Album Preview: Mike Posner "31 Minutes to Takeoff"

Last year, Mike Posner made a buzz for himself with two acclaimed mixtapes, A Matter of Time and One Foot Out The Door—the former helped him score a record deal with J Records and the latter boasted guest spots from rappers like Kid Cudi, Freddie Gibbs, and Bun B. There aren't any rappers on Mike's debut album, 31 Minutes to Take Off, but it does boast a Top 10 hit single with "Cooler Than Me." The album (which is mostly produced and written by Mike himself) won't drop until August 10 but since we know G4 pilots on a first-name basis, we got to ride out with 31 Minutes to Takeoff early. Find out what we heard.

Producer: Mike Posner

Complex says: It's exactly what the subtitle says it is, an intro. And it plays exactly how you would think it would: short, slow tempo, little bit of piano, and just a little bit of crooning. Let's get this show started.

Producer:
Complex says:

Producer: The Smeezingtons

Complex says: We interrupt this preview of Mike Posner's debut album for...an Axe ad! That's right, not only does this song borrow the rather corny phrase Axe tried to make popular via an ad campaign, but Posner sings about how shorty is gonna be feeling him as soon as he "throws this on 'Bow Chicka Wow Wow.'" He even manages to drop a Red Bull reference in there. [Sigh.] Whatever, no matter how much we hate, we're sure Mike made more money off this song than he will off the whole fuckin' album. Now back to your regular scheduled programming.

Producer: Gigamesh

Complex says: No one saw it coming, but this somehow became a summer anthem. And why not? It's catchy and it doesn't take itself too seriously. Plus Mike kinda reminds us of Justin Timberlake while riding in the back of that drop top. We're just saying, that's all. So stop fronting like you're too cool for this song.

Producer: Mike Posner

Complex says: You'd get deja vu too if you were to hook up with an old girl (a.k.a. recycling pussy) just for old times' sake, so you already know we're co-signing this song. Also, according to the album's credits, Boyz II Men are featured on the song but sing nothing but backing vocals. Seriously, those guys sold like 60 million records and now they're basically the Blu Cantrell to Mike's Faith Evans. That might be a bad reference seeing as how most of you guys probably have no idea who Blu Cantrell is...

Producer: Cisco Adler

Complex says: The best part about this song is that Mike says, "I walk around talking shit." LOL. But hey, we're not mad at him because at least it's catchy. This song revolves around Mike slowly building up the courage to ask a chick, "Do you wanna be my girl?" But along the way he fronts like he doesn't need her, even though he's actually desperately in love with her. Wait, is this guy a sensitive thug? Who knew?

Producer: Mike Posner & Benny Blanco

Complex says: This song is the centerpiece of the album. While all the songs before it are fun, playful, and mostly involve getting some action, all the songs after this one are much darker and gloomier. As you may have guessed, the song is about a girl Mike wanted to wife until she cheated on him. The hook is absolutely epic: "I should have cheated on you/Nobody told me I was dating a whore." But it gets better! Towards the end of the song, Mike gives a classic shout-out a la the author's note in the film, 500 Days of Summer: "Caroline Stevens, this song is for you."

Producer: Cisco Adler & Mike Posner

Complex says: Mike croons about how he told a chick he loved her in the summer but he was on to the next one in the fall (wow, this really is like 500 Days of Summer). He spends the rest of the track wondering about how he became such an asshole. We're guessing getting cheated on made Mike cruel and cold—but hey, nice guys finish last.

Producer: Greg Kurstin

Complex says: This track starts off slow but Mike really lets off on the hook. Throughout the song he sounds really paranoid about a chick that treats him like a piece on a board game, which is why he's running away and leaving her. Geez, that whore Caroline Stevens really did a number on him.

Producer: Greg Kurstin

Complex says: Ironically, this song is titled after what we'd guess is Mike's favorite instrument, yet he kinda disses the idea of it with a hook that goes, "Don't synthesize her, redesign her." He also ponders if he'll ever grow up to become the voice of his generation. Sorry Mike, but Kanye has been holding down that spot steady for a minute now.

Producer: Mike Posner

Complex says: Easily the most melancholy song on the album, "Delta 1406" finds Mike feeling alone and depressed. He sounds like he's planning a trip because L.A. just doesn't feel like home. But things get even gloomier as he talks about how his relationship with his mother is strained and how his dad "only got a few years left." Sniff.

Producer: Greg Kurstin & Mike Posner

Complex says: As Mike croons about "flying uncomfortably high" the album comes to a close on a rather sad note. Gone is the fun-loving optimism that fueled the first half of the record, thanks to a broken heart via a cheating lover. And although Mike goes through some denial, anger, and bargaining on the album, this song is all depression without the hint of true acceptance. It doesn't take away from this fine debut, but we wish we could have gotten just a little bit more.