IGOR

Released in 2019, Tyler the Creators ‘IGOR’ was an even further evolution of Tyler’s style as an artist. From being known for his brash and vulgar lyricism, ‘IGOR’ is a far cry from that style, being much more mature in its tone and delivers a very meaningful story throughout about heartbreak and a relationship falling apart.

‘IGORS THEME’ Opens the album with this intimidating instrumental, and as the track goes on it starts to feel more monstrous, foreshadowing what is to come with the album. Following up that you have the incredibly catchy ‘EARFQUAKE’ which keeps building on that narrative of a relationship not quite working. Tyler’s fixation on this person seems like borderline addiction with the poppy and upbeat ‘I THINK’ obsessing over this individual like that’s the only thing on there mind.

However, things start to take a bit of a darker turn with ‘RUNNING OUT OF TIME’. Tyler is desperate to keep this individual in his life, but they want to move onto and out of this relationship.

I haven’t talked much about the sound of this album however it’s not to be underestimated. Each song serves its purpose in this story about heartbreak so the focus is more on that and less how the songs sound. However, an album could have the best narrative going for it but sound like garbage. Throughout IGOR we do hear the different phases of the story just by how they’re portrayed.

Within the latter part of the album, we start to hear just how nasty this breakup has become. ‘WHAT’S GOOD’ Brings back shades of old Tyler as he verbally boasts about himself and starting to realise that he doesn’t need that love at all. Then followed up with a dual feature in ‘GONE GONE//THANK YOU’ Showing us how Tyler has embraced the fact this part of his life has passed, with the songs first part being this summery cheery freedom that Tyler feels where as the latter part is the realisation setting in that it’s over but’s grateful for it all.

The last two tracks however feel like they thread over territory that the album had already explore, more so in the track ‘I don’t love you anymore’ Which at this point in the album seems clear and comes off as just a bit redundant. ‘Can we be friends’ I’m a bit more forgiving towards as it does end the album in style. After everything Tyler and his former significant other have been through, he still wants to make it work despite everything that has happened.

IGOR was my favourite album to have come out in 2019. The story it tells is one that’s captivating and brings you in. Tyler is still as good an artist as ever, the production is top tier and with the added maturity of the themes it explores, IGOR deserves every bit of praise it gets.

IGOR is available on CD and Vinyl and to stream on Spotify and Apple music