Odd Future’s ‘Goblin’ returns much of same shock-inducing music

Explaining the popularity and success of hardcore hip-hop collective Odd Future (officially Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All, or OFWGKTA) is tough to do. Its lyrics include references to murder, necrophilia, rape and cannibalism. The band's debut music video for "Yonkers" shows 19-year-old group leader Tyler, the Creator (yes, that's his complete name, comma included) vomiting up a cockroach and hanging himself.

And yet, somehow, the group receives almost universal praise. The YouTube music video for "Yonkers" was viewed more than 13 million times. Poetry Foundation recently published a glowing exposition of OFWGKTA, lauding the group's unprecedented and "visionary" music.

"Goblin" is, for the most part, a continuation of Tyler's 2010 debut, "Bastard." Even the mock conversations with a therapist (voiced by Tyler, with pitch lowered a couple of octaves) are back, this time serving a greater role as thematic backbone for the rest of the album.

"Goblin" is the group's first retail release and is hyped to an almost ludicrous degree. And for an album so eagerly expected, "Goblin" is, well, not very easy to listen to. At an hour and 14 minutes, the album is about half an hour too long. "Radicals" and "Window" are 7-plus minutes, repeating the choruses for seemingly no reason at all.

The high points, however, are some of the best songs Odd Future has released. In "Yonkers," "Sandwitches" and "Tron Cat," Tyler zeroes in on his signature raw, gritty delivery and masters it more effectively than in anything else he's done.

Another highlight is "She," featuring fellow Odd Future member Frank Ocean. Frank Ocean is the low-key R&B crooner of Odd Future, a contrast that blends surprisingly well with his harsh bandmates.

Those that expected "Goblin" to blow Tyler's previous album out of the water and show dramatic polish and evolution are going to be disappointed. "Bastard" delved into the mind of an angry 18-year-old, while "Goblin" delves into the mind of an angry 19-year-old. It's more of the same, for better or worse.

On "Bastard," the immaturity was, at least, unlike what anyone else was rapping about. Here, it's the exact same topics trying to be passed off again. If the songs are as good, it shouldn't matter. But for a band that runs primarily off shock value, it begins to get stale. And some songs contain almost cringingly stupid lyrics (looking at you "Radicals" and "Bitch Suck Dick").

I don't think I'm angry enough to totally be on board with "Goblin," but in the end, it accomplishes what it's meant to do. I can't even comprehend how the band can be popular with anyone over the age of 30, because it's clearly meant for young, angry kids trying to sort through an identity. Tyler recognizes this himself in his strikingly introspective opener, "Goblin":

"That's bull of the sheet but they want to critique / Everything that we, Wolf Gang, has ever released / But they don't get it, cause it's not made for them / The nigga that's in the mirror rapping, it's made for him."

It's entirely possible that in a couple of years it'll become obvious that Odd Future is really not that talented and won't evolve any more. For now, though, the band is fascinating to follow. Much of that only works because of the hype and how the band responds to its pressure. In this sense, it's not so different from the more reflective moments of Kanye West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy."

Odd Future's members are some of the first artists growing up completely online, and their music reflects something truly unique because of this. The band stays in contact with fans and critics online by constantly updating Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Formspring. They're part of a new kind of frenetic, confused, always-plugged in upbringing that's brought about a fascinating self-awareness.

It's not genius. Often it's not even good. But there is something clearly new here that will be interesting to follow as the band members mature and continue responding to their hype. In the end, Tyler's just an angry ball of confused possible talent trying to figure his life out. If that connects with you, "Goblin" might be your thing. If you're offended by the line "I'm awesome, and I fuck dolphins," it's probably not.

cameronmount@

dailynebraskan.com