Over a year since his debut album, and after a handful of collaborations with the likes of Khalid, Migos, Logic, Selena Gomez, Lil Peep, Noah Cyrus, and Wrabel, Marshmello has dropped his sophomore album, Joytime II.
This album certainly sees a return to the Marshmello that fans once fell in love with, bridging EDM with more saccharine and melodic beats. The 31-minute, 9-track album may seem a little short, but it’s perfectly in line with Mello’s recent trend.
Each track on the album is fairly familiar, in that each track is existentially a “marshmello track.” You’d never confuse any track on Joytime II with a track from any other artist, and that is both a blessing and a curse. While each track is essentially Marshmello, they’re all somewhat indistinguishable. They all feature the same kind of synth-laden trap/future bass rhythm with sugary beats and identifiable rhythms.
If you’re looking for the perfect Marshmello album, honestly, look no further. Joytime II is it. This is as Marshmello as you’re going to get. But if you were looking for a little more variety in the Marshmello sound, you’re better off tackling his collaborations outside of EDM.
Perhaps Joytime II presents the limitations of Marshmello’s sound, or perhaps it presents the best of it… that is up to interpretation. At the end of the day, fans will undoubtedly find pleasure in the tracks, and that’s probably what matters most. Then again, it’s unclear if layman listeners will ever be able to tell tracks apart on Joytime II, and that’s okay, too.
Joytime II is available to stream below. Check it out.
Photo via Rukes.com