Album Review: Childish Gambino, “Atavista”

Donald Glover Makes a Splash with New Album and Bold Announcement

By Anton Drozdovskiy

Donald Glover, better known under his stage name Childish Gambino, has surprised his fans around the world with a “new” album. On May 13th, he released Atavista, which is a reworked and beefed-up version of his 2020 project "3.15.20 ". The new version includes two new songs, "Atavista" and "Human Sacrifice", both of which have been fan favorites ever since his 2018 tour.

However, "Atavista" is not the only new music on the way. Glover stated his plans to retire the Childish Gambino name after two more albums. The next release, scheduled for this summer, will be a full-length soundtrack for his upcoming film "Bando Stone and the New World." The CD, titled "Bando Stone in The New World," will be a farewell to his fans.

"Atavista" has been met with mixed reviews. Some critics praise the expanded project and the newfound polish Glover gave the original tracks. Others, however, feel that the album doesn't stray far enough from the original "3.15.20," and that the new features, such as Ariana Grande on "Algorhythm," don't add much to the overall experience from the album. 

Anthony Fantano, a popular music critic and internet personality, commented on the album: “Atavista's newfound clarity reveals some shortcomings on the songwriting front, but it's definitely a more enjoyable experience than the 2020 version.”

Regardless of the criticism, "Atavista" has undoubtedly sparked anticipation for Childish Gambino's next projects. The record is backed by a tour, "The New World Tour," which begins in August and will go across North America, Europe, and beyond. In Amsterdam, the concert will happen on 24th November at the Ziggo Dome.