Singer, songwriter, rapper, actor, comedian, director, and producer Donald Glover aka Childish Gambino is a man of many talents and has left his mark on music and film. Announcing a “Heartfelt goodbye, and thank you” with his fifth and final album under the Gambino name, Bando Stone and the New World. 

Released a little less than two months after another recent release in May, Atavista, under his record label RCA Records and his own multimedia production company, Gilga. This was a huge shock for Gambino fans as there was little to no mention of this album. Other than a few singles and features, Glover hasn’t produced an album since a 2018 re-release on EP. 

The track on this new album has a total of 17 songs and runs just less than an hour and entails a large variety of features from Flo Milli and Steve Lacy to Yeat. Known for his expansion of styles in songs and lyrics, this album is no exception. His work transcends traditional boundaries, blending genres and styles to create something unique. This album is similar to “Because The Internet” and “Awaken, My Love!” really do show his versatility when it comes to his music, from rap to funk, soul, and R&B.

It is important to mention that this album will be a huge part of his world tour currently happening The New World Tour and is the soundtrack for his new upcoming movie Bando Stone and The New World. Not a lot is known about the movie other than a few cast members and that it is set in a post-apocalyptic world setting with him as the main character. Considering the movie with this release, the music on this album delivers a large spectrum of sounds and a cinematic “storytelling” feel as well as his usual alternative R&B and hip hop with notes of electronic and jazz.

This album is both similar and unlike his past releases considering he is said to be “revamping” and “transforming” his music career under the name he has engraved for himself.

Gambino has crafted an album that is both thought-provoking and adventurous, it’s a demonstration of his growth as an artist and his commitment when it comes to challenge his limits. Some fans are saying this is his best work yet while others say it’s disorienting and confusing, but personally I think this music projects the person he is as an artist.   

He put on a truly amazing performance in Toronto and with his career coming to an end, I would say he went out on top with this statement of an album and a new chapter in his artistic journey.

My ranking of the tracks:

1. Survive (feat. Chlöe)   
2. Steps Beach
3. Lithonia
4. Real Love
5. No Excuses (feat. Ludwig Göransson & Kamasi Washington)
6. Dadvocate
7. Happy Survival (feat. Khruangbin)
8. Got To Be  
9. Crusin’ (feat. Yeat)  
10. A Place Where Love Goes  
11. Running Around (feat. Fousheé)
12. H3@RT$ W3RE M3@NT T0 F7¥
13. In The Night (Jorja Smith & Amaarae) 
14. Talk My Shit (Amaarae & Flo Milli) 
15. We Are Good
16. Can You Feel Me (feat. Legend)
17. Yoshinoya