In this article, Jack talks about IGOR, the fifth album by Tyler, The Creator.
Tyler Okonma (otherwise known as Tyler, The Creator) released a fifth studio album, IGOR, consisting of 13 songs, in 2019. This is a 10/10 album-- one of Tyler’s best. The synths, the percussion, the vocals, the features and the overall production are impressive. The best songs and my ratings, based on the lyrics, features, and production are listed below.
This song was a perfect and memorable opener for this album. It sets the overall mood for the album. The synths and heavy percussion, along with the faded background vocals assert “Ridin’ ‘round town, they gon’ feel this one” and “Got my eyes open”. This song introduces us to the main character, Igor, describing how he is going to do something and how it will be heard. Easy 9/10.
This is such a good song; the synths and vocals on their own make the song one of the best and is understandable why it is one of Tyler, The Creator’s most popular songs. Igor is trying to show an unknown guy how he feels about him, explaining this is not the first time and most likely will not be the last. Igor exclaiming “You make my earthquake” is him trying to explain the importance of this guy. The constantly moving synths make it such an energizing song, making it feel more alive and energetic. Featured in this song was Playboi Carti, who has one of the best features I have heard on a Tyler song. Based on all of this, it is a 9.5/10.
This song can only be found on physical copies (CD, cassette and vinyl). Even though the way to listen to it officially is very limited, it is definitely one of the best on the album. It starts with melancholy piano chords, with Igor saying how he wants to be with this same guy who was described before, how he rolled the dice and landed on that person. It then spirals down into a heavy synth and percussion filled chorus. Igor then goes back to explaining how it's damaging yet they already spent all their time on this guy. It then fades back into a similar part as the intro. This song leads back into the main album by translating into “EXACTLY WHAT YOU RUN FROM YOU END UP CHASING”. This song impressed me when I first listened to it because I had no idea it even existed. 9/10.
“RUNNING OUT OF TIME” is one of my favorite songs off IGOR. The difference between the high pitched voice exclaiming “runnin’ out of time, runnin’ out of time” with an almost floaty synth and Igor exclaiming “Take your mask off, I need her out the picture”, “I wade in your water, your waves wash over me.”and “I drift to the deep end. Don’t save me. I found peace in drowning”. These lyrics explain exactly what is happening in this album. Igor is in love with someone, yet that person is still with someone else and at this point Igor has found peace with being ‘underwater’ or forgotten. 9.6/10.
“Sometimes you gotta close a door to open a window.” Igor is trying to explain that he needs to get rid of this unnamed girl who is hanging out with Igor’s love interest. Lyrics like “I need to get her out the picture.” , “Like magic, gone” and “ She’s gonna be dead, I just got a magic wand.” These lyrics also explain how Igor feels about this girl. This is at the point where Igor is really starting to get desperate. The vocals and heavy deep synths with the ringing percussion give this song its great aggressive and darker tone. 9.7/10.
Igor is showing how he would do anything to be with this guy at this point. He’s exclaiming how he wants his company, to be around him. The slowness of the song also hints how he feels about the situation he’s in, showing he is slowing down from how he felt in the previous songs. Instead of being angry, he just wants to be loved. The vocals back this up with lyrics like “I’m your puppet, I don’t know me” and other lyrics really do show how bad it has gotten for Igor. 9/10.
“I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE” is a song about Igor realizing that he shouldn’t sacrifice everything for this guy that doesn't even share feelings for himself. Lyrics like “And realize there’s more fish in the sea-” and “You do you, I’ll do me-” also adds to this. This song is such an underrated part of this album and even a turning point in the story. The overall vocals sound amazing along with the percussion beat and background synths. 9.5/10.
This is the best song on IGOR. It sounds so heavenly and it was one of the songs that got me into Tyler in the first place. Igor is asking over and over “Are we still friends?”, practically pleading to stay close to this guy. This song is Igor looping the whole album over. Eventually, if this guy does stay friends with him, Igor will catch feelings again and everything will happen again, between him getting jealous of the girl, getting angry and aggressive then realizing he is devoting his whole life to someone that doesnt even like him like that, then going and asking “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS”. 10/10.
Overall IGOR is a revolutionary album, which is why it won best Rap album at the 62nd GRAMMY awards. This is one of Tyler, The Creators best albums and this album was what really skyrocketed his popularity. The complexity of this album amazes me, it starts on a fuzzy E flat chord at the start of “IGOR’S THEME” and at the end of “ARE WE STILL FRIENDS” it plays that same fuzzy chord, but on B flat, this properly resolves the album making it a loop. Just like the album. 10/10.