<p><span><span>- “<em>It’s October and I’m tired</em>” exhausts rapper Open Mike Eagle on his latest record <em>Anime, Trauma and Divorce</em>. Despite Mike claiming to have recorded this line last October, the sentiment still runs true now. An exploration of depression, divorce and self-love, Mike bares all on a humorous yet melancholy record that puts into perspective the necessity of helping yourself in what has been a disastrous twelve months.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>The title of the record doesn’t lie: Open Mike Eagle goes all in on the anime references. <em>Headass (Idiot Shinji)</em> is both a song about headass people and a reference to Shinji, a famous headass himself, from <strong>Neon Genesis Evangelion</strong>. The song is a lighter, humorous track in which Mike and guest rapper <strong>Video Dave </strong>describe their own headass behaviour. The self-deprecation is at almost <strong>Pharcyde </strong>levels with Mike going as far as comparing his male shrinkage to <strong>Peter Dinklage</strong>’s height. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>“<em>Tattoos, Haircuts, Gold Chains, Anime</em>”, a reflection of the repetitive aspects of average life. <em>Sweatpants Spiderman</em> sees Mike coming to terms with his middle age while working through his recent divorce. The production comprises simple, warm chords and bubbly instrumentals that float throughout the track. While still somewhat upbeat, Mike seems to be slightly depressed over revelations of painful exercise, quitting smoking, moving cities and growing older. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Everything Ends Last Year </em>crosses the line into depressing and lethargic as Mike details how defeated he felt after losing a TV series, a web series and his marriage, one after another. The production compliments the theme with mellow acoustic guitars and piano chords so downtrodden that Mike might as well be doing the sad <em>Charlie Brown</em><strong> </strong>walk in a storm. While an older track, it is no coincidence that Mike dropped it at this point of 2020 as it feels -whether you lost a TV series and your marriage or not- like a soundtrack to a commonality shared by the entire human race.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>The Black Mirror Episode </em>is quite a painful listening experience as it truly dives into a pit of despair. Mike speaks openly about how an episode of <em>Black Mirror</em><strong> </strong>woke subconscious thoughts that caused the end of his marriage. The instrumental swirls around Mike’s adlib cries like a tornado as he moves through shades of anger and sorrow towards both his partner and, obviously, that damn TV show.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>It might have felt like it was there already, but <em>Wtf is Self Care</em> brings the record round to 2020 proper, as Mike tries to find ways to work through his middle age, depression and divorce that include surviving the rest of the year. Thankfully the track gets some answers as it works through the titular question, finding solace in little remedies like massages and smoking weed. A reminder to enjoy your time on the planet, <em>Self Care </em>is a much needed boost after the previous two tracks.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Anime, Trauma and Divorce </em>is a very solid collection of personal material from Open Mike Eagle. Exploring a range of emotions in what has been -for OME more than most- a very turbulent year, with his unique brand of humour, simple flows and anime references on top of anime references he manages to work through even the darkest hours. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>- James Chadwick.</span></span></p>
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