A stylistic follow-up to his 2019 work Hollywood’s Bleeding, Post Malone’s latest album Twelve Carat Toothache represents the singer’s continued efforts to emerge as a groundbreaking voice in the R&B genre.
Conceived and recorded during the Covid 19 pandemic, Twelve Carat Toothache represents an appropriately dark state of mind in terms of its tone. Malone additionally eschews the juvenile musical style and persona that characterized his earlier work in favour of an album that is deeper, darker and indicative of his maturing sensibilities as an artist. This is evident through introspective lyrics that touch upon celebrity culture and the downside of fame, alcoholism and substance abuse, self-deprecation and toxicity alongside the aftermath of falling out with a loved one.
Malone’s element of maturity is highly evident in the eclectic musical character of the entire album. While predominantly being an R&B record, Malone imbues and blends numerous other genres such as hip-hop, rock, lo-fi and dance-pop. As a creative flourish, this musical blend aids in the continuous flow of the album, keeps things interesting, enhancing the listening experience and replay value for the viewer in the process.
Despite the dark tonality marking the album overall, Post Malone hints at moving towards a more optimistic place in his life. The songs “Cooped Up“, “Wasting Angels“, and “Waiting For A Miracle” showcases an intention to resurface and break away from thoughts and feelings that tie one down, coping with the excesses of their celebrity lifestyle and continually hoping for things to turn out for the better.
Malone’s themes and lyrics are skillfully complimented through featured vocals by Doja Cat, The Kid LAROI and The Weeknd. The collaborations infuse the album with their signature sounds but ensure they don’t take away the spotlight from Malone or overpower his vision and musical sensibilities for the album.
With an engaging sound and excellent production values, Twelve Carat Toothache is a high point in Post Malone’s career, leaving fans excited for what now follows.
Texts of A Pop Culture Buff 