Tyler, The Creator’s fifth studio album, IGOR is a psychedelic ride of emotions that crosses multiple genres.
The first thing that I noticed through the first couple of listens was the sound quality. The album was seemingly mixed in a rough manner in order to further convey the rawness of the subject matter. Of course we would all enjoy a more sonically pleasing album but in IGOR it’s necessary.
(FWIW It’s nowhere near as bad as Earl Sweatshirt’s Sony Ericcson quality on “Some Rap Songs”)
Pharrell’s influence on Tyler is well documented and it is apparent here as well, specifically from the N.E.RD. era(s) and especially on “NEW MAGIC WAND” and pieces of “EARFQUAKE” and “I THINK.”
A combination of hip-hop, funk, punk, soul, rock, house and electronic sounds are layered throughout. If Tyler hadn’t made traditional hip-hop in the past, this album would have a difficult time finding a genre on iTunes.
For someone like Tyler, who we would all agree can’t sing by any traditional measures; to continuously make songs with pleasing vocals is remarkable. Kanye-esque if you will.
The album as a whole piece is more pleasing than any one song, though EARFQUAKE is tough competition.
Tyler, The Creator following up the commercially successful “Flower Boy” with IGOR was unbelievably risky. I feel like an artist is truly enlightened when they veer off the path like Tyler did here. In other words, Tyler gave zero ***** about how the general population felt about this project.
More than anything, IGOR speaks to Tyler’s evolution as an artist. He’s steadily progressed. If you would’ve told me in 2011–12 that Tyler, The Creator was capable of making music this soulful and intricate, I would’ve laughed for hours.
Oh, and Tyler wrote and produced everything on this album.
Standout Tracks:
EARFQUAKE
Earfquake is a classic love ballad that serves as a symbol of Tyler’s current ceiling as an artist. Songs like “FU***NG YOUNG/PERFECT” and “See You Again” include the raw emotional love theme coupled with intricate instrumentation, which is where Tyler’s sweet spot is.
I THINK
This is one of the more compelling songs on the album. Tyler travels through a rollercoaster of emotions, where he addresses his own insecurities about being vulnerable in a relationship. This furthers the love/heartbreak theme presented in EARFQUAKE. He does so over a Pharrell-like instrumental with a disco sample and a well placed Solange feature.
RUNNING OUT OF TIME
A continuation of the yearning relationship theme of the album. This song changes the pace of the album(momentarily). The random plane or vehicle noises dispersed throughout the track add to the feeling of floating, or endless wandering.
A BOY IS A GUN*
A BOY IS A GUN favors Kanye’s production style in a major way.It samples the Ponderosa Twins “Bound”, which Kanye and Tyler also used while making “Bound 1” and “Bound 2"Tyler’s signature synthesizers are featured here with a sample from SMUCKERS off of his Cherry Bomb project. Tyler is alluding to a relationship where he feels like he’s not feeling the same reciprocated.
ARE WE STILL FRIENDS
Tyler’s last two albums actually have some finality to them. This song wraps up the album both sonically and thematically. Funk guitars and synths create “downhill” effect. Pharrell makes an appearance in the latter part of the song. It’s forgettable, mainly because he’s unidentifiable when he comes in and because Tyler’s attempt at holding Mariah Carey notes is so prominent.
Rating (Subject to change): 8.5/10
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