Music is one of the cornerstones of our society. It’s a way of expressing ourselves through a method other than words. I haven’t been listening to music a lot lately, but when I started writing this article I wanted a different sound to listen to. One of my friends is a fan of Tyler, The Creator. He released his new album not too long ago. And, because my friend was trying to get me to listen to it, I started hating immediately. But, it got me thinking. Why not listen to the whole thing? It’s not too long, and I want something new, so I might as well. And that’s what I did. So, here’s my comprehensive look at Tyler’s new album, CHROMAKOPIA.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The following review does not focus on the songs as a whole. I’m not a Tyler fan, so I wouldn’t know his “lore” or whatever. So, for the sake of the reader and me, I will only focus on the beats of each song, occasionally talking about lyrics that I think are important.
St. Chroma (feat. Daniel Caesar)
Strange beats coming from Tyler, but from what I can tell that’s sorta his brand. It’s catchy, especially when the part that goes, “Can you feel that light inside?” It’s pretty awesome. Otherwise, the lyrics are also pretty solid. I don’t exactly know what the lyrics mean, but the sound is the most important to me. And I like it. 8.5/10
Rah Tah Tah
Another… unorthodox song from Tyler. This one I didn’t like as much, the beat was just ok, and the lyrics. Oh, the lyrics. I don’t have much to say about it again. No standout parts for me on this one. 5/10
Noid
Noid is kinda cool. It picks up exactly where Rah Tah Tah left off, with Tyler speaking on his paranoia. And I was there with him for about half of the song, bobbing my head to a pretty nice beat. The second half, on the other hand, I’m not a big fan of. It transitions into Tyler rapping about his life and privacy, and while that’s interesting to hear about, the beat’s not what I’m looking for. I can’t remember a specific standout part (the song’s kinda long), but overall it’s a pretty solid track. 6.5/10
Darling, I (feat. Tezzo Touchdown)
The first part of this song is pretty awesome. It’s really catchy and sets the chorus up really well. The melody parts in between are also pretty good. The first half of the song is definitely the best part, but there’s nothing to complain about. I feel like I could listen to this song while working anytime. 8/10
Hey, Jane
This song is more of a rant than a song, exploring the fears of pregnancy. This song is interesting for sure, as it’s not the type of song I’m used to. It’s very stream-of-consciousness, and I can appreciate that. The beat is ok, but it’s just not the type of song I dig or a subject that I can really relate to. 4.5/10
I Killed You
While short, this song is pretty good. I’m a big fan of the beat here. The drums in the background add an ambience that I can really get behind. The last part with like 40 seconds of no lyrics is especially powerful, I like it a lot. 7/10
Judge Judy
This song hits deep. You listen to the lyrics and the meaning of the song hits you like a truck. Unfortunately, that’s not what I’m here to talk about. The song, just to listen to, isn’t my favorite. It’s a shame, for a song with so much personal stuff and feelings poured, but it’s not what I want. Still a decent track, give it a listen. 5/10
Sticky (feat. GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne)
After taking a listen to this one, I’m conflicted for whatever reason. Something about this song is just off to me. It’s not my favorite, but maybe I’m just not getting the meaning behind the song. I probably missed it, but oh well. Like I said previously, that’s not what I’m here for. Anyway, beat is just whatever, the thing you hear the most in this song are lyrics. Like, you try to listen for the beat but it’s hard to pick out. This one’s not my favorite. 5/10
Take Your Mask Off (feat. Daniel Caesar & LaToiya Williams)
I like this one a lot. While sometimes feeling repetitive, I can’t help but bob my head along to this one. I wasn’t listening to the lyrics too closely, but I digress. I could listen to this song on loop for a long while. Like I said, I’m a big fan. 8/10
Tomorrow
I don’t feel like I have much to say on this one. This song just kind of exists for me. I mean, I kinda like the beat, but in my opinion, it’s nothing too remarkable. So yeah. 4.5/10
Thought I Was Dead (feat. ScHoolboy Q & Santigold)
This song is really awesome. I don’t know, it’s just that this beat is fire. Sounds weird in writing, but I can’t describe it any other way. As a trumpet player, I have an affinity for anything that sounds like a trumpet, and fortunately for me, that’s what I received. Great track for the ears. 9/10
Like Him (feat. Lola Young)
I think I’m a fan of this one. All the big pauses in this track are pretty cool. Bringing stops to the music just makes it feel more dynamic. That, on top of a good beat, makes this one a really good listen for me. 7/10
Balloon (feat. Doechii)
This track is alright. The song feels repetitive. I know that’s kind of how the whole album is, but the repeated line of “Don’t stop!” is not my thing. There’s some part of the beat that’s a synthesizer-type sound that’s pretty cool in the beginning, but you can’t hear it as well in the end, which is sad. It’s not super good to listen to. 4/10
I Hope You Find Your Way Home
A decent send-off to a decent album. If I had listened to the lyrics closely enough, this song would have been pretty nice, as it wraps up the sort of story that this album creates. The “Chromakopia” calls at the end made a pretty nice scene in my head, seeing the album sort of float away. The beat here was once again solid, but I don’t feel a need to come back to this one. 6/10
And that’s a wrap. Overall, this album was pretty good. There were no songs that were super bad, which is always good. For whatever reason, I feel like every album has that one song that’s just bad, no matter how you look at it, so I’m glad Tyler didn’t do that. Out of ten, I’d give this album a 6.5/10. Despite my lower rating, I enjoyed this one. Even if this type of music isn’t my style, I was able to find what I liked. And I think, with music, that is what’s most important.
