Porter Robinson's long-awaited third album "Smile! :D" is finally here. While fans were expecting something more in the vein of Porter's EDM roots, what we got was something far more pop-centric. Porter originally promised us a "fun" album, focusing on the music he enjoyed making and straying from the emotional, introspective vibes he previously shared with us in "Nurture". Of course, we all know Porter can't avoid expressing his feelings. "Smile! :D" is an existential rollercoaster, highlighting life's ups and downs with an ironically nihilistic, meta-narrative.
Tracklist
Knock Yourself Out XD
Cheerleader
Russian Roulette
Perfect Pinterest Garden
Year of the Cup
Kitsune Maison Freestyle
Easier to Love You
Mona Lisa
Is There Really No Happiness?
Everything to Me
Porter Robinson is an American DJ, producer, and songwriter who began writing music as a teenager. At just the age of 18, he was signed to Skrillex's label and would release his first EP, "Spitfire", soon after. Porter's early works were far more EDM-forward, with "Spitfire" being the most adherent to traditional dubstep and electronic music. It wouldn't be until 2014 when Porter released his first full-length album "Worlds" that he would be recognized for his unique style in the music world. While "Worlds" was significantly still within the lines of EDM, there was something special about it that made it really stick with listeners. After the success of "Worlds", Porter teamed up with another rising artist at the time, Madeon, to create "Shelter" in 2016, which only fueled the fire of both artists' success. This paired with the inception of Porter's own music festival. Second Sky, in 2019, attracted more and more listeners to the fold. Porter wouldn't release another album until 2021, with "Nurture", a more expressive experimental album that hit fans directly in the feels. Finally, in July 2024, "Smile! :D" was released. So, let's talk about it!
Knock Yourself Out XD
"Knock Yourself Out XD" is a hilarious carefree commentary on what it's like to be in the spotlight. Porter jokes with listeners, saying things like "Wouldn't know how to brush my teeth without asking my team", clearly exaggerating the way people view him. There's some hidden emotion to this song, though, particularly in the second verse. The line "crying at the airport, I'm sorry, Can I get a pic?" seems to imply the struggles that come with fame as well. Fans aren't really aware of a celebrity's mood or emotional state. They don't really think about that. They just ask for a photo anyway. The way I interpret KYO is Porter poking fun at everyone having their own headcanon about who he is as a person, despite it being completely para-social. The song is upbeat and infectiously catchy, but there's definitely some meaning hiding between the lines.
Cheerleader
"Cheerleader" is this album's featured single, and it packs a punch. This is a song about a stalker, or at least the idea of a stalker. Following the ideas in KYO, "Cheerleader" expands on the concept of para-social relationships. The girl Porter describes in the song is absolutely obsessed with him, even saying "If you're not mine, I'd rather see you burn alive". It's clearly an exaggeration, but it really makes you stop and realize just how real these volatile fans can be. Regardless, there is positivity in the song. Porter acknowledges his love for his fans with the line "My cheerleader, thought she needed me but I need her". Of course, this is all speculation, as this song seems to have some really esoteric lyrics, but what I glean from it is the internal struggle between dealing with insane fans, and appreciating their dedication.
Russian Roulette
Where do I begin with "Russian Roulette"? This is the longest song on the album, spanning an impressive 6:28 in length. It brings back a lot of Porter's introspective style from "Nurture", taking on a severely existential tone. When life becomes stressful, we're always expected to keep smiling, to keep moving. Life loses meaning beneath all the tension. We become more reckless, and we gamble with our lives. We forget about the little things that hold meaning for us. "Russian Roulette" seems to describe the back and forth between optimism and nihilism. We can almost feel the gun lower from our heads as Porter lists all the little things that matter. Suddenly, every mundane thing holds meaning. "I wanna live. I don't wanna die.", stays the theme as the song comes to a head. It's a track full of emotion, struggle, and forced laughter, and honestly tied for my favorite on the album.
Perfect Pinterest Garden
"Perfect Pinterest Garden" is a commentary on the expectations of modern relationships, especially when one person is putting up a facade to keep the other interested. Everything is so superficial in 2024. Everyone wants that perfect social media life. We all pretend our lives are going swimmingly on the internet. In reality, things are more complex than that. We have to be willing to ask ourselves if we're being genuine. Are we really happy? Are we being ourselves or are we just acting a certain way to fit in? My take on this song is that it asks listeners to think about just how far they'd go, and how much of their own personality they'd sacrifice just to fit the mold.
Year of the Cup
"Year of the Cup" is where things get somber on this album. It's a slow reflection on the disadvantages of drinking alcohol and how it affects the people around us. Using interview clips from Lil Wayne as samples really gives listeners two sides of a controversial topic. Porter looks back on the things he regrets having done while drinking, bringing to light the importance of moderation and control. This is the other song that ties for my favorite on the album. It's a simple concept, but it puts us in a clear mindset about just how fragile we are as people and raises some important questions. How much is too much? What makes an addiction? Do I need to drink to fit in? "Year of the Cup" is a song about taking your power back and being confident in your own decisions.
Kitsune Maison Freestyle
"Kitsune Maison Freestyle" comes from a place of deep insecurity. We're all just "trying to look good, trying not to feel bad". Contextualized with Kitsune Maison being a designer brand, Porter focuses on the idea that we all just want to feel confident in what we wear. We're tired of being judged for our unique styles and the stigma behind things like body type. The main idea behind "Kitsune Maison Freestyle" is just that everyone should be able to wear what makes them happy without being judged. It seems to point out that maybe we're too fixated on our appearances and it's bringing us down mentally. And it's okay to take a break from that.
Easier to Love You
"Easier to Love You" seems like a love song on the surface, but it's actually a song about struggling with self-esteem. We've all felt like we're not enough. We compare the current version of us with our past selves. Maybe they were thinner and had more energy. Maybe they hadn't experienced trauma yet. This song is trying so hard to convey that as much as Porter knows those thoughts aren't helpful, it's really hard to escape them. It's hard to know exactly which perspective this is coming from, but to me, it feels like a letter to Porter's younger self. It seems like both a retrospective and a reminder for the future. It really would be so much easier to love ourselves if we could see how our lives improve. If we could see that our mental health, financial stability, and overall mood would improve, we likely wouldn't feel so hopeless. The music video really hammers this home with the message on the balloon in the last few seconds. "We are alive." I think if my future self could tell me anything, that's the message I'd want to hear too.
Mona Lisa
There are so many ways I could interpret "Mona Lisa". It's a song about a painting, right? Well, yes and no. It describes a painting. On the surface, it seems to be an ode to the artwork, with Porter complimenting things like her make-up, but there's some deeper meaning here, right? I mean there has to be. I feel like this is an allegory that goes back to the theme of para-social relationships on this album. Porter compliments the painting in ways that someone would compliment a real woman. It's exaggerated to a bizarre extent. I mean, it's a painting. And that's the entire point. We go to concerts to see our favorite artists perform because we admire the art. Assuming they know us or have any feelings in return is just creepy and weird. You wouldn't insist that you could take the Mona Lisa home just because it looks pretty and alluring, so why would you assume a performer should tolerate the same overtly forward behavior? It's one big allegory that sadly, a lot of crazed fans need to hear.
Is There Really No Happiness?
"Is There Really No Happiness?" is a song about nostalgia. The lyrics are cryptic, but the main theme is fairly simple. We go through life clinging to the past. We have nostalgia for the things we experienced as children. For us millennials, it's things like old video games, pizza arcades, and long summer nights playing flashlight tag with our friends. If we cling to the nostalgia too much, we start to wonder if we'll ever be as happy as we were then. It can be a struggle to find the things that make us happy when we're drowning in adult stress and dystopian politics. "Is There Really No Happiness?" is an incredibly beautiful song that I never really sat and thought about before this review, but it's hitting me harder than ever. Do we ever really get that childhood magic back, but more importantly, do we really need it back? That's the question this song asks.
Everything to Me
"Everything to Me" is the only true love song on this album. As a matter of fact, I listed this song a few weeks ago in the wedding song article. It's heartfelt and vulnerable, and it really just feels intimate. It carries that nostalgic energy that's so present in this album. "Everything to Me" looks back on meeting someone for the first time, mustering the courage to finally ask them out, and being awkward with them. You're just hoping that after that first date, you get to see them again. But it also conveys so much love and appreciation for the person it's talking about. There's been time to develop that strong bond and admiration for the subject of this song. When you love someone so much, nothing else matters. It's just you and them in the room. Nothing and no one can get in the way of that feeling.
Thanks for sticking with me through the whole review! "Smile! :D" is an album that takes a few listens to really absorb. It's hiding so much meaning between the lines of each song and that definitely needs to be talked about more. I feel like throughout this review, I was learning more and more about the backstory behind each song. The album has almost been out for a month at this point and I'm still finding new things out about it. Porter's previous album, "Nurture" is something I note as my favorite album of all time. When "Smile! :D" came out, I wasn't quite sure what to make of it. It didn't have that immediate magic for me like "Nurture" did. I was mildly disappointed that we only received 10 songs, but now I understand why. Those 10 songs are EXTREMELY thoughtful and well-written. They confront the parts of ourselves that we don't always like to see. Sometimes that's uncomfortable but necessary. It took a while, but after giving each song a few very thoughtful listens, I can certainly see the brilliance in this album.
Thanks again for reading to the end! You can hear "Smile! :D" on your favorite streaming service and let us know your thoughts on any of our socials below!
Written By Shelbi Baker
*copyright not intended. Fair use act, section 107.
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