Igor Album Review (Part 1)

Opening Remarks

When I initially read the preface of the album, Tyler the Creator stated that he didn’t want any of the listeners coming in with preconceived notions before the album's release. But before I even pressed play, I had some thoughts coming in. With the name Igor, I came in thinking that the album would have a sort of old, haunted Transylvania or Notre Dame feeling. Something that wasn’t completely ode to the time period, but allowed you to see connections between the overall aesthetic of the two. I also came in perceiving the choice of beats to be grungier and more raw than that of Flower Boy. Seeing that the character Igor is quote, unquote ugly on surface level. But I also was expecting the lyrics and chorus to be comparatively lighter, seeing that Igor has an ugly exterior, but a heart of gold. As beats are generally the aspect of music, that is perceived as the surface, and choruses or lyrics are the deeper and more cognitive elements of all songs.

IGOR’S THEME

The initial theme of the song seems to be covered in distortion and has a foggy sense to it. You're just giddy with anticipation waiting for the percussion to drop. When the theme begins, it feels like an opening to an 80s rock song. You feel a personal ascension or sense of transportation, the lyrics in the beginning which refer to running back my notion. The theme seems to say a lot with having very little lyrical content. You can feel the percussion, deeper bass chords, and the large level of distortion. The actual beat is still very pretty even though it has such heavily distorted properties. And the use of certain piano keys and gaming synth noises seem to allow the opening to execute its potential.

EARFQUAKE

The next song is a fan favorite and rightfully so. The song itself continues to roll with the piano keys in order to properly transition. Most of this song seems much more lighthearted due to the obvious change in Tyler's voice and the use of the blonde wig within the Earfquake music video. The higher pitched voice used has been seen in earlier albums like Flower Boy or Cherry Bomb,and in songs like "FYP(Fucking Young/Perfect)" and "Glitter." But, in most cases, these higher pitches are either layered with lower pitched rapping and vocals, or don’t last the duration of the entire song. In this song, Tyler stays with this higher pitch for the full duration until Playboi Carti comes in. This feature in my opinion was good, not great. Some felt the feature in this song was game changing, but Carti, in my opinion, isn’t very good at making choruses. Since when he usually raps, his voice feels like it sits in between a chorus and an actual verse. So when he makes choruses, it feels like he says less than usual. Also, the beat didn’t completely match with the voice inflections Carti uses when he makes music.

I THINK

This song opens up with some interesting kicks and has a grainy static effect that sits over it. As the beat progresses it feels like a lighthearted Pharrell beat. It carries over with the lyrics because he seems to be talking about love, or someone he cares about.

I think I'm falling in love (Skate)This time I think it's for real (Four, skate)I think I'm falling in love (Four, skate)This time I think it’s for real (Four)How can I tell you? (Skate) How can I tell you? (Four)

The chorus explains a young Tyler that has felt emotions of love that have been shallower in years past. But now he feels enveloped in love's grasp and is fairly confident that this is the real deal.

I don't know where I’m going (Skate)But I know what I'm showing (Four)Feelings, that's what I’m pouring (Skate)What the fuck is your motive?

He’s confused as to how he’s going to revisit this person later on, unaware of how to fix these issues and where his path properly lies. This love has clouded him, and no matter how hard he tries to pour the feelings inside him, he continues to question his motives within the situation and the motives that the girl has for showing interest in him.

EXACTLY WHAT YOU RUN FROM YOU END UP CHASING

The skit that plays after is done by Jerrod Carmichael.

Exactly what you run from, you end up chasing. Like, you can't avoid, but just chasing it and just, like, trying. Giving it everything that you can. There's always an obstacle.

It seems to compare the cycle of energy life creates. When cognizantly running away from something, you end up chasing, since your energies are focused around that person or subject. The reference to being unable to try and chase is ode to the curious nature we all have as people. Curiosity makes anything that you can try and is interesting seem like something that’s safe or fun to do.

RUNNING OUT OF TIME

The song "Running out of Time" is a trip. This song is really amazing, the song has heavy bass and synth within the opening. The song starts of fairly slow, Tyler adds his higher pitched vocals throughout the entire song. When the percussion hits, it feels like everything is properly coming together, coagulating and continuing to carry the lyrics Tyler spews. Throughout the main meat of this song, it feels like an array of colors, seeing the Northern Lights, or just sitting within the colors of a ship from star trek as it passes through hyperspeed. The aldibs like make you love me, and others that are sung also bring an extra layer of depth to the song.

These deep, sonic elements make the song resonate, and create a good foundation for Tyler to build on. Of course, the song is titled running out of time, the beat and sonics make you feel like you're warping through time.

SoTake your mask offI need her out the picture (Wade in your water)Take your mask off (Yeah)Stop lyin' for these niggasStop lyin' to yourselfI know the real youDon't save, don't save, don't saveHalloween ain't for a minute, lose the costumeKeep it upTo make you love me (Ah)Wade in your water (Wade in your water)And waves wash over meI drift to the deep endDon't save, don't save, don't saveIt's a low tide (I'll be fine)I found peace in drownin'

It seems like Tyler is trying to communicate that he found peace within his own depth, and honestly, both with himself and others. He’s asking someone to take their mask off, and that he needs “her,” this facade, out of the picture. He’s telling this person that they're just wading within the shallow end, and laying on a lot of different levels. Since Tyler knows your true nature, he can see through the shallowness. He’s dealing with waves, not splashes. He understands that this person and many others are content with wading, so he’s content with drowning.

NEW MAGIC WAND

"New Magic Wand" opens with another anecdote from Carmichael. “Sometimes you gotta close a door to open a window.” To me, it refers to the closing of past normalities, friendships, or experiences to get a newer, brighter perspective. And even though this song his higher pitched vocals, it’s an absolute headbanger. Throughout my several listens of this song, I ended up rocking my head hard back and forth when the beat in this song drops and starts to get heavier at around 1:26. The beat itself just feels grungy; it’s hard to explain, but the contrast between the vocals and the beat seem to work perfectly. The lyrics seem to give such mixed signals, there isn’t much of a centralized message. One section talks about being torn between one person(woman) or the other. While the others talk about how it was beginner's luck that either of them found him, and how he doesn’t care either way. Even though there doesn’t seem to be a clear path, this song is damn good regardless. And the music video features the blonde haired bowl cut character once again.