When Post Malone revealed he was working on his fourth album in 2021, he reportedly wanted the new tunes to “lift up people".
However, it seems the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and resultant lack of touring opportunities sent him down a darker, introspective path.
The new Twelve Carat Toothache, which was released on Friday, is the US pop star's most personal album yet and is full of the ruminations that come from being cooped up indoors — even if it’s a $3 million mansion in Utah.
That being said, Malone hasn’t lost his knack for genre-bending tunes, with his dynamic vocals seamlessly shifting between croons and melodic raps to a rock snarl.
Such transitions keep the album engrossing and cements Malone’s standing as one of the great artists of his era.
Here are three things know about Twelve Carat Toothache.
1. Being famous is not fun
Malone follows a long line of musicians bemoaning the destructive and isolating nature of fame. In that sense, the subjects explored in Twelve Carat Toothache is a neat accompaniment to 2019's Hollywood’s Bleeding.
Where those songs marvelled at the excess of celebrity, Malone is more circumspect in the follow-up. "I'm a damn fool," he laments in the album's opener Reputation, a lush and cinematic piano ballad about past mistakes.
The shoe-gazing is deeper in Insane, where Malone owns up to his poor and misogynistic behaviour with women ("Don't you believe me? / You can ask her," he sings).
That self-loathing attitude, however, is tempered with the kind of winning trap hip-hop beats that made Wow a club staple.
Dark lyricism and bouncy production is also found in I Cannot Be (A Sadder Song), which finds Malone arguing with an ex-partner about their toxic relationship: "I know that I ain't perfect, but you so mean."
2. No big musical surprises
In Twelve Carat Toothache, Malone doubles down on his musical choices. A lot of this is down to collaborating with long-time producer Louis Bell, who co-wrote all 14 tracks.
The sounds are lush, expansive and ambient.
The record sidesteps most of the abrupt beat and tempo changes currently popular in mainstream hip-hop, instead the songs have been created to wash over listeners.
When it works, such as in future hits Wrapped Around Your Finger and When I Am Alone — the latter of which Malone's tenor eerily resembles The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers — the album is sublime.
The commitment to such an approach results in some filler tracks such as the plodding Euthanasia and Wasting Angels; which is an unfortunate waste of a collaboration with Malone’s heir apparent The Kid Laroi.
3. It is tailor-made for streaming
By keeping the tracks sonically uniform and at a brisk 43 minutes, Twelve Carat Toothache is perfect for streaming and it doesn’t outstay its welcome.
Buoyed by the success of Hollywood's Bleeding, Malone ended 2019 as Spotify's most streamed artist with 6.5 billion streams.
Judging by the follow-up, Malone is once again in the running to finish this year on top.
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
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Gifts exchanged
- King Charles - replica of President Eisenhower Sword
- Queen Camilla - Tiffany & Co vintage 18-carat gold, diamond and ruby flower brooch
- Donald Trump - hand-bound leather book with Declaration of Independence
- Melania Trump - personalised Anya Hindmarch handbag
The specs: Audi e-tron
Price, base: From Dh325,000 (estimate)
Engine: Twin electric motors and 95kWh battery pack
Transmission: Single-speed auto
Power: 408hp
Torque: 664Nm
Range: 400 kilometres
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Naga
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The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder MHEV
Power: 360bhp
Torque: 500Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh282,870
On sale: now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
