TiRon and Ayomari’s album A Sucker for Pumps, released Sept. 13, is a testament to the duo being suckers for the feminine identity.  As they examine the past, present, and potential future in romantic relationships, TiRon and Ayomari explore a multitude of emotions that define relationships, from infatuation and love, to angst and disconnection. The album teeters between optimism and pessimism, and even the pessimistic moments still lend a glimmer of hope, or at least a fatalistic outlook to intemperance.    

The album is structured by tracks like “Her Theme Song,” “M.F.G.,” and “You Got It,” all celebrating the female form and mystique.  These really outline the preliminary fascination that initiates the “sucker process,” and are the hopeful element that makes the temptation tangible. The dark elements of the album exist on tracks such as “Jack Kerouac” and “Thing Go Right,” which explore demise of a love relationship.  Both artists are quick to try and document both the male and female perspectives, and be somewhat self-deprecating in their own accountability in the downfall.  “I’d Rather” highlights relatable trust issues, and one’s willingness to endure pain in a poor relationship rather than seek another lover. 

Highlighting the in-the-thick-of-it-type-love are tracks such as “The Neighbors,” citing how loud a couple in passion will be to disturb those around them.  On more conscious tracks, such as “Perfect,” they explore the pitfalls of advertising and how images illustrating unattainable goals ultimately kill the spirit and self-esteem of the women they admire.  This is followed later in the album, on the female-empowering “Denouement,” featuring dream hampton’s spoken word.  The track, which serves as a nice balance against the male-heavy production, further affirms the sucker theme: “Romantic love is always conveniently self-announcing, in spite of its unwilling participants...”

In a clever marketing ploy, both artists laced their respective Tumblrs with a promotional montage of female photos, with captions featuring hashtags listing each girl’s name and the title of their album. The album samples various styles, both slow and up-tempo, from old school hip-hop drum beats, strings, international jazz, and slow classic R&B styles; and the production suits each track without overpowering the lyrical elements.

The project reads as an emotional rollercoaster that will evoke personal sentiments of heartbreak, passion, and love.  There’s a touch of both humor and tragedy in the sucker motif, but the delivery makes listeners empathetic for the sucker who risks, loves, indulges, and fails, but incessantly remains an addict of the ‘pump.’

The album is available on iTunes and Bandcamp.