Category: Blog

Any longtime Tyler, the Creator fan understands the implications of him shying away from his old impulsive, unapologetic, musical expression, which might discourage them from listening to his new music. In this day and age however, you cannot chant, “Kill people, burn s*** f*** school.” and be successful in any sense. One thing that Tyler will alway maintains however, is the exposure of his various alter egos which take us into the creative, dreamy, and unstable world that lies within his head. On May 17, Tyler, the Creator released his sixth studio album, IGOR. This is a detailed excursion introduction to his softer alter ego and in all, is far from disappointing. The album tells a story of a drifting love affair and features albums including Playboi Carti, Charlie Wilson, and Kanye West. In this album, Tyler directly channels N.E.R.D. through his fabricated instrumentation and raw, storytelling style of rapping. This album clearly conveys his sense as he maintains his same daunting use of repetition to personify melody. Along with this is the use of his same metaphoric language to tell a story that we are not directly told, but can directly understand. One of the best elements about the album is the distinct melodies that positively allow the song to take you on a musical rollercoaster. Though the tempos are rather upbeat and more pop-like compared to previous albums, I believe this is simply a tool. Through this, Tyler wants us to understand the distinct differences of his IGOR in his purest and most expressive form as compared to other characters like Flower Boy or Wolf. Furthermore, all the songs within the album though they tell a single story, stand on their own as mini masterpieces from the production to the instrumentation, to the intricate execution. Overall, this album gives me hope for the future of hip hop. Through Tyler returning back to his old authentic self and expressing himself in a way that does not appear to stereotypical commercials values, I believe originality might once again return to the top charts. So go give it a listen!

-DJ Bulma

Best Tracks: Diamond Skull, In the Wonder, Images of Love  

FCC Violations: Diamond Skull

Okay…A.A. Bondy…what can I say? His new record Enderness was my first experience with the artist. After doing some mindless “computer research,” it turns out this is his first record in eight years but I have to say it’s excellent though its musical foundations are usually not my cup of tea, coming from a heavy all-around rock and metal background.

Initially, I felt a cerebral vibe from the record and come to find out, that’s Bondy’s niche. Though the Alabama folk singer/songwriter has turned to more electronic devices, leaving guitars few and far between for this outing, the record still boasts his in-depth analysis of the social times we are currently surrounded with, tackling big pharma, the internet, and the environment.

With the subject matter and ensuring implementation, the record could easily come off as gimmicky but it doesn’t. Instead, it takes the listener on a euphoric ride of fluidity and melancholy – you know, the kind that makes you sad but good at the same time.

As a lover of guitar instrumentation, I’d have to say the first song ‘Diamond Skull’ was my favorite. Somewhere between a blend of blues, the old west, and a splash of Frusciante, this song is a heavy-hitter. The chorus takes you on an ascending, slow ride from the initial “Oh la la,” and the singing out of text and internet acronyms O.M.G. and L.M.A.O.

“In the Wonder” was another cool song. The vocal tracks had a tremolo effect through its entirety, giving them that bouncy and wavy feel that normally go to an instrument in the rhythm section via stompbox.

Even though I’m in unfamiliar territory, I feel that naming my least favorite song is splitting hairs at this point. The record really is fantastic but if I had to name one it would be “I’ll Never Know.” I felt the synthesizer, even though it was the prominent sound of this album, was used as a quick escape in notching on another track.

Overall, Enderness was excellent and I’m glad this record made its way into my realm. I like that feeling of finding an artist I’ve never heard before so I can take a light jog down their discography.

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Justin Capoccia

Best Tracks: Kiss of Death, Rene

FCC: None

Morabeza Tobacco’s self-titled debut album is what you would expect from a dream pop release. With its overall ambiance, elegant synths, and groovy bass lines underneath male/female duo-lead vocals, the album provides a laid back and ethereal experience for the listener.

The introduction track ‘Almost Home’ made me feel a bit discouraged in listening to the album in its entirety. The song felt bland, resonating forgetful contemporary pop songs from the 80s with no real direction, making this my least favorite track. Surprisingly, it took a quick turn for the better, leading me on a curious journey as each track transitioned, but with a few hiccups along the way.

When the first song ends, ‘Kiss of Death’ comes in with an intriguing three-chord synth progression, giving way to a tight bass line, and entwined with a 4/4 drum beat which would carry the song on a journey reminiscent of Genesis. The lyrics come in with Gustave, the male vocalist, singing with what sounds like a vintage microphone or effect that emulates a similar sound. Vanilla, the female vocalist, sings the chorus with whispery tones that still manage to cut through the mix in a satisfying way. This was my favorite track on the album and served somewhat as a competent display of what the album offers.

‘Orinoco’ is another gem with funky guitars, an excellent chorus, and heavy bass fills that seem to come out of nowhere but blend well with the song. ‘Rene’ is solid as well, an instrumental that doesn’t showcase, but rather serves in maintaining the feel of the record.

With the exception of the first song, the album carries on in a productive way. The majority of it flows fluidly with a few lackluster tracks between the good ones but the good definitely outweighs the bad.

Here are a few takeaways: good overall bass and drum rhythms, complementary vocals, funky and interesting guitar parts, but lacks some consistency in regards to keeping the listener fully invested. Bypassing that minor lack of consistency, Morabeza Tobacco is a decent record that would be a good addition to the library of those familiar with the genre.

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Justin Capoccia