Foreword (ft. Rex Orange County): Already, Tyler’s flow is really strong, and the lyrics that deal with his exploration of himself are really fascinating. I also like the vocals from featured artist Rex Orange County on the hook and the outro, and I think that, sonically, there are a lot of really strange, interesting things going on here. I really like this track a lot.
Where This Flower Blooms (ft. Frank Ocean): Instrumentally, there’s a lot of really odd things going on here, but the crazy thing is that they work. And once again, Tyler reminds us that he is a really strong lyricist, as he delves into ideas of his own growth and life before his fame. Frank Ocean is also featured on the hook, and while the hook is nothing to write home about, Ocean’s vocals are pretty solid. Another pretty good track.
Sometimes…: You guys know I’m not crazy about these super-short, 30-something second interludes, and this track didn’t change my mind. It’s sonically intriguing, yes, but it’s too short to leave a lasting impression on me.
See You Again (ft. Kali Uchis): Tyler yearns for a lover on this track in a song that’s light and pretty. He proves his worth vocally on this track, the instrumentals are really solid, and featured artist Kali Uchis delivers some really nice vocals on the hook. I definitely enjoyed this track a lot.
Who Dat Boy (ft. A$AP Rocky): This track starts with some really eerie, admittedly creepy instrumentals, and Tyler’s more hard, angry tone is really intriguing. His flow throughout the track is strong as usual, and he continues to assert himself as a strong lyricist. A$AP Rocky’s feature on this track is not quite as strong, but the song itself is still pretty good.
Pothole (ft. Jaden Smith): Once again, Tyler’s lyrical strengths are on full display here, as he discusses his obstacles in life through the metaphor of driving, and in a really interesting way. The beat is pretty catchy and his performance is strong, though I personally can do without Jaden Smith on the hook. I think he kind of brings down the track as a whole, to be completely honest. Still a pretty solid song.
Garden Shed (ft. Estelle): I like Tyler’s vocals on the first verse of this track, and his own self-exploration of his sexual orientation is really interesting. Sonically, much like a lot of Tyler’s tracks, this one takes some really strange turns that surprisingly work well. Estelle’s vocals are nice, even though her hook is a bit too fast and forgettable. All in all, though, while it won’t be a replay-button breaker, I did like this song.
Boredom (ft. Rex Orange County and Anna of the North): I’m not gonna lie, when this track was first starting, I didn’t think it was a Tyler, The Creator track, I thought it was a Rex Orange County & Anna of the North track. Their performances on the track are solid, and Tyler’s lyrical dissection of what it’s like to be bored and not have time to do things you want to do is really relatable. It’s a tiny bit too long for my liking, but all in all, it’s a pretty solid track.
I Ain’t Got Time!: Contrasting the previous track, which was much lighter, this song features a much more upbeat instrumental, a harder performance from Tyler, and a stylistic contrast from his “bored” state of mind. His flow is really great on this one, and the beat is really fun. One of the album’s stronger songs for sure.
911 / Mr. Lonely (ft. Frank Ocean and Steve Lacey): This two-part track starts with a pretty light beat on “911” and then it changes to something more upbeat on “Mr. Lonely.” It’s a really interesting transition, Tyler’s performance and flow are strong and usual, and while the song features a ton of other artists (Steve Lacy, Anna of the North, Frank Ocean, A$AP Rocky, and ScHoolboy Q all appear on this track), they all work together to make a pretty solid track that never loses its focus.
Droppin’ Seeds (ft. Lil Wayne): A one-minute track that features Lil Wayne rapping on one verse, and Tyler rapping for a short time on another. With the allegorical lyrics about dropping “seeds” and letting them grow, it’s definitely better than most one-minute-or-under tracks should be, I’ll give it that much.
November: I like the beat on this track, and I like Tyler’s lyrics a lot: I was particularly struck by Tyler’s discussions about his music being “too weird for the masses” and being known more for his tweets than for his music, and I think the track just feels like such a strong exploration of Tyler’s darker, more anxious side. Definitely one of my favorite tracks on the album.
Glitter: The hook on this track is really forgettable and bland overall, and while Tyler’s first verse features more of that strong flow that I really liked throughout the album, things take a turn for the worse when the song slows down and Tyler’s voice gets pitched down, as it just makes this feel really boring overall. Definitely one of the weaker tracks on the album.
Enjoy Right Now, Today: Tyler ends things off with a punchy instrumental that only features a few strange, scattered vocal moments throughout. It’s really fun to listen to for sure, and with no lyrics, it perfectly encapsulates the title, as it tries and succeeds in spreading feelings of positivity and excitement, and it’s a really strong end to the album.
Overall, I had no idea what to expect going into this thing, but I think it was pretty enjoyable. For being my first exposure to Tyler, The Creator’s music, I can say that he really has a knack for strong lyricism and really great flow, and his talents are on full display on this thing. His self-explorations throughout the album are admirable, and the tracks are accompanied by some really interesting, really odd instrumentals, making everything on here feel very “stream of consciousness” to me. I’m not gonna lie, though, I still can’t shake the feeling that this might not be for me, because while I enjoyed quite a few of the tracks on this thing, I just don’t see myself going back to a ton of them. It’s an album I can’t help but respect, but something about it just isn’t for me. Even so, it’s still pretty enjoyable, and from the perspective of an outsider, it’s a really admirable project.
I hope I don’t get destroyed for not giving it an “excellent.”
Favorite tracks: Foreword, See You Again, I Ain't Got Time!, November, Enjoy Right Now, Today
Least favorite track: Glitter
Rating: Good
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