Review of ‘Don’t Tap The Glass’ by Tyler, the Creator

Another album already??? But I’ve barely finished digesting Chromakopia.

Tyler used to give us a two year breather between albums. This time, he’s only given us 9 months. And he’s dropped this record on us with no warning. No lead singles. No prior announcement on social media. I should be excited by the prospect of a surprise Tyler album. I’ve been devoutly following the rapper/producer/singer/fashionista since 2010 and have given positive reviews to most of his albums (I even gave Chromakopia five stars!). But like Kendrick’s GNX - another surprise album by a hip hop artist I idolise - I’m left feeling oddly underwhelmed by Don’t Tap The Glass.

I think it’s because, like GNX, this is designed to be a fun album, and not a thought-provoking album. In fact, Tyler begins the album  by ordering the listener to have fun. ‘No sitting still’ he demands in a robotic voice. YOU VILL HAVE FUN AND YOU VILL ENJOY IT. He also clarifies that there will be ‘none of that deep shit’ on this album. It’s almost as if he’s dissing his last record.

Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against fun (unless we’re talking about the 2010s band ‘Fun.’, who are crime against music). I like an energetic infectious banger and this album has a few of those. But I certainly wouldn’t call this Tyler’s best selection of bangers. We do get some provocative funny lines here and there such as: ‘I don’t trust white people with dreadlocks’. However, most of the lyrics don’t stick the way I expect Tyler lyrics to stick. On top of this, Tyler still hasn’t invested in singing lessons – I could put up with the shaky vocals on Chromakopia, because they had emotional conviction behind them, but without this emotional conviction, songs like ‘Ring Ring Ring’ just sound painfully hammy.

At least Tyler does still know how to produce a creatively cool beat. Oral sex anthem ‘Sugar On My Tongue’ is propelled along by bouncy drums and spiky synths that are almost New-Order-esque. ‘Mommanem’ meanwhile builds up suspense with its slow rising and falling stabs (and some aggressive rapping from Tyler), before showering us with filthy bass on ‘Stop Playing With Me’. And as grating as the singing is in ‘Ring Ring Ring’, I do still enjoy the ‘Off The Wall’-flavoured groove.

It serves its purpose, which is to get you moving. But without emotional gut punches like ‘Answer’ and ‘Like Him’ or shocking revelations as found on ‘Wilshere’ and ‘Garden Shed’, it feels like this Don’t Tap The Glass is missing a vital ingredient. But hey – maybe his next record will contrastingly be his most personal record yet: You’ve Just Tapped The Glass. It seems like a Tyler move.

★★★☆☆

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