This past Monday, Tyler, the Creator, dropped his ninth studio album, Don’t Tap the Glass, which came as a surprise to many, as the album dropped with little to no publicity while Tyler is currently touring the country.
An Album Built on Impulse and Emotion
Unlike Tyler’s past albums that are more conceptual in nature, like IGOR, Call Me If You Get Lost, or CHROMAKOPIA, Don’t Tap the Glass is about showing a new side to Tyler as an artist.
As Tyler noted on Instagram, “This is not about reception or control. It’s only me once more… A little louder, a little more relaxed.”
3 Must-Listen Tracks
Upon listening, “Big Poe”, “I’ll Take Care of You”, and “Tell Me What It Is” are undoubtedly some of the greatest standouts from the album.
“Big ”Poe” was the opening to the album and undoubtedly a strong track to start with, with its brassy production and tempo changes. “Big Poe” helps establish the mood for the album by blending some of Tyler’s classic flair with a hint of something new.
“I’ll Take Care of You” was a personal favorite of mine and the greatest standout. This song utilizes a strong synth sound that makes the song feel poignant and personal. This track was reminiscent of IGOR in many ways due to its unique vulnerability.
Lastly, “Tell Me What It Is” concludes the album, ending with a calming fade-out that lingers and resonates with listeners.
A Break From Traditional Rollouts
Though Tyler, the Creator, typically has a unique rollout for each project that differs from conventional releases, Don’t Tap the Glass might be his most spontaneous release yet.
However, this unconventional release could show Tyler’s intention behind this project. Tyler doesn’t exactly need Don’t Tap the Glass to be a perfected or flawlessly organized body of work. Tyler has always been vocal about his desire to make his work genuine and authentic, and that is what this body of work provides: a profound display that true artistry doesn’t need to be perfectly curated; sometimes it can be cluttered, colorful, and impetuous, but that does not take away from the quality and authenticity it can have or the love that it can receive.