41. Porter Robinson “Knock Yourself Out XD”
At what point does intense self-exploration just feel like navel gazing? This seems to be one of the questions Porter Robinson has been flipping around in the wake of his 2021 album Nurture . The album is full of sober meditations on the meaning of life and art, and whether it’s worth continuing to make music. A world in turmoil. (Of course, the answer he ended up with was a resounding yes.) But how to follow it? while poking fun at the very idea of such a business. Hilarious and mischievous, Robinson’s third studio album Smile! 😀 embraces the spirit of joyful abandon and first-thought-best-thoughts that makes you not take yourself or anything so seriously. It’s full. “Knock Yourself Out , which undermines the idea that it’s worth writing songs about such things. First things first. Packed with fun confetti explosions of synth programming and an overall production aesthetic that feels like being trapped in Zumiez for a night, it’s hilariously absurd and ridiculous – it’s possible to tour the world and perform the songs. About as stupid as the idea that it’s worth complaining about as a job. He makes his stance clear with one of the record’s most memorable and bizarre lines: “Bitch, I’m Taylor Swift!” It simultaneously celebrates and ridicules his unique position as someone who makes art that people care about. — Colin Joyce
