Igor - Tyler, The Creator
Track List:
IGOR’S THEME
EARFQUAKE
I THINK
EXACTLY WHAT YOU RUN FROM YOU END UP CHASING
RUNNING OUT OF TIME
NEW MAGIC WAND
A BOY IS A GUN*
PUPPET
WHAT’S GOOD
GONE, GONE/THANK YOU
I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE
ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?
I don’t think that I’ve heard any of this
I started out yesterday with the same headline, it fits here too. I reflect upon what I’ve listened to over the past 3 months. A lot of rock (many varieties), a bit of country, pop, R&B, jazz, but no rap. It’s my understanding that this is a concept album of some sort but I also am under the impression that Tyler, The Creator is a rapper, I could be wrong, and if I am I won’t come edit this because that’s just too much work, plus mistakes are what make you an individual. If everyone was always right and perfect, the world would be boring. I have no idea what this album is about. Perhaps some guy named Igor?
IGOR’S THEME
Starts off with a synth growl. There is also a static crackle that works really well. I suppose this song is to get the listener aware that they are going to feel something and to be expecting it.
EARFQUAKE
More fat synths. I am glad I am looking at the lyrics. The narrator is pleading with their partner to not end their relationship. The narrator understands that he has not treated the partner the best but also relies upon them.
I THINK
A glimpse of a relationship, perhaps the same one that was on the verge of ending in EARFQUAKE.
EXACTLY WHAT YOU RUN FROM YOU END UP CHASING
A brief spoken word interlude
RUNNING OUT OF TIME
A song where the narrator is coming to terms with a doomed relationship.
NEW MAGIC WAND
Another song about a breakup and bargaining with a partner to stay together in a relationship.
A BOY IS A GUN*
Seems to be a song about still working on getting over an ex but having struggles with it.
PUPPET
The narrator discusses being controlled by his lover, acting as a puppet.
WHAT’S GOOD
The texture on the synths is great. This may be Igor coming into his own, finally getting past the end of the relationship and becoming a bit reckless. He views his trials and triumphs.
GONE, GONE/THANK YOU
Yet another song about getting over the end of a relationship. This one has some really interesting ways that it is composed, the layers of the vocals. The second half of the song the narrator has become accepting of the breakup and is grateful for the time they were together.
I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE
I think full acceptance has happened about the end of the relationship.
ARE WE STILL FRIENDS?
The narrator contemplates if he and his ex are still friends.
An album about endings.
A lot of albums seem to have this theme. I guess humans hate losing companionship and loss in general. The thing I liked most about this album is the copious use of synths, fat gritty textured synths. The album reminds me a lot of the Andre 3000 half of the Outcast album Speakerboxx/The Love Below. The album does have some parts that I struggle with, specifically the use of the “N” word. As someone who doesn’t and shouldn’t feel comfortable using that word in conversation it’s hard to wrap my head around the idea of using it as part of an artistic expression. Similar to how I enjoyed the book Lolita but the content isn’t something that I am not overly comfortable with. I enjoyed this album quite a bit but it will not likely go into my regular rotation.
