Childish Gambino's Awaken, My Love! is one of the most experimental major releases of the year. It has elicited strong reactions -- hopefully, fans who feel let down after listening through once will come around once they digest it more fully.
The album concludes with "Stand Tall," a 6-minute psychedelic journey that takes its cues from artists like '70s artists Barry White, Brothers Johnson, and Funkadelic. It begins with Gambino singing words of dark encouragement ("So smile when you can") over wah guitar and spare Rhodes. Other orchestral elements gradually enter the picture -- flute, clarinet, choir -- but it isn't until the final minute until the drums come in.
Listen to the full album here.
Quotable Lyrics
Keep all your dreams, keep standing tall
If you are strong you cannot fall
There is a voice inside us all
So smile when you can
When you can