Tyler’s music continues to evolve, but is it for the better?

Tyler has come out with a new album; Scum Fuck, Flower Boy – later changed to simply Flower Boy – most likely for marketing’s sake, I would guess.

In the weeks running up to this album release, Tyler released ‘Who Dat Boy’ with an accompanying video – depicting Tyler blowing up part his face only to get a pale ginger-haired face transplanted onto him by A$AP Rocky.

At the end of this song we’re gifted with a short skit of multiple Tylers dancing to a cool slow jam called ‘911’. Tyler couldn’t have announced his new album any better with this music video. His last album was a huge let down and left audience members like me really underwhelmed. The regressive album known as Cherry Bomb *ughhh* makes my ears bleed just thinking about it it – maybe I should go and see the doc.

One thing that should be noted about this album is that it’s nothing like Bastard, Goblin, Wolf, or Cherry Bomb (thank god). It’s completely different, but still a clear progression from Wolf, as it takes a more peaceful approach to tell you what’s been up with Tyler lately.

This is my first album review so the way I’ll do this is track by track I’ll talk about some of the highs and lows, including how I feel about the track, stand out production qualities, and a dive into the lyrical content. The way I’ll rate each song is by saying if it makes it into my personal playlist – a no will mean that I don’t think much of it but a yes means I’ll be bumping it daily. Let’s begin!

Foreword

On this first track, what jumped at me first was the beat. It’s very reminiscent of something we may have heard from Tyler’s first album, Bastard. It’s very basic (not in a bad way) as it has the metronome beat and a drum beat that sounds like it comes straight off a pre-made default set.

Secondly the bridge stood out to me as the singer, Rex Orange County, hits every note perfectly, setting the sad tone for this song – which leads me on to the lyrics. Tyler questions if what he’s doing is right – whatever he is doing isn’t making whole/happy now. This is the first time we’ve heard Tyler talk about this, and it should be noted that this is an overlaying theme throughout the album.

Does it make it into my playlist? No, but I do see myself in the future listening to it on a late-night drive as it’s a very moody song thanks to the bridge.

Where This Flower Blooms

What I do like about this track is the opening and the piano that follows. It reminds me of a film opening to some beautiful scene, and this really helps to set the mood for the track as it matches the seasonal weather it was released to – the summer with blue skies and wind blowing (not in England though, of course).

I love the drop in this song with the heavy, slightly distorted drums and high-pitched synths, it only makes me want to bop my head.

But then I pay closer attention to what Tyler’s saying – a humble brag as he talks about what made him famous; him being himself (who knew…) while encouraging others to do the same.

One disappointment that keeps on disappointing is Frank Ocean, whenever he tries to trap sing (rapping trap style but singing… you get me?) it never ends well. Frank is best known for his amazing voice which everyone became aware of on the Channel Orange album, but for some reason on a lot of his features he chooses this new style of singing which does not suit him at all (for reference listen to ‘Thinking About You’ and then this track).

Does it make into it my playlist? Yes, only because it’s a head-bobber as it plays in the background.

See You Again

This is first Tyler’s attempt at a real love song, and I think he hit the nail smack bang on the head! Before the song switches up in speed, Tyler and Kali Uchis sing in high-pitched harmony that creates a feeling of floating on soft clouds.

In short this is a very pretty song, even after we’re greeted with a slightly harsh switch up. The song’s dreaminess is reinforced with Tyler’s sweet lyrics about a girl he’s romancing over in his head “You live in my dream state, any time I count sheep, that’s the only time we meet up”. What helps to keep this song going is Kali. Uchis’ background vocals as she channels an inner Kelis (Kelis ft. Andre 3000 Millionaire for reference) makes for some elegant production on this track.

Does it make it into my playlist? Hell yer, this song is a treat to listen to.

Who Dat Boy

Every Tyler project has a couple of hype songs that every fan loves but with huge mass appeal. This IS a Tyler hype song at its finest. With its Goosebumps inspired synths and disgusting deep base, Tyler and A$AP Rocky put up some witty brags which makes this song purposely over the top.

WHO DAT BOY!?!?! WHO HIM IS!?!?!?! This song has so much hype in it I can imagine some people may want to do something stupid using this track as an excuse. Rocky’s verse is so smooth and cool that I’m sure he could freeze anything he touches, his flow in this song for sure matches perfectly with Tyler’s slightly more brutal attacking flow. I’m not sure if anyone else picked this up in the song, but can you hear the soft “ahhh” as if someone just took a breath take after drinking a tasty beverage? Yer I heard this and for me personally this is like the cherry on top of this supa hot cake, as it reinforces a certain freshness to the track.

Does it make it into my playlist? F*ck yer! we out here doing bad sh*t!

Garden Shed

The production of course stands out the most in this track as the beat is the only thing we hear for a while before Tyler starts rapping. The beat includes soft electric guitar riffs with a slow drum beat, all whilst we get a couple of singers giving us a few ‘inspirational’ lines. This of course is leads up to Tyler rapping about his sexuality, a subject made controversial by websites that think people care.

This song was Tyler coming out and talking about his sexuality, but only very briefly, he quickly and vaguely raps about the feelings he had when he was younger and how he thought those feelings were just a phase. I feel as if Tyler only made his flow fast in this song just so he could get it out there fast and then just leave it for his fans to digest. I for one am happy that Tyler is living his truth, good for him. Other than the ‘surprise’ in this song, there really isn’t much going on.

Does it make it into my playlist? Nope, nothing really going to be honest.

Boredom

Another one of Tyler’s light summery tracks, this song has some nasally but great vocals from returning artist Rex Orange County as he sings the bridge. The amazing singing in this song makes for some great car karaoke, but while this song sounds very positive, chilled out, and all round excellent, there’s deep feelings in Tyler’s lyrics.

In this track, Tyler is talking about how bored he is, as suggested by the track title, but he also puts out some concerns about his friends who are the ones that are always accompanying him and when they’re not around he feels betrayed “My friends suck, f*ck ‘em, I’m over ‘em”. I hope Taco and Jasper skipped this song.

Does it make it into my playlist? Yes, this song is just one of those you must sing on your warm car journeys.

Droppin Seeds

Another skit? Again? Yer kinda, this song is very short as it bares a verse from Lil Wayne and Tyler. Very jazzy, light drums, synths that sound like trumpets, and some pleasant peaceful bars from Weezy and T make for a cool listen. I will say this though, thank god this song is only a minute long – this beat is so peaceful that if it went on any longer it would gotten boring quick. This is also a nice little brag as the word seeds are a replacement for money, not bad Tyler – I see what you did there keeping the flower theme.

Does it make it into my playlist? No, but I do hope it gets a music video. I envision a garden with Lil Wayne and Tyler sprinkling seeds around as they rap.

Overall

This album does come with problems that are to do with this style Tyler has decided to home in on, mostly to do with some of the tracks not baring much. But where Tyler hits the nail on the head on songs like See You Again and Who Dat Boy is what helps this album to shine, beyond it’s more boring songs.

Thank you for reading my first album review, and maybe some of you are wondering why I missed out a load of tracks. It’s because I feel like there’s not much to say about them, either they’re good or bad end of. If you liked this review then please give it a like or something, if you didn’t like it then feel free to indirect me on Twitter. Or if you would like to talk music then at me on Twitter @charliewarnerw.

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