Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak

[Drew Beringer]

Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak
Release Date: November 24, 2008
Record Label: Roc-A-Fella/G.O.O.D./Def Jam

Is there a more polarizing figure than Kanye West in music today? Controversy follows wherever he goes, whether it’s a live benefit show for Hurricane Katrina, an awards show, or just someone in the paparazzi. West says and does whatever he wants, because when you walk the walk, you can talk the talk. West has delivered three outstanding albums in the span of 5 years, as he has flipped hip-hop on its head and has left a legacy in the genre. So yes, he’s egotistical because he can be. He has the plaques and charts to back it up. With spirits so high, it seems that nothing could bring him down.

Except heartbreak.

Over the course of the past year, West had lost his mother, who was his inspiration, to surgical operation turned tragic, and he also broke off his 18-month engagement to designer Alexis Phifer. That’s a lot to overcome, and West coped by doing what he does best: creating music.

Instead of dwelling on his misfortunes, West turned the negativity into creativity, jumped into the studio, and created 808s & Heartbreak, his fourth studio album. But in typical fashion, West has pulled a 180 on the genre, forgoing the hip-hop style and focusing more on the pop side of things. He barely raps on the disc, instead focusing on crooning with the aid of Auto-tune and vocoders. While the first listen to 808s may be jarring, you soon discover that this is the most personal and emotional material Kanye West has ever wrote.

Not many pop stars would have the cajones to lead off their new album with a six-minute track, but West does with “Say You Will.” Bouncing with a stripped-down beat with erratic beeps and dark undertones, West sings about backing up what you promise. “Welcome To Heartbreak” follows with a low, baritone register, while West heats up the verses, wishing for more than material things. Newcomer Kid Cudi delivers on the hook, as this track is a definite standout. “Heartless” is anything but, as the beat pulsates throughout, while West lays all his feelings out on the line. Three tracks in and it’s evident that this is the darkest work West has ever wrote. He isn’t holding anything back.

“Amazing” would be exactly that if the hook would have had a little more meat to it. Also, the inclusion of Young Jeezy on this track is bizarre. While I love Jeezy, his style and lyrical content don’t match the theme of this track. An odd choice, thus this track falls just short of its potential. The addition of Lil Wayne on “See You In My Nightmares” is off too, as his nonsensical verse brings that song down. But tracks like “Love Lockdown” and “Paranoid” have incredible hooks, with the former being jarred into your memory thanks to a vibrant drum line. “Paranoid” has an intricate beat that will crawl under your skin and stay there for weeks.

The two tracks that hit me the hardest are “RoboCop” and “Coldest Winter.” Two different vibes with similar themes, they reach both sides of the emotional spectrum. “RoboCop” has a light feel to it, as it rises with each crescendo, while “Coldest Winter” is exactly that: cold. The drums echo against the harsh beat, with the reality of the situation coming into focus for West.

While West’s production and beats are always legit, his lyricism always comes into question, and this album is no exception. Yes, some of the lines here are cheesy, but how do you define what “good” lyrics are? Are good lyrics words that are spun beautifully and intellectually? Or is it more of how the words make you feel and how you relate to them? And here’s the thing, these lyrics aren’t supposed to be “clever” or “witty,” rather West is just getting his feelings off his chest. He is sharing a part of his life a lot of artists in his genre don’t share. While the lyrics on 808s aren’t great, I can relate to them. They evoke emotion out of the listener, and that, to me, is good lyricism.

808s & Heartbreak is composed of the eleven most intimate tracks of West’s career. It’s Kanye at his coldest and most vulnerable, but it showcases his versatility and confidence. This isn’t a hip-hop album; it is a dark pop album, or “pop art” as West describes it. Not many artists can switch up their game like this and still be successful. The album is definitely a grower, as the first initial listens will require you to get over the fact that West’s rapping are feel-good beats are M.I.A. (take a deep breath, West will be back with his hip-hop game in 2009 with Good Ass Job, he isn’t quitting his day job). With 808s & Heartbreak, Kanye West has furthered himself from the pack, adding new heights and layers to his already impressive résumé. If this album doesn’t move you, then you should check your pulse, ‘cause you might be dead.

Track Listing:
1. Say You Will
2. Welcome To Heartbreak feat. Kid Cudi
3. Heartless
4. Amazing feat. Young Jeezy
5. Love Lockdown
6. Paranoid feat. Mr. Hudson
7. RoboCop
8. Street Lights
9. Bad News
10. See You In My Nightmares feat. Lil Wayne
11. Coldest Winter
Produced by: Kanye West

Official Website (http://www.kanyewest.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/kanyewest); Official AP.net Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/kanyewest)

[Spenny]

Good review, I'm interested in hearing the entire album.

[DI Pistola]

I can't stand Kanye for all he's worth, but everytime he drops a single, I head on over to iTunes.

Goddamnit.

[zombie!pirate!]

kanye understands art and that's what give him an edge.

great review

[tait]

i think it's going to take a few more lessons to get into this one

[r_r_repeat]

love this album. faaa sho.

[BringDaRuckus]

i think i would like it more if there wasnt that annoying vocal effect on nearly every damn song

[richie]

I don't love him but this album is really good.

[glassjaw777]

First couple times through it's good. Gets old and boring.

[threepunchjim]

He really can't do wrong. A couple listens through and I'm sold. This is going to be a great winter driving album.

[MattDennis]

Yeah some of the songs are a bit on the boring side...but Heartless, Paranoid, Robocop, and Street Lights are so good I don't care.
Good album from a great artist trying to work outside the box.

[Travis Parno]

nice review, drew. great album too

[dat scene kid]

Great review. I've been spinning this a couple times this weekend and am really enjoying it. Very cohesive as an album. You really hit on the extremely personal feel it gives off. "Welcome to Heartbreak" is going to be one of my favorites for awhile I think.

[xsinkshipsx]

awesome review....really captured what I thought about the record....it is certainly a grower....but i feel once it does it will be amazing

[live.]

I'm hoping Kanye's heartbreak only lasts for this album. It's a decent album but I want old Kanye. Not Farnsworth Bentley with an autotone.

[AdamChildress]

This album is beautiful. It is nice to see Kanye so vulnerable...and such a different style of music.

I cannot wait to hear his return to rap as well, he is still keeping me content with Hip-Hop.

[astereo]

Nice review Drew. It took me a few listens as well to let it settle down, but I think it's pretty solid as well. Knowing the vibrant fun kanye rhymes will return just in time for the summer just makes this even better as a nice + different way to get through the cold months ahead.

[briXinRhands]

9 for creativity? after a few listens this gets pretty monotonous to me

[tacosforcharles]

Just picked this up. Awesome stuff, glad to see some of the hate disappearing with time.

[bradsonemanband]

im not feeling this album at all. every track is way too repetitive and unfinished sounding.

[youareallfreaks]

stopped reading to comment after you said that weezy's verse didnt fit nightmares. that verse made nightmares.

[MusicTalks]

I can't stand Kanye for all he's worth, but everytime he drops a single, I head on over to iTunes.

Goddamnit.
I totally agree but I even put the album back on the shelf when I was in Target yesterday. The argument has been made regarding an artist/band and their attitude vs. purchasing their albums. I understand that a ton of artists are assholes and we still buy their records, but for some reason I have given the benefit of the doubt to Kanye, so I'm not sure that I will support giving money for an album when I can't stand the person that made it, IMO.

[utgjames]

This album hits like a shockwave to old fans, but a week in with it and I'm in love. This is winter on record.

[map8705]

Good review, but I don't know how you could give the vocals such a high grade. To me thats what killed the album for me. I just think the vocals are incredibly annoying.

[Hagysaurus Rex]

Everytime he drops an album I always think: "Ya know, Kanye's good, but not that good and I think I'll pass this time." Then I get a new song stuck in my head and it's so good I have to buy the album, which I always end up loving and listening to for months.

[gregisonfire]

This album is honestly amazing. When I first heard Love Lockdown I wasn't feeling the vibe. But after hearing the rest of the album (especially Robocop) I am in love. This is no College Dropout, that's for sure, but Ye has managed to completely reinvent himself and expand "hip-hop" to new heights. I've already listened to it 3 times in the last 2 days, and my interest has yet to peak. I continue to find new hooks, new nuances that keep making this album more interesting.

[boykosaurus]

Definitely agree with the notion that this album only gets better when you listen to it over time.

[Manbotisdead]

I like it a lot. Although people will, I feel like you can't really compare it to the other stuff he's done. It's like comparing apples to oranges.

I like both.

[infamous_alias]

If it weren't for the fucking "LA Girl" singing in Robocop, I think it might be my favorite track.

What happened to the last track, Pinocchio Story?

[joshy hizzle]

I actually like this alot.

[get up kidd]

I dig the art. i like his last cd much better

[Garett Press]

decent record, gets old FAST

[RetardedInLove]

I love this album, it is something different and sounds great. I would have to say that Paranoid is my favorite song so far, but Welcome To Heartbreak is a close second.

[iseethesun123]

An 8 on auto tuned vocals? Really?

[ArmoredSleep]

I've only listened to it once, but it is solid. It's different but I dig.

[Drew Beringer]

If it weren't for the fucking "LA Girl" singing in Robocop, I think it might be my favorite track.

What happened to the last track, Pinocchio Story?
I didn't count it as part of the tracklisting, it's a bonus track. Just one of my peeves.

[Broclee]

I love this album, and it was a great review.

My thoughts on the vocals go a little something like this, though:

Sure, they're auto-tuned, but that's the effect he was going for. And I have a feeling deep in my gut if Max Bemis or Jesse Lacey announced that Say Anything or Brand New were doing a whole album with auto-tuned vocals, no one would care. I may be wrong, but that's just how I feel.

[NoseOverTail]

Fantastic album, awful review.

[heyzombiehitler]

Spot on review. This album really does grow on you. And im going to probally get shit for this, but this is his best and most creative work to date. I am not ashamed of loving this album.

[Grybo]

takes a couple of listens to get into but it's great. def going to go down as kanye's weird album yet still in no negative vibes, seeing as it is really good. jeezy on amazing is perfect.

[weworemasks]

An 8 on auto tuned vocals? Really?

i'd put it in the 7-8. not because of talent, but because of his emotional delivery.

[MADSTA]

So excited to pick this up.

[Slaur]

I want to check this out now,thanks Drew!

[BottleRocket]

lulz

[iseethesun123]

i'd put it in the 7-8. not because of talent, but because of his emotional delivery.
Eh

[SeanEBoy2686]

i love the last line of the review

[Drew Beringer]

It's an electronic pop record, so it makes sense to have auto-tuned vocals. Daft Punk does it, and if I gave them an 8, people would be outraged I didn't give them a 9! haha

[Keagan Ilvonen]

Awesome job Drew, totally agree with everything you said besides your comment on Wayne's verse

[notoaststereo]

im in the middle of my first listen to the She and Him album but right after im going to listen to this.

[Zinja]

Spot on review. This album really does grow on you. And im going to probally get shit for this, but this is his best and most creative work to date. I am not ashamed of loving this album.

100% agree with you. I feel like his previous albums have some definite awesome songs and a lot of filler (like skits), but he hit it solid with this one. Every song is awesome. Futuristic. I applaud the man for stepping out of the comfort/expected zone.

[Manbotisdead]

Awesome job Drew, totally agree with everything you said besides your comment on Wayne's verse

It's better than I thought it would be, but Wayne has now officially outplayed himself these days.

[iamtaylorrr]

i'd put it in the 7-8. not because of talent, but because of his emotional delivery.
I completely agree. Especially on paranoid, he makes his vocals kind of irritated yet like he's trying to calm the girl. I don't know if that makes sense, but it's great

[fluke182]

I'm really surprised about this album. It's excellent and really feels way different than anything being produced today. Too bad the guy is one of the biggest aholes on the planet.

[myhearturhands]

hmm never liked him before but i might check this out

[Drew Beringer]

im in the middle of my first listen to the She and Him album but right after im going to listen to this.
She & Him is so good.

[Broclee]

She & Him is so good.

Leik zomagah but its deff not teh album of teh yeer, paste is sooooo lame and indie rawk.



Sorry, had to, I couldn't help myself.

[Moritz421]

Definately took me a listen or two but it's a solid album. I think Kanye had to get this out, and did so perfectly in this album. If he had tried to put this together with Good Ass Job we would get a very different album. This album has its place, and Good Ass Job will serve its purpose as well. Agree completely with the review, 'Amazing' just didnt do it for me. I felt Wayne's take on the chorus was done right, it was low, not lively, and it conveyed the perfect mood. I think Wayne's verse was out of place though. Mrs. Pee-u? Lame.

[reissgoespunk]

Awesome review for an awesome record.

[onemoresong]

just can't stand the man

"george bush doesn't care about black people"
ok kanye. i'm a democrat but, yeah kanye. you're so right.

[captainxnapalm]

Great review, but there is not promise of him returning in 2009.

In a interview two weeks ago with the associated press he said he wanted to make music on the weekends and start living towards a normal life with a family.

[thewk]

It's good. Not his best, but definitely a breath of fresh air in this type of genre.

[notoaststereo]

She & Him is so good.
yeah i like it a lot. especially the cover of you really got a hold on me. i probably wouldnt call it the AOTY though.

[a morning view]

This album is garbage.

[Chemical Love]

Dont really like this.

[ZeoVGM]

It's an electronic pop record, so it makes sense to have auto-tuned vocals. Daft Punk does it, and if I gave them an 8, people would be outraged I didn't give them a 9! haha
I'm glad you said that.

Auto-tune is definitely overused at this point, but there are times when it works well.

[ZeoVGM]

This album is garbage.
Always has to be someone.

[manican sex]

I disagree, A) the album I think is weak, I know what he was going for but its just too boring. B) My favorite songs on the album are the ones with Jeezy and Weezy.

It's an ok album but its not kanye worthy.

[jster2000]

excellent review

[vasya]

did this come out on a monday?

[FUCKDIRTYWIPES]

hated this at first, but now i love it.

[katekate]

8.25 on vocals? hmm

[gladnads]

Any daft punk ripoffs?

[humanafterall]

Good score. Good review.

[eMart]

Great review Drew, from all the stuff I read on this I thought people it was going to get trashed. I didn't like it at first, but it's definitely an album that gets better with every listen.

[berky11]

Skimming through this album, I absolutely detest it - it's unlistenable. The autotune is just so annoying, and the drum machine, I mean, really? I guess I'll try to listen to this more but I can't handle the fact that I'm not getting a song as gold as "We Don't Care," or something of that ilk on this record. Great review, though.

[newfoundmichael]

Maybe I need to listen to this again because I'm just not feeling it right now. Hopefully it grows with the listens.

[WhoSaidThat?]

This album is garbage.
How can you be so brainless?

[eversoinviting]

I've really enjoyed the few songs I've heard. Probably gonna buy the album.

[a morning view]

How can you be so brainless?

Seriously? Just because I don't agree with the review, I'm "brainless?" Get real.

This album is weak. There's a couple decent tracks ("Love Lockdown," "Heartless") but the rest is boring and repetitive. You guys keep talking about how emotional his delivery is, but the songs come off as flat and uninspired, probably due to the fact that they're over-saturated with auto-tune. The production is (mostly) shitty. Kanye just doesn't have the vocal/lyrical talent to pull something like this off. Sorry guys. Shit's lame.

[WhoSaidThat?]

Seriously? Just because I don't agree with the review, I'm "brainless?" Get real.

This album is weak. There's a couple decent tracks ("Love Lockdown," "Heartless") but the rest is boring and repetitive.
It's only a pun, dude. Off of the song I bolded.

[dru]

Great album.

[Daniel Thompson]

very good review.

[_jonas]

Top notch review as always. I fell in love with the album instantly.

[loveyoulongtime]

did anyone see the jacket he was wearing on the AMA's last night?
oh man!
crazy awesome.

need to find out where I can get that!
Chains

[_jonas]

lulz

[therobbert]

one of the best hiphop/pop albums of our generation. This will blow up

[Mibabalou]

fuck kanye ur not indie
ur now just a sellout

go on tour with fall out boy, and metro station

[ballardr]

The only thing Kanye does that "moves" me is make idiotic speeches. His speech last night at the AMA's was no different and just as dispicable as his others.

[demondays524]

I listened to samples and I like what I'm hearing. I might get this sometime in the near future.

[hockeyguitar99]

I'm on my first listen to this album now, and I really like it.

[FiringPartyRule]

great review... this album is fantastic. fighting with the glass passenger for number 1 for the year for me.

thoughts on streetlights? its my favorite track on the album... i personally think its absolutely incredible.

[batmannj]

nice review. almost convinced me to check it out.

[Dm!tr! the !st]

Great ablum. RoboCop and Paranoid are the real gems on this album. For RoboCop, I have to really say, tracking it from when it leaked, the FINAL album version KILLS, they went a little heavy on the violin for the final cut added to the verse, but it fits extremely well, the "spoilled little LA girl" kinda kills the vibe at the end for me it has me debating getting getting the album version or the final leak, both are good though.

Paranoid has one of the BEST beats I have heard from Kanye. The other songs I liked were Amazing & See You In My Nightmares. Amazing is like Paranoid in terms of excellent beats, but the Young Jeezy spot as good as it is doesn't fit the song. See You In My Nightmares is excellent, but Lil Wayne stopped short of making the song cheesy with those lyrics, but I still liked it.

I like this whole album, kudos to Kanye, when he experiments he knows how to do it well. I am still a little upset about RoboCop. Maybe it's because I am listening to the album version it right now on myspace for the first time.

[tonighttonight0]

I think Kanye really dropped it on this one...

[sargentlgfuad]

An 8 on auto tuned vocals? Really?

what i thought.

[hutcher5]

ye has gone and dun it again.

[robat19]

:appl:

[FalloutGuy]

Funny how I was whining and whining about old Kanye..but then ended up actually loving this album. Great review.

[Jamos4184]

Just purely listening to clips off of iTunes....not bad, but Autotune on nearly every track?? I mean, he even used it on his guest vocals on John Legend's new album. It gets old.

[airik625]

Dig the album, dig the review.

[_jonas]

So I'm listening to Oracular Spectacular. BRILLIANT!!!!

[Vismund_Cygnus]

I'm not a fan of Kanye, but from reading the review this album sound very intriguing. I think it's worth checking out...

[thousandssteps]

i like the cd a lot...

[DazedandCnfused]

This record really isn't my style, but maybe it just needs to grow on me? anyway, i can deff appreciate the fact that he is trying to do something new and is willing to change things up a bit. i love how he isn't afraid to get personal with his lyrics either. it's good to see some honesty in music. but i'm just not sure sonically this cd is for me. the vocal sound is just not resonating with me. i guess i prefer Kayne rapping..anyway, if i had to pick a favorite song so far from it, i would have to say "Robocop," or "Street Lights," both are really good.

[Holly HoX!]

hey, at least Kid Cudi is on it.

[firewater]

I actually like the "LA Girl" part, lol. My friend and I kept saying it during school today and were getting weird stares

[demondays524]

I like this album a lot. I'm starting to get more into Kanye's stuff. My favorite from the album is probably "RoboCop."

[muggledude]

This album is incredibly mediocre. I was really expecting to like it a lot more than I do. It just really doesn't do anything for me? It's decent, I guess. But I definitely found myself bored by it way more often than I should have been.

[matt_rawlings]

I adore this album.

[wingtip1001]

not a fan at all

[_jonas]

http://content6.flixster.com/photo/65/55/69/6555692_tml.jpg

[DI Pistola]

Some of the most painfully idiotic lyrics my ears have ever been forced to endure are courtesy of this album.

"You think your shit don`t stink but you are Mrs. P-U"

Christ, it's like he took some madlibs worksheets down to the local kindergarten.

[a speedo model]

I feel horrible for finding it slightly amusing his mother died due to cosmetic surgery...:unsure: Of all the ways to go...

[Ouch]

album kinda sucks, but "RoboCop" is fun as hell.

[Dm!tr! the !st]

http://content6.flixster.com/photo/65/55/69/6555692_tml.jpg
CRAIG!

[WakingTheMisery]

Bad album is bad.

[Mibabalou]

give me and my friends a bag of rocks, a cat, 3 cones, a metal bat, a wall, and auto-tune

well make a better album than this

[3eb23]

this album is not good. so it's not surprising that people are loving it.

[Mibabalou]

worst album of the year

close 2ed 3oh!3

[Moritz421]

If it weren't for the fucking "LA Girl" singing in Robocop, I think it might be my favorite track.

What happened to the last track, Pinocchio Story?


Yeah what the hell was up with the end of RoboCop. Song was going great then he started the 'LA Girl' crap and it was just awkward

And Pinocchio Story is a bonus track, but I'm sure you can find it on the web somewhere. Actually kinda sad when you hear it for what it is

[Moritz421]

Some of the most painfully idiotic lyrics my ears have ever been forced to endure are courtesy of this album.

"You think your shit don`t stink but you are Mrs. P-U"

Christ, it's like he took some madlibs worksheets down to the local kindergarten.


I hope by 'he' you mean Lil Wayne, cause that's not Kanye's verse.

[Moritz421]

Just purely listening to clips off of iTunes....not bad, but Autotune on nearly every track?? I mean, he even used it on his guest vocals on John Legend's new album. It gets old.


I think you need to get past the fact he uses it on every track, because he does. Once you are cool with that, listen to the album again for what it is. I think it'll help the feel of it, alot. It's actually really not a TERRIBLE album. Not my favorite of Kanye's, but we're getting Good Ass Job next year so it's all good.

[SungDuck88]

great review.
and agreed, paranoid continues to repeat in my stereo.

[JunkBondTrader]

fucking great album. one of my favorites of the year so far for sure. i have probably listened to it at least 10 times all the way through, gets better every time. Street Lights is fantastic.

[mynameistaken]

Kanye made himself a robot in this cd. if you like his old stuff, how could you really enjoy the new cd unless you like fazer-effects (or what ever you call it) on every person's voice on the entire cd. I think robots will put out better cds like this one in the year 2000.

[_jonas]

Shit a fucking spoon fork fucker.

[radxbandit]

i'd put it in the 7-8. not because of talent, but because of his emotional delivery.
auto tune ensures the lack of emotion for sure...

[weworemasks]

auto tune ensures the lack of emotion for sure...

he doesn't use autotune as a crutch. he uses it as a tool. i'd say songs like say you will, welcome to heartbreak, heartless and streetlights encompass many different emotions very successfully. if you really think about it, ye's singing would sound like complete shit without it.

if you look past the fact that there's autotune, there is really a brilliance behind the production value of this album, and the songs are well-crafted and engaging. no one said this is a rap or hip-hop album. for the millionth fucking time, it's a pop album.

yeah, some of the lyrics are sub-par and poor, but which band covered on this site doesn't write any poor lines in any of their songs.

[_jonas]

^cheers

[radxbandit]

he doesn't use autotune as a crutch. he uses it as a tool. i'd say songs like say you will, welcome to heartbreak, heartless and streetlights encompass many different emotions very successfully. if you really think about it, ye's singing would sound like complete shit without it.

if you look past the fact that there's autotune, there is really a brilliance behind the production value of this album, and the songs are well-crafted and engaging. no one said this is a rap or hip-hop album. for the millionth fucking time, it's a pop album.

yeah, some of the lyrics are sub-par and poor, but which band covered on this site doesn't write any poor lines in any of their songs.
Ok I'll accept that. I just think its a bit undeserving of the critical praise it's receiving, particularly because of all the points that you just made. Is this a good record or is this just good with respect to Kanye's previous work? I would say he's being held to a different standard because this is not his regular stomping grounds, and the praise comes from the fact that he tried something new. I applaud this move, as it is bold, especially for someone who evokes high expectations for anything he should choose to release. I think what mostly annoys me is the need to use this effect, when it's already such an overdone studio tool. I would hope that he would be a bit weary of that, considering his typical proficiency in the realm of pop music. He is not typically the person to cash in on a current trend, but rather set his own, or at least strive to set himself apart. It would have been much more impressive to have him actually try to sing on key without the auto-tune, then his emotion would be much more apparent. It would also, in my opinion, have served him well to remove the sonic barrier that auto-tune provides, since this record is supposed about baring it all, emotionally. Just my two cents.

[weworemasks]

Ok I'll accept that. I just think its a bit undeserving of the critical praise it's receiving, particularly because of all the points that you just made. Is this a good record or is this just good with respect to Kanye's previous work? I would say he's being held to a different standard because this is not his regular stomping grounds, and the praise comes from the fact that he tried something new. I applaud this move, as it is bold, especially for someone who evokes high expectations for anything he should choose to release. I think what mostly annoys me is the need to use this effect, when it's already such an overdone studio tool. I would hope that he would be a bit weary of that, considering his typical proficiency in the realm of pop music. He is not typically the person to cash in on a current trend, but rather set his own, or at least strive to set himself apart. It would have been much more impressive to have him actually try to sing on key without the auto-tune, then his emotion would be much more apparent. It would also, in my opinion, have served him well to remove the sonic barrier that auto-tune provides, since this record is supposed about baring it all, emotionally. Just my two cents.

honestly, if this had to do with kanye's previous work, i'd probably hate this. from the moment i heard love lockdown, i knew this was going to be an off the wall release and ridiculous for one of the biggest names in hip hop to put out.

me and you are hearing the auto-tune in two entirely different contexts, and i don't think either of us will be convinced otherwise, haha.

in a way, he did cash in on a trend. t-pain and wayne have fucked the hell out of auto-tune. however, it's typical kanye to make something his own, and i honestly believe that he made auto-tune something that neither t-pain or lil wayne could ever dream of accomplishing.

[radxbandit]

honestly, if this had to do with kanye's previous work, i'd probably hate this. from the moment i heard love lockdown, i knew this was going to be an off the wall release and ridiculous for one of the biggest names in hip hop to put out.

me and you are hearing the auto-tune in two entirely different contexts, and i don't think either of us will be convinced otherwise, haha.

in a way, he did cash in on a trend. t-pain and wayne have fucked the hell out of auto-tune. however, it's typical kanye to make something his own, and i honestly believe that he made auto-tune something that neither t-pain or lil wayne could ever dream of accomplishing.
yeah man, I definitely agree with that. When compared to all the artists who champion the use of auto-tune as part of their craft, this album blows them all away because it's not the only thing it has going for it. Predictably, it's just something Kanye decided to do as a one time thing, and he already did it better than artists who have spent albums trying to perfect the techinque. I think the instrumentals really bolster this release, though, as far as creating the record's interesting atmosphere. For me, that's its strength.

[bobby runs]

takes a couple of listens to get into but it's great. def going to go down as kanye's weird album yet still in no negative vibes, seeing as it is really good. jeezy on amazing is perfect.
I like the way Young Jeezy comes in on the song. It's like an "oh shit, something amazing is about to go down".
Some of the most painfully idiotic lyrics my ears have ever been forced to endure are courtesy of this album.

"You think your shit don`t stink but you are Mrs. P-U"

Christ, it's like he took some madlibs worksheets down to the local kindergarten.
AM I the only one who enjoys that line because it's so damn cheesy?


Anyways, I really really enjoy this album, Kanye did very well on this album. Kudos

[maniac R.O.D.]

I like the way Young Jeezy comes in on the song. It's like an "oh shit, something amazing is about to go down".

AM I the only one who enjoys that line because it's so damn cheesy?


Anyways, I really really enjoy this album, Kanye did very well on this album. Kudos
hahahah i agree, i love that line. And i think that the cheesiest line is in "Robocop" when he goes "who knew she was a drama queen/that would turn my life to stephen king".

[maniac R.O.D.]

I feel horrible for finding it slightly amusing his mother died due to cosmetic surgery...:unsure: Of all the ways to go...
Yeah, you suck as a person...

[TheClockworks]

everything and anything kanye west does is terrible.

[TheClockworks]

in honor of kanye west's true style, i posted this reply with samples from real posters to make me look skilled.

[Iamhome]

Kanye is extremely cocky. A lot of people dog on that fact. I've always embraced it for what it is. It feels to me though, that this album (and not just this album but probably this time in his life) is forcing him to be a little more humble. I think it's a good view of the growth, and possible enlightenment going on within him.

[Un'Aria Ancora]

Love it, save tracks 7 and 9... who gives a shit about character, listen to this shit.

[3eb23]

thought this was cool. its a bunch of samples kanye has used over the years. i mean i knew he borrowed a lot but damn....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XaDeC2LEdA&feature=iv&annotation_id=event_47942

[darkmartheight]

I think this album is awesome. A little different for kanye, but awesome.

[3eb23]

http://gawker.com/5109627/kanye-west-disastrously-sings-without-digital-enhancement

told you he couldn't sing

[11:11]

This was a great review. But I, being the grammar freak I am, would like to point out that you said "the best he's ever wrote" when it should be "best he's ever written". But other than that, a great read.

[Mibabalou]

fuck this album

such a sell out

[WhoSaidThat?]

fuck this album

such a sell out
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll156/capt_wigs/negro.jpg

[on a frequency]

i think i would like it more if there wasnt that annoying vocal effect on nearly every damn song
exactly.