Album Review: Bando Stone and The New World by Childish Gambino
In support of the upcoming film of the same name, Donald Glover releases his "final" album under the Childish Gambino moniker.
Donald Glover, a multi-talented writer, actor, comedian, and director, has gained recognition for his work on Community and Atlanta. However, his musical alter ego, Childish Gambino, is where his talents truly shine. Born in 1983 at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Glover’s adoption of the Childish Gambino moniker around 2008 was anything but conventional. Using an online Wu-Tang Clan name generator to distinguish his music from his comedy, he created a unique persona that keeps audiences engaged, curious, and perplexed. This unconventional origin story reflects his unique approach to music, balancing art and whimsy.
Glover’s early recordings, self-described as a “decrepit” Drake, were never officially released. However, Childish Gambino’s initial mixtapes from the late 2000s showcase a cultural absorber created on his terms. Genre labels have become increasingly inadequate for his music, which pushes the limits of hip-hop (Camp, Because the Internet), R&B (STN MTN / Kawai), funk (Awaken, My Love!), and indie electro-pop (03.15.20 or Atavista). Gambino’s hits, such as “3005,” “Redbone,” and “This Is America,” differ aesthetically but demonstrate his skill in each style. His discography, a labyrinth of tangled brilliance and surprises, rewards exploration.
Making Bando Stone and The New World allowed Donald Glover to explore ideas about character and the meaning of work through a story about the potential end of the world. The album and film were inspired by an idea he had years ago about a musician recording his fifth studio record on a remote island during a global calamity. Glover created both projects after wrapping up the final season of Atlanta two years ago.
Glover retired from the ‘Childish Gambino’ moniker partly due to the growing challenge of creating albums that met his standards while balancing commitments to family, film, television, and his new company Gilga. This was also a challenge for collaborators like producer Ludwig Goransson, who has been a key creative partner on every album since Camp but only appears on a few Bando songs.
The album showcases the hallmarks of the Childish Gambino experience: diverse styles, strong aesthetics, and thought-provoking lyrics, now with added maturity. “Lithonia,” the first single, blends ‘90s Rivers Cuomo influences into an end-times barroom singalong. The opener “Hearts Are Meant to Fly” mixes the influences of Kanye West’s Yeezus and the Prodigy into an electro-punk battle cry. The standout track “No Excuses” skillfully combines the spirit of Fela Kuti.
Amaarae appeared on multiple tracks, featuring “In the Night,” which also features Jorja Smith, creating a summertime atmosphere, and “Talk My Shit” makes for a fun banger with Flo Milli’s verse further amplifies the track’s brash tone (“Pop shit in my sleep, they snoozin’”). Chlöe lends her beautiful vocals on “Survival” as Gambino yearns for stability amidst changing circumstances. Khruangbin delivers their signature classic soul and psychedelia on “Happy Survival,” while Fousheé showcased her chemistry with Gambino on “Running Around.”
Not all tracks hit the mark, as “Got to Be” is an outdated dubstep song that goes nowhere, “Cruisin’” is a forgettable trap song that you hear time again, and “Can You Feel Me” has a new groove, but Gambino’s wonky vocal effects can sound distracting. Producer Michael Uzowuru described the studio atmosphere as laid-back and wholesome. This energy is reflected in the music’s references to children and fatherhood, including a memorable performance from Glover’s son Legend on the track “Can You Feel Me.”
Other solo songs include the Steve Lacy-produced “Steps Beach,” capturing the fleeting and shifting nature of time and relationships, the high-energy “A Place Where Love Goes,” and “Yoshinoya” where Gambino flexes his rapping skills. Though some questioned the album’s more tender moments, Glover insisted on staying true to himself at age 40. Bando serves as a curated archive of the Childish Gambino experience, showcasing his growth as an artist and individual.
Solid (★★★½☆)
Favorite Track(s): “Survive,” “No Excuses,” “Happy Survival”
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