I've already listened to it three times. I think it's better than The College Dropout, and that was probably my favorite album last year. The song Roses has got some of the best lyrics I've ever hear.
And 9.5 from Pitchfork, the highest score this year. Personally, I don't see it. Yeah, his rhyming has gotten better but it was pretty crappy before and that was part of his charm. The production, I'm okay with and I like the layered sound a lot, but I also liked the gritty production on "Two Words". Maybe I'll give it a few more listens and see the light.
It's awesome. Hey Mama is my favorite so far, but I can't can't to listen to it again, and again, and again......
His production, while being good, has almost become cliché, to the point where you just want him to take a minimalist approach, and actually put his rhymes in the forefront.
Addiction is the current favorite. Kanye does it again. I hope this album breaks some sales records, it deserves it.
Good album but not nearly as good as College Dropout. Great producer... but goddamn, very mediocre lyricist.
Agreed - and ironically, that's the one non-Kanye production on the album (Just Blaze did that beat). You think? I have to strongly disagree. IMHO, he doesn't have great skills, but his lyrics are almost always clever and interesting. YMM (and apparently does) V. I have a better first impression of this one than I did of College Dropout, but that one started out as "good" and became "incredible" after a few listens. This one is at "excellent" right now - I'm curious if my impression improves after a few listens again.
Roses I know it's past visiting hours But can I please give her these flowers The doctor dont wanna take procedures He claimed my heart can't take the anastesia It'll send her body into a seizure The little thing by the hospital bed, it'll stop beeping, Hey chick, im at a lost for words What do you say at this time? Remember when I was nine? Tell her everything gone be fine? But i'd be lying, the family crying They want her to live, and she trying I'm argueing like what kind of doctor can we fly in You know the best medicine go to people thats paid, If Magic Johnson got a cure for A.I.D.'s And all the broke mutha********ers past away You tellin me if my gran was in the N.B.A. Right now she'd be ok? But since she was just a secretary Working for the church For thirty five years Things sposed to stop right here My grandfather tryin to pull it together, he strong, Thats where I get my confidence from I asked the nurse "did you do the research?" She ask me, "can you sign some t-shirts?" Bitch is you smokin reefer? You dont see that we hurt But still... (Chorus) ...I smile The roses come to see me And I can't wait for a sunny day (Im seeing it through your eyes) Can't wait for the clouds to break They outside of the emergency room, room You can feel my heart beat, beat, beat If she gone pull through we gone find out soon but right now she sleep, sleep, sleep My mama say, they say she could pass away any day Hey chick what these doctors know anyway Let me see the X-rays I ain't no expert, I'm just hurt Cousin Kim took off for work Plus my Aunt Shirley, Aunt Beverly, Aunt Claire and Aunt Jean So many Aunties, we could have an Auntie team Feel like Amerie "Its this one thing" When they said that she made it You see the eyes gleam I think we at an all time high To get there we run, we fly, we drive Coz with my family we know where home is So instead of sending flowers We the roses... (Chorus) I smile The roses come to see me And I can't wait for a sunny day (Im seeing it through your eyes) Can't wait for the clouds to break Who brings the sunshine? Ohhhhh I smile The roses come to see me And I can't wait for a sunny day (Im seeing it through your eyes) Can't wait for the clouds to breaK
Not as good as I was hoping for. So far about half of the songs I like, half aren't doing much for me. I'll have to listen a little more before I make up my mind. Part of the problem is that, as someone already said Kanye isn't great lyrically (skillwise), and I wasn't a little underwhelmed by some of the guest appearances. I was hoping Consequence and Cam'ron would have sick appearances, and while I like Gone, it didn't live up to my expectations.
No matter whether you think they're arrogant or not, their ratings are often very telling. I find that I agree with most of them.
Already revising this. Gone is a great song. I think the problem was that I was expecting something a little more high energy from Late Registration after I heard Diamonds.
Anyone read the Time magazine with Kanye on the cover. Great article. Not the info about him per se, but there's a section in the middle of the article that is pretty poignant/spot on (in my POV).
I really like it.. i especially like the Intro running into Heard Em Say. Bernie Mac does a good job on the voice over. Was it him on the College Dropout too?
Yep, I think some of the writers are pompous too and sometimes enjoy their own writing too much, but they put a crapload of knowledge and thought into the reviews and no mainstream outlet does longform reviews like Pitchfork does. NY Times reviews can be interesting but some of the reviews, particularly Kelefah Thompson's are sometimes more pop culture commentary than album review. The only music reviews that matter these days are in Pitchfork and the Onion AV Club.
It's a good album, but it is overrated. Kanye's production is very good, his lyrics also, but the guy is not a really good rapper.