun frat boy rapper to whatever heavenly sound this is. Every song here makes me feel like I’m floating, and we can see Mac’s lyrics have started evolving into something pretty special. My only complaint is that some tracks had way more effort put in than others, but still very enjoyable.

Favs: Objects in the Mirror, The Star Room, I’m Not Real, Youforia

Least Favs: Someone Like You

Charles_Bell
70

I'M STILL TRAPPED INSIDE MY HEAD, IT KINDA FEEL LIKE IT'S A PURGATORY

Following the disappointing debut, Mac Miller returned with a much more polished and complete album, Watching Movies with the Sound Off. Unlike his previous frat boy music, this record is much more abstract and introspective touching on topics like suicide, addiction, and society as a whole. The features are great and Mac's rapping abilities seem to be getting better and better. All in all, it was an enjoyable listen

BiggestWalrus
21

I’m ngl, this album is really boring. I love Mac most of the time, but this just ain’t it. Boring album, nothing I really come back to.

purplerain70
75

I have very mixed feelings about this album. Im honestly not ready for it yet in my life. Will continue to go back to it biannually.

BLZA
83

That took a really dark turn.

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Track List

1The Star Room
4:35
91
2Avian
3:16
87
3I'm Not Real
3:23
87
4S.D.S.
3:04
83
5Bird Call
2:08
83
6Matches
2:58
feat. Ab-Soul
80
7I Am Who Am (Killin' Time)
5:01
87
8Objects In the Mirror
4:19
92
9Red Dot Music
6:07
87
10Gees
2:55
78
11Watching Movies
3:40
84
12Suplexes Inside of Complexes and Duplexes
2:47
82
13REMember
4:28
87
14Someone Like You
4:16
81
15Aquarium
4:38
83
16Youforia
4:01
81
17Goosebumpz
3:22
Bonus Track
81
18O.K.
2:40
Bonus Track
85
19Claymation
3:52
Bonus Track
81
Total Length: 1 hour, 11 minutes

Year End Lists

#12/Complex
#23/Red Bull
#27/Clash
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Added on: June 1, 2013