Porter Robinson unveils new era with third album ‘SMILE! :D’: Listen

Porter Robinson leaves behind EDM in favour of an electropop soundscape that is equally as nostalgic as it is fresh, on new album ‘SMILE! :D’.

When Porter Robinson releases a new album, the whole music industry anticipates it. With each album cycle, he takes on wildly different themes from the snythpop-leaning ‘Worlds‘ to the vocal-based ‘Nurture‘, and new album ‘SMILE! 😀‘ is even more different from the previous two albums.

Always one to surprise fans, no one could have anticipated what was to come from the album based off its singles ‘Cheerleader‘, ‘Knock Yourself Out XD‘, ‘Russian Roulette‘ and ‘Kitsune Maison Freestyle‘. All upbeat, somewhat light-hearted and heaps of fun to listen to, the second half of the album makes way for heartfelt (and unexpectedly sad) tracks, and it feels intentional, as if Porter himself was challenging expectations about his work. If you were expecting more tongue-in-cheek, lighthearted anthems, you may just be surprised by the sudden tears in your eyes when moving on through the tracklist.

With this previously unheard second part of ‘SMILE! :D’ we are treated to a bittersweet nostalgia trip, with Robinson exploring themes of goodbyes, childhood, memories and growing older. In tracks such as ‘Is There Really No Happiness?‘, ‘Easier To Love You‘, and ‘Perfect Pinterest Garden‘, his love for creating synth-infused pop ballads shows strongly.

An album that long term fans can appreciate, and ones that new fans can certainly get onboard with, ‘SMILE! :D’ is Porter Robinson at his most contemplative, and vulnerable. Listen to the full album via Mom + Pop here, or below.