Did you know That Jimmy Buffett's posthumous "Equal Strain on All Parts" is bittersweet last album

SHOCKING......Did you know That Jimmy Buffett's posthumous "Equal Strain on All Parts" is bittersweet last album

American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett, made famous for his single "Margaritaville," released "Equal Strain on All Parts," on Nov. 3. The 32nd studio album released by Buffet's label, Mailboat and Sun Records, was the singer's final album after his death Sept. 1 at 76 in the wake of four years battling Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare skin cancer.

"Equal Strain of All Parts," hosts an eclectic blend of 14 songs. Running 53 minutes, the duration poses a stark contrast to his debut album "Down to Earth," released in 1970 that ran 39 minutes and 22 seconds.

In this album, the eclectic sounds of Buffett are apparent from the very first song, "University Of Bourbon (ft. Preservation Hall Band)." The song is an example of Buffett's bluesy roots, with bold brass heavily featured throughout the song.

The song follows Buffet's journey in college, where he spent four years getting his bachelor's in history. While the song does not explicitly mention the University of Southern Mississippi, the university Buffett called home was most likely the inspiration for the song. He sings about his musical inspirations in the song, referencing moments when "that brass band blew my mind," and "I heard a church choir sing/'Change my guitar strings,'" highlighting moments in his college experience where he could build his musical voice.

For those that are not huge fans of blues and jazz, "University of Bourbon Street" is a song that pulls from multiple genres to create a successful and strong start to the album.

The second song, "Bubbles Up," is almost a country ballad. The abrupt switch of genres would be a strong downturn for any other artist, but the soul of Buffett's success is in the eccentricity of his musical choices.

Buffett spent his life portraying a sun-soaked singer, so a nautically themed song was necessary. "Bubbles Up" offers the listener a saying to remember when they are drowning, to look for the bubbles in life "They will point you towards home/No matter how deep you roam."

The twangy guitar and subtle harmonic vocals make the song a beach-side melody, transporting the listener to a place where the words were meant just for them. Out of the entirety of the album, the simplicity of the melody with the depth of the lyrics makes it one of the strongest tracks listed.

"Audience of One," the third track on the album, is all about recognizing the joy of little things. Considering the advice is coming from a singer who performed in front of thousands of people, the advice to focus on "Make[ing] a little progress/Even if it's small/All I know to tell/Is do it till you get it right," can feel a little condescending.

The advice, however, that "Playin' to an audience of one/Better than an audience of none" is true. The song has a marimba style, introducing the piano and steel drum that Buffett's island-style music was known for.

Fourth on the list is the song "My Gummie Just Kicked In," featuring a bass line by English singer-songwriter and former Beatle Paul McCartney. The song is a homage to the 1960s and the time of new-age rock and roll and cannabis usage. "My Gummie Just Kicked In" is a phrase that McCartney's wife, Nancy Shevell, once said to Buffett at a party. The song proceeds to use the wavy style of music found during the psychedelic age of music, with his signature usage of island style with the steel drum.

"Equal Strain on All Parts," the title song, is close to Buffett. The title came from Buffett's grandfather's description of a nap and feels like a full-circle moment for the artist, who has written several other songs inspired by his late grandfather. The song has a unique element with piano, guitar, steel drums and more. "Equal Strain On All Parts" is a song for reminiscing in memories of good and bad times, and knowing the things that didn't make sense before will make sense when they're older.

The 12th song on the track list is a tribute song to French music icon Johnny Hallyday. "Johnny's Rhum" has the listener and Johnny visit long-dead musicians that the artist is meeting in a dream. The country-colored song is bittersweet after Buffett's death, as you can imagine the singer following after his friend.

In its entirety, "Equal Strain On All Parts" is an eclectic album to close out Buffett's decades-long career. Buffett's legacy lives on with his last 14 ballads, guiding the world on one last trip to "Margarita

ville" through his music.