Joji – SMITHEREENS (Album Review)

Published on February 24, 2025. Joji’s third album, SMITHEREENS, feels like a window into his soul, blending moody vibes with sharp, emotional punches across nine tracks that don’t even hit the half-hour mark.

Born George Kusunoki Miller on September 18, 1992, in Osaka, Japan, to a Japanese mother and an Australian father, it’s wild to think this is the same guy who once had the internet in stitches as Filthy Frank. His career kicked off in 2011 on YouTube, where he launched the channel DizastaMusic, creating absurd, comedic content featuring characters like Filthy Frank and Pink Guy—think rap songs, rants, and bizarre skits that exploded in popularity, even sparking the viral Harlem Shake craze in 2013.

Back in 2017, he ditched the comedy mask for music, starting with lo-fi beats that quickly evolved into something deeper. By 2022, with this release, he’s carved out a space all his own, mixing haunting melodies and slick production into what I’d call a masterpiece of modern melancholy.

What makes SMITHEREENS work so well is how it pulls you in, whether you’re after something to wallow in or just a spark to feel alive. Starting with “Glimpse of Us,” a slow, piano-driven gut punch that climbed to #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 with a fragile, yearning quality that sticks with you. This is followed by “Feeling Like The End,” setting a dark, simmering tone with heavy bass and resigned vocals.

Then “Die For You,” bringing a rich, layered sound with synths swelling around tender yet desperate lyrics. “Before The Day Is Over” layering soft piano with an achingly personal plea with a few cinematic synths.

“Dissolve” throwing in a hypnotic, almost eerie vibe, “NIGHT RIDER” cruising with sleek, nocturnal energy, “BLAHBLAHBLAH DEMO” keeping things raw and experimental, “YUKON (INTERLUDE),” a quick, chaotic jolt of glitchy energy that shakes things up, and “1AM FREESTYLE” closing it out with a loose, introspective late-night feel. I’d call it excellent—perfect for anyone who loves music that hits hard and doesn’t let go.

Joji’s got this knack for blending dreamy, atmospheric vibes with raw emotion, and it’s all over this album. It’s short, sure, but every track lands like a carefully crafted moment, from the aching simplicity of “Glimpse of Us” to the restless edge of “YUKON.” Even if I grew up on more classic sounds, this won me over—it’s honest, it’s striking, and I can’t get enough of it.

One thing I like about SMITHEREENS is that everyone can enjoy and resonate with the music, or cry with the music, because he uses universal languages of heartbreak and sadness. The only thing that I thing lacks in this album is the diversity of style. I find every song pretty much in the same gloomy mood, which, if you listen long enough, could make you quite sleepy.

SCORE/Excellent: If you want a soundtrack for late nights or heavy feelings, this album is it., SMITHEREENS delivers.

[We rank singles, EPs, and albums on a scale of Poor, Mediocre, Good, Excellent, and Outstanding]

Follow Joji on:
Instagram and his website