IGOR

Valentine's day special!!! I realize that I'm reviewing a breakup album on a day for love, but it still felt fitting so idrc. Fuck this "Holiday". This is also my 50th review!! And
my most personal one.
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"Ridin' 'round town,
they gon' feel this one"
"Got my-

Heartbreak's a bitch driving a fancy ass corvette with the loudest fuckin' muffler. Heartbreak for me, was me driving that corvette. Riding down the highway, top speeds with the rearview mirror snapped off, left at the starting beeline. A ghastly remnant left for someone who didn't deserve any of it. It was fucked. This album made me realize just how nasty a breakup can be if not on good terms, or hell, any terms at all.

"Ayo, take one look in the mirror,
Implications so clear"

Igor is not afraid to delve deep into the stinging recesses of love, out of the necessity to do so. Not just because it's a relatable topic, but because what's left when love's apple is just a bitter fuck clinging to you like a 50 pound anchor? You're weighed down in the intensity. These things need to be talked about, need to be learned from, and on this record, Tyler delivers a harrowingly honest piece of art and reflection. One that I know is heavily influential for many, including me.

"Don't, don't shoot me down
(You started with a mere hello)
(Boy is a gun)"

Shuffling through a summer's heat wondering where the hell it all went wrong is where I'm transported listening to this album. The production is lush, lyrics introspective and memorable. One of the strongest parts of the album instrumentally lies in its bass. I mean, damn! You listen to a song like NEW MAGIC WAND and you're just awestruck by its twists and turns and really fun bass. First time I listened to the album I didn't care much for the song, found it awkward. But that's the point. Another bass centric song, "What's Good" grew on me quite a bit. The beat is absolutely stellar along with some of Tyler's best verses and vocals on the album. It's messy and angry in the best ways possible, a total mood.

"I hate wasted potential, that shit crushes your spirit
It really does, it crushes your soul"

But where this album really starts ramping up is on the last 3 tracks. A true homerun for Tyler, and conceptually fucking brilliant. On Gone, Gone / Thank You, he talks about losing his love for someone. Instead of being bitter though, he thanks his partner for their love, but "I don't want to ever fall in love again." It's a bittersweet sentiment that crawls up your skin. It hurts but-

"This just might be better for us,
you know?"

The next song and penultimate track on Igor, "I don't love you anymore" breaks down that loss of love on Gone, Gone. There is a sense of anger in the song, it's subtle but it's there in the chorus. The vocals are mixed louder, and Tyler sounds almost like a kid. If Gone, Gone was him realizing he no longer loves this person anymore, I don't love you anymore feels like an echo chamber for that, but with an underlying concern. As if, somewhere deep down, he can't get over the heartbreak.

"Can I have my heart back? (Heart back)"

“'Cause when it all comes crashing down I'll need you
'cause you make my earth quake”

Now, finally, Are We Still Friends? My personal favorite song from Igor and easily the best from the album conceptually. On this song, Tyler doesn't just want it to be bittersweet. He wants to leave this heartbreak on good terms as friends. The song's instrumental is gorgeous and cinematic. It feels breathless, the sentiment now desperate and intense. This is because he doesn't know if his partner wants to be just friends. The uncertainty from all the tracks before takes center stage, tumbling down, all-encompassing. Tyler's vocals slide across your ears as it hits euphoric levels of ear candy, then flutters off and ends. You're left with a whiplash of a truly palpable heartbreak.

This album is a testament to the anchor of love. It can be stable, but for how long? You might realize you've been here too long, with someone you actually didn't love romantically. Or maybe you're steady, settled down with someone you truly adore. In all, Igor's point is exactly this: sometimes you-

"Can't say goodbye (Yeah ah, ah)
Can't say goodbye, goodbye (Woo)

eyes open."
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Favorite tracks: Igor's Theme, EARFQUAKE, Running Out of Time, NEW MAGIC WAND, Boy is a Gun, What's Good, Gone, Gone / Thank you, and Are We Still Friends?

Least favorite tracks: None

PS.

Thank you for the love.