“Flower Boy” Review
On July 21st, 2017, the controversial yet exciting California artist Tyler, The Creator, released Flower Boy, a versatile and colorful album spanning genres ranging from jazz to indie to soul and hip-hop. Adorned with glorious production and features from artists such as Frank Ocean, A$AP Rocky, and Rex Orange County, “Flower Boy” is an amazing assortment of music.
Perhaps the most favored song on the album, “See You Again” features a glorious string arrangement accompanied by backing vocals and a heavy display of an 808 bass.
This fun, beautiful track captures the essence of the art displayed on the album’s cover. Rolling hills, puffy clouds, and flowers and bees paint a picture of a unique and euphoric world. Tyler storms this track halfway through with his low and heavy voice, perfectly working with the instrumental portion.
The features on this album hold perfect roles without taking away from Tyler’s creation. As mentioned before, big-name artists Frank Ocean, A$AP Rocky, and Rex Orange County are sprinkled throughout the album. On the first track, “Foreword,” Rex is found in the chorus singing melancholic lyrics, while Frank Ocean is seen on the tracks “Where This Flower Blooms” and “911 / Mr. Lonely.” A perfect example of this is “Boredom.” This track hosts Rex Orange County for a whole minute and 34 seconds before Tyler comes in with a verse. As the track goes on, the two trade back and forth.
The production side of the album is where the excitement is really found. Each song is unique while still holding a hip-hop foundation. A world of soundscapes is created within each song, especially songs like “Garden Shed,” which host sweeping synthesizers and chorus effect-layed guitars.
My final thoughts on “Flower Boy” are that it is a versatile, different, and vibrant album that draws production similarities to other flagship albums such as Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp A Butterfly.” In my opinion, this album is a must-listen, as its abstractness makes it all the more fun and an enjoyable listening experience.
