Honestly, I was not excited to listen to this album, in any possible sense of the word excited. I had planned to check out an album by Kanye to an*lyze it very soon, just because of how much people love the guy's music. But personally, I'm not a fan. His earlier albums didn't appeal to me at all when I heard them, but I never had any beef with his music or stuff like that. The production is dope, just not my taste. And well, a bunch of big Kanye fans have shown nothing but disapproval towards the musical route Kanye took with 808s and Heartbreak. It would also have spawned some lesser moments in hip-hop. So yeah, after all that there's not much excitement one can have left over.
So my homie Stephen Niday suggested I'd check the album out. And hey, I listened to it. And to put it simple, I loved it, really. It's pretty much a mix of the electronic synthesizers one gets in presets for music production programs, a bunch of 808s, and well, Kanye's Heartbreak expressed through recorded lyrics. It just sounds great altogether, and now I don't really understand all the hate. What did you expect? He's singing on this, not rapping. It's electronic beats, not the semi-electronic result you get when Daft Punk reworks a soulful Edwin Birdsong record. I remember hearing both "Heartless" and "Love Lockdown" on the radio a few years ago, but frankly, they're two of the songs I particularly like the least on the album, they just don't have that slow soulful feeling and lean more towards being hype, which I'm all that fond of when it comes to music.
"Street Lights" instead, I really like. The synth fits the song very well, the background vocals are beautiful, and the lyrics are amazing. Not to mention I can't get tired of the kicks that form the drumloop. Just the way the whole song is based around that one single line, it's simply mesmerizing.
Seems like, street lights, glowing
Happen to be just like moments, pa**ing
This may be ironic, but I actually dig the live recording on the album too, "Pinocchio Story" I believe it's called. Considering it's a live recording there's barely any instrumental portions that can be heard, but the vocal aesthetic Kanye lays down is just great. The way he uses a melody to rap, and how he holds on to the pitch at the end of every line, it's just amazing. I've listened to the album a bunch of times now and I just keep coming back to that track.
There is no clothes that I could buy
That could turn back in time
There is no vacation spot I could fly
That could bring back, a piece of real life All in all, the album is terrific, and I'll definitely listen to it at least a couple more times. For anyone who is unsure about listening to this. Do it, for real, even Lil Wayne spits nice on this you know, Young Jeezy delivers. It's just great.
Baby girl I'm finished, I thought we were committed
I thought we were cemented, I really thought we meant it
But now we just repent it, and now we just resent it
- Lil Wayne [Note]