Album Review: NOEL’s ‘Push’ Creates Duality Between High Energy Beats and Self-Evaluation
One half of the comedy-rap duo Tiny Meat Gang slows the tempo and gets personal on his first EP.
Written by Grayson Patteson
Photo courtesy of Noel Miller
Despite just now releasing his first solo EP, rapper Noel Miller, going by the stage name NOEL, is no stranger to the music industry. Most know the artist by his internet presence on both YouTube and Twitch, where he regularly streams and tells stories about his life (some of which involve his time working at a music studio). From interacting with Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA to cleaning toilets, he puts a comedic twist on both the highs and lows of the job he had in his early 20s. But if you’re unfamiliar with his livestreams, you might recognize Miller as a member of Tiny Meat Gang, a comedy rap duo with friend and fellow Youtuber Cody Ko. The pair have been making music together since 2017 with the release of their single “Keep Ya D-ck Fat” and their EP Bangers & Ass. Both have since grown into an established musical duo with multiple songs exceeding 20 million streams on Spotify, even having Blackbear featured on their hit single “short kings anthem.”
As for Miller’s solo career, he’s only released three singles since 2018, all of which having the same high energy beats and light-hearted lyrics from his work in Tiny Meat Gang. The songs themselves contain traditional rap themes like sex and smoking with a fun flair. “Loophole” and “Wood Worm” in particular having bouncy beats that are hard not to sway to. However, none of the three songs have many personal elements from Noel’s life or personality — and that’s where his debut EP Push differs from his usual work. It features songs with slow and mellow beats, while the lyrical content is a lot more honest and personal to Noel, specifically about his struggles with success, ambition, and self doubt.
Photo courtesy of The Torch
The opening track, “Lennon’s Ghost,” provides a great introduction to the more introspective and self-critical themes present throughout Push. The song discusses Miller’s struggles with his insecurities and public opinion. Going back and forth between questioning if people are going to enjoy his music as much as his comedic internet persona, Miller shakingly assures himself that he’s good at what he does, that his hard work is paying off, and to “f-ck whoever tried to make me quit.” The back and forth trepidation heard in this song is mirrored throughout the whole EP as well, with some tracks emphasizing his worries, while others celebrate his own success. The heavy lyrical content in “Lennon’s Ghost” pairs with the echoing sound mixing, steady guitar, and the booming bass to make for a strong introduction to the project.
These themes remain present in “Head Sunk,” providing context to Miller’s introspection on how he’s changed through fame. Although his mentality is the same as it is in “Lennon’s Ghost,” “Head Sunk” goes more in-depth regarding his success and self assurance while maintaining a higher energy. Quicker in tempo and lighter in tone, the track also has elements of the haunting echo in “Lennon’s Ghost,” they’re slightly higher in pitch and feature more prominently in the mix. Paired with the sound of windchimes and a steady siren quietly heard in the breaks between Miller’s confident tone and lyrics, Miller explores his growth and how he feels like he’s finally proved himself, that “they know I’m nice with the pen, they know I do it for real” and how it’s “insane [his] bills turned to pocket change.” The track highlights Miller’s struggle to figure out who he truly is, and how he’s finally learning to become content with himself and his now-rewarding work.
Final track “Bus Back” returns to the more self-critical lyrics and subdued tune from the EP’s opener, and it is lyrically one of the strongest tracks. The song takes a deep dive into Miller’s brain as he shares his dissatisfaction with himself despite becoming quite successful. He questions who he even is, whether he enjoys his career, and how he’s changed so much that he has a hard time recognizing himself. He wants to create art he enjoys but feels trapped by his society’s expectations, also mentioning his struggle to express how he truly feels without looking weak. The production in this track is more muted, opening with soft piano, the supportive yet lowkey bass throughout, and the distorted guitar passages at the end. It takes a backseat to NOEL’s verses, closing the EP with a heartfelt story that leaves a lasting impact.
Although nothing in the EP is very sonically experimental, Push is a refreshing change in NOEL’s usual musical projects that allows casual listeners and fans alike an opportunity at seeing more range in Noel’s discography. Long time fans will get to see the internal thoughts and struggles Miller has discussed with his audience in the past, wrapped in a cohesive debut project that exceeds expectations. The album opens a door for people to enter a piece of his psyche and hear who Noel Miller is outside of his comedic online character and allows the rapper to be true to his emotions while still producing fun and catchy tracks. This duality complements Push’s lyrical strength and earworm beats, resulting in an EP that can draw anyone in, laying a strong foundation for NOEL’s burgeoning solo career.