We all approach stress differently. We have our means of decompression and habits that clear our heads but the thing about stress is that it is constantly around the corner. Even in our most meditative mindsets, we can have intrusive thoughts that bring us back to a cluttered thought process. On Maxo’s new LP, Even God Has A Sense of Humor, the rapper explores those moments that take us out of solace and places them under a microscope to further understand why certain moments can snap us out of relaxation. His first album since 2019’s LIL BIG MAN, the 14 songs on this latest LP see Maxo taking a more melodic, melancholy approach to his craft as he seeks answers to questions that most are afraid to ask.
Even God Has A Sense of Humor sounds like Maxo is creating the album he’s always dreamed of. He seems to have completely reimagined his approach to making music in order to express his emotions in a more proper atmosphere. Moments like “Onedayatatime” feature almost no rapping at all. Maxo’s ever-stellar verses are replaced with muddy textures that are elevated through harmonies and the gentle falsetto of featured artist KeiyaA. Moments like this allow Maxo to flex his baritone singing voice that compliments the textures executed all over this LP.
While Maxo’s singing is a breath of fresh air, his rapping has never sounded better. His songwriting and the delivery of his observational lyrics have always been on point but like any great artist, Maxo has evolved since we last heard from him. Songs like “Face of Stone” add a burst of energy to this otherwise dreary tracklist. This song in particular features some of the best rapping we have ever heard from Maxo. He spins a tale of isolation into a beautiful story of misjudgment and warning signs and delivers the tale with his ear-grabbing gusto that sounds more confident than ever. Songs like this allow Maxo to flex an entirely different side of his voice and add diversity to the tracklist while the album is strung together by its lyrical content.
The album kicks off with the introspective “Still”, a track that has Maxo taking in moments and information with a grain of salt as he proposes questions that we’ve all asked ourselves or others. This set the tone lyrically for Even God has A Sense of Humor. All over the LP, Maxo’s writing feels more vulnerable than ever, he’s not letting us in on how he arrived at the questions asked but instead leaves them as a blank slate for the listener to take with them. This style of songwriting matches perfectly with the aesthetics of the album, lyrically he gives us a jumping-off point to explore our own surroundings without forcing us in one direction. Without getting too specific with his lyrics, Maxo shortens the bridge between listener and artist, he’s writing these songs as if we were oversharing around a bonfire with masterful poeticism. Maxo holds court in a crowded room on Even God Has A Sense of Humor as he notices every subtly and fearlessly asks for explanations.
Maxo achieved a perfect balance of tone on Even God Has A Sense of Humor. The tracklist is able to vividly demonstrate the thought process of its author in a full, vibrant picture without sounding inconsistent. Maxo uses the album’s gray tones and muted instrumentals as a catalyst for his shaman-style songwriting. The album overall feels very minimal but not for a lack of character, the ambient moments of the album give the listener time to reflect on the thoughts pondered during Maxo’s verses, allowing for the album to play like a spiritual journey more than an LP. There are more focused concepts executed on this album than on past releases from Maxo, he sounds more direct in his delivery as his songwriting also becomes more detailed and personal.
Maxo approaches stress with an aloofness, not out of ignorance but for survival. Even God Has a Sense of Humor was well worth the wait, the artist achieved a level of consistency while still exploring the nooks and crannies of his creativity to expound on his already refreshing sound. Maxo takes on the weight of the world for 14 songs and describes his qualms with vivid imagery over murky soundscapes to create an album that is equal parts comforting and mind-altering.
