The rapper Future has returned. Lana Del Rey for guys with burst fades released his third 2024 work, “Mixtape Pluto.” After two highly successful, yet sedated Metro Boomin collab albums, “Mixtape Pluto” presents itself as a standalone project with no features.

The concept of “Mixtape Pluto” harkens back to a different era of Future, one who pushed boundaries and rapped his ass off during a 2010s run of fantastic music. But stress the emphasis on 2010s, since Future’s newest work feels Future-lite, lacking self-awareness and charm while sounding like he doesn’t really care. 

Upon its announcement, I envisioned two directions for “Mixtape Pluto:” One was it being a marketing exercise by a label to pay TikTok influencers to decree that “Future is back!!!” only for the album to sound like Future drifting off four Benadryl for a 23-song slog. Second, that it would be an ideal return to form with a tight track list, left field production and just effort for, like, 70 percent of the time.

Fortunately, “Mixtape Pluto” is mostly the latter. The third track, “Ski,” epitomizes everything I’ve wanted Future to do for five years. “Ski” is off the wall, as Future bounces back and forth with rapid fire flows and ad libs, almost as if he’s calling and responding to himself. Another highlight, the song “Too Fast,” is a forlorn banger about struggles with fame. Future’s voice sounds on the verge of sobbing as he “hope(s) she really deserve” that new G-Wagon and Kelly bag. 

“Press The Button,” “Brazzier,” “Made My Hoe Faint” and “Told M,” make up an adrenaline filled mid-album run which juxtaposes the heartbreaking songwriting on “Lost My Dog.” The production, mostly spearheaded by Southside and Wheezy, succeeds in filling atmospheres with more acoustic instruments. Strings, drums, pianos and flutes line-up behind distorted bells and vocal chops to create melodies reminiscent of freeform jazz. “Surfing a Tsunami,” the album highlight, culminates into a gorgeous, ambient backdrop set for an underwater-space-rodeo for Future to melt into.

There are some lull points though, especially in the beginning. Other than “Ski,” not many songs generate energy. The chorus of “Plutoski” is just mouth noises, which destroys any momentum the song previously had. Cuts like “MJ” and “Say Aye Gang” have that dreaded lackadaisical delivery which lulls me to a slumber. 

Despite that, “Mixtape Pluto” is Future’s first real effort in ages. Cutting Drake off has done wonders for the man. Future’s longevity and tenacity to still drive the genre forward is impressive. Ideally, we’ll continue getting this level of effort from Future, it’s good for the soul. At least my soul, I don’t know what music you like.