Bumping, since I've bought the album and listened to it multiple times throughout the day.
This is one of the best albums I've bought all year. It might not be mindblowing, but Kanye is a fantastic artist, and he and the producers he bought on board know really how to create a song that resonates and chills and gets you to dance before pulling the rug under you. I wouldn't say that his lyrics (which people overanalyze, as usual) provoke me, since I'm used to stuff like that for now, but it has its moments, and the part in "New Slaves" about the prison system got me thinking.
Now, I'm not sure what I should think about the pervasive misogyny throughout the entire album, which is more present than last album. Especially with "Bound 2" being less aggressive about it, it gets me thinking about how much Kanye really thinks, and how much is just to provoke people.
Highlights? Besides the Daft Punk-produced tracks, "Blood On the Leaves" and "Bound 2" are standouts, along with the ending instrumentals of "Hold My Liquor". But really, every track has its standout moments.
Right now, seven out of ten of the tracks are rated five stars in my iTunes library, but I think the rest might sneak up in rating. Depending on what I think of the album months from now, it might become the first album to have a perfect five-star line-up—something Florence + the Machine couldn't achieve with me. *
On a side note, "Power" has one of the best beats I've ever heard in a rap song.
edited 18th Jun '13 8:31:54 PM by chihuahua0
This album combines Kanye's ego and glam rap beats with the ambition of Brian Wilson's Smile in the worst way imaginable.
Also there are certain forced rhymes I cannot abide. 300 like the Romans? Really Kanye? Just so you could rhyme it with Trojans (as in condoms)?
I just don't know how to feel about this new direction.
That said I know exactly what to think of the American Psycho inspired album promo starring one of the Kardashian husbands as Bateman. I didn't think a greater damage than Bret Easton Ellis' Twitter feed happening to Bret Easton Ellis' legacy was even possible. The acting in it was atrocious. And the Weird Al/Huey Lewis parody was way better.
Hell Hasn't Earned My TearsI'm going to have to defer to Anthony Fantano on this one...
*hides from Kanye fans*
I'll hide your name inside a word and paint your eyes with false perception.I gave it a listen, so it's basically the first Kanye album I've ever listened to.
To put it pretty simply, I still don't understand his appeal. More than anything, outside of production, beats and lyrics, I just found it boring.
I guess I can understand why this album's dividing fans now though.
edited 23rd Jun '13 2:52:54 AM by TopographicOcean
YUUGI WANTS YOU FOR DRINKING BUDDYJust listened to it yesterday. I thought it was okay. It's certainly not his best, but I did like the beats on some of the tracks.
Topo, if you want to get his appeal better, listen to The College Dropout. His first album, sure, but it's a solid example of his work.
Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.Ah, well, that's understandable. I wasn't particularly excited by much of it myself, actually
@JHM: 5 minutes into that video. I actually agree with it for the most part so far.
edited 23rd Jun '13 9:48:31 AM by 0dd1
Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.![]()
I was talking more about crazy diehards than, you know, people with critical faculties.
Granted, we don't have too many of those around here, which is nice.
I'll hide your name inside a word and paint your eyes with false perception.Oh, I mostly overlooked that addition you wrote there, was just agreeing
Honestly, it's never exactly been a secret that Kanye West is a huge narcissist—he has an ego the size of the former Soviet Union and wants everyone to know. Hell, his first album has him saying outright, "I'm so self-conscious" etc. etc. etc.
Still, I've always found that the most screwed up people generally make the best music.
Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.Well, I'm a huge Beatles fan, so I suppose drug abuse and self-righteousness?
Drug abuse seems common among my bands, but I think that's almost a given sometimes. It's so common throughout people, never mind bands, that it's almost negligible unless you actually favour straight-edge bands etc.
Crippling self-doubt and horrible pasts are sprinkled over mine, but I'm primarily thinking of Roger Waters and the like for that.
YUUGI WANTS YOU FOR DRINKING BUDDYI actually have a friend (who has a band of his own) who prefers his musicians straight edge. Granted, he's a huge Motley Crue fan...but he prefers their non-coked up years it seems
Crippling self-doubt and depression are big ones for me, since it gives me encouragement that maybe someday I too can make it and air out my mental instability in the most public forums of all. That's partially why I'm really into Kurt Cobain.
edited 14th Jul '13 2:54:13 AM by 0dd1
Insert witty and clever quip here. My page, as the database hates my handle.To me, personally, Yeezus is a punk album. It covers alot of punk archetypes: politics, sex, self-indulgence, bizarre-love, screams, noisy bass, it's short length & etc. One of the reasons I find it to be one of Kanye's top 3 albums. That's just my take though, hence why I love the original "album artwork".
I live in a constant state of fear and misery.

So Yeezus just leaked a couple of days ago, did any one get it? If so what did you think? Does anyone even care?
Today is a sunny day!