MITCHELL LIERMAN
liermanm2@lopers.unk.edu

Earlier in the month, Post Malone released his highly anticipated third album Hollywood’s Bleeding, which follows his highly popular sophomore effort Beerbongs and Bentleys. The themes of Austin Post’s music have certainly matured since the last album- this album discusses toxic relationships in depth and highlights a toxic rot infecting our culture.

The album was supported by a great cast of singles and soundtracks- “Sunflower” from Into the Spiderverse is a slow grooving jam that fits easily into any social outing. “Circles,” with its backing guitar and great bass hooks feels integrated and isolated from the rest of the album all at once as it transitions from an island vibe session into a grooving pop song that is impossible to put down.

Beyond the early releases, the title track “Hollywood’s Bleeding” lays out the grim picture of being trapped in a toxic culture where people are only out to serve personal interests. The thudding bass and percussion push the song along to capture the feeling of being pushed on despite wanting to stop. When the song finally does stop, it leaves a sense of loss that punctuates the track.

Another standout moment in the album is the Ozzy and Travis Scott feature “Take What You Want,”  which explores the emotional landscape of toxic relationships in a rap-rock sound that elicits the dread of being used by someone. The vocals hold a desperate anger that seems to only bubble to the surface because of the pain of the situation ­­­— the pain that is capitalized on perfectly by the wailing guitar solo that finishes the track. This song easily satisfies any rockers who explore the sound of Post Malone, and it leaves a sense of anticipation as listeners await the next sonic adventure he indulges in. 

This album is a solid venture throughout, with many other stand-out tracks like “Staring at the Sun,” “Internet,” and “Wow.” that provide a great supporting cast of features and sounds. Overall, the album is hard to put down, as every track offers sticky rhythms that keep pulling listeners back in for another playthrough. Hollywood’s Bleeding is easily the best of Post Malone’s three albums.