TYLER, THE CREATOR - CHERRY BOMB
Well first off I haven't done nearly enough reviews on here yet so I'm sorry about that I'll try and update this journal a bit more often anyways onto the review.
So if you have known me on here at all you should know by now I'm a fairly big Tyler fan, and I've liked most of his work besides a good chunk of Goblin and the OF projects. My favorite project by him coming in 2013 with WOLF it's blending of jazzy/neo-soulish instrumentals with a suprisingly conceptual story made it an album that I have revisited many a time. Although it did have its pitfalls (i.e a little monotonous) it was overall an outstanding album that I think showed people that Tyler had actual potential to be taken seriously as a musician and as a producer not just an edgy rapper. Suffice to say I was extremely excited to see where he would move with his next album.
Moving ahead about two years here we are arriving with Tyler's new album entitled Cherry Bomb. For the most part it's a large departure from his previous work for the most part, and instead of making WOLF part 2 like most people expected (including me) we got something almost entirely different. First off the whole storyline between Tyler, Sam, Wolf, TC etc. is completely abandoned instead being about "finding your wings" a theme shown on nearly every track on the album (also to note this album makes the last three almost meta as the story on this one is Tyler and a girl going to the movie theater to watch a triple feature which are his last three albums). The sometimes awkward sometimes homicidal teenager we knew and for most people probably hated is gone. No more edgy 666 kill them all ignorant stuff that's out, and while Tyler can't can't be seen as really "mature" yet he does show growth.
This album switches between two VERY different styles almost seamlessly fusing very soulful tracks with suprisingly expiremental tracks giving it more diversity that WOLF was desperately in need of by the 45 minute mark. The contrast is throughout this album almost moving from track to track, you have a track like The Brownstains Of Darkeese Latifah Parts 6-12 (remix) a track that uses a barrage of synths and percussion that feels like something is breaking, next to ****ing Young/Perfect which might be the most beautiful sounding track Tyler has ever made. And this keepkeeps happening throughout the album a hard hitting noisy expiremental track something completely new for Tyler that we haven't heard before woth these extremely jazzy soulful tracks some of which being Tyler's best songs.
Alas for the things right with this album it does have its shortcomings. First off Tyler's lyrics have never been the greatest rapper and he's noted this and this dosent nessesarilly change for the better on this album, while I do think he stepped his game up on lyrics there still nothing amazing and he does have cringe moments (Blow You Load). Secondly while i do appriciate the contrast on the album there are two moments on the album where it just does not work well those being Run and Keep Da O's, and while the former is at least short enough to get out of the way before it over stays its welcome, the latter is way to long for its own good. It has grown on me a little, but I still see the track as completely unsessesary besides he wanted Pharrell to rap on a track it just feels lazy until the last minute or so which is absolutely beautiful.
Well despite a few pitfalls overall where I am right now this album is either just as good or maybe a little better than WOLF. Here we see a more confident comfortable Tyler not afraid of showing his influences (N.E.R.D, Stevie Wonder, Roy Ayers, Death Grips) and making them undeniably his own thing. It's far above anything before WOLF and those who only liked Yonkers I would like to suggest this as it proves once and for all that Tyler is worthy of being taken seriously, and while I don't think this is the best he can be yet he is certainly on his way to his classic album.
Favorite tracks: DEATHCAMP, PILOT, OKAGA CA/YELLOW, FIND YOUR WINGS, SMUCKERS, 2SEATER
Least favorite tracks: RUN, KEEP DA O'S
Overall: 8.5/10
