OVERALL RATING:
So, I finally got a hold of Kanye’s new album, 808's & Heartbreak, and I think it’s a classic. It is totally different from any other rap album, with Yeezy’s Autotuned half-singing voice turning some off while broadening his reach. It is a true hip-hop concept album, pushing the Autotune effect to regions even T-Pain could never dream of. It can at times be relaxing and at other times ominous, even strange.Say You Will: Although by most standards a good ominous-R&B track, Say You Will is the low point of this album. It is slow and three minutes too long. Although it is still well produced, we just get tired of the slowness after a while. (3.75/5)
Welcome To Heartbreak: One of my personal favorites. Alternating 80's synth-pop and “Pink-and-Blue” Outkast-style drums set up this track for success. The chorus is amazingly forceful. (5/5).
Heartless: This song builds up nicely to the first verse, with an evil-circus organ setting the stage nicely for a story of heartbreak and an evil girlfriend. ‘Ye plays around with Autotune and other effects, including talking over himself and singing through feedback. (4.5/5)
Amazing: This is an exceptional song, with an unusual percussion instrument and pianos combined creatively and a feature by Young Jeezy creatively set off from the rest of the song by an awkward pause. Normally this awkwardness would be undesirable, but on 808s it works, fitting in to the overall uneasy scheme well. (5/5)
Love Lockdown: Although this song met with mixed reviews upon its initial release as it was like nothing anyone else had heard, the rock clichés (feedback) and the piano over the hook create a track that explores the dark side of love. (4/5)
Paranoid: The closest thing this album has to a dance song, Paranoid contains a beat with shades of Justice (DVNO) and the most traditional rapping on the album. Probably the most mainstream track in sight. (4/5)
Robocop: This is a high-tech song with a pounding beat and explosions and mysterious techno blips in the background. The addition of strings in the background creates an uneasy effect. As with so many other songs (Heartless, Love Lockdown), this song is about a difficult relationship with a woman. Overall another exciting track. (4/5)
Street Lights: Almost an “emo” track, with Kanye singing to a synth-heavy beat. In contrast to other tracks on the album, this song sounds quite upbeat and “fun.” It could almost be a successful song by a group such as the Killers. (4/5)Bad News: Almost a fast song, with a cappella and instrumental periods interspersed within the song. The beat is once again a masterpiece, almost sounding at times like Gnarls Barkley with violins. ‘Ye’s Autotune is among the most pronounced it gets on this album. (4.25/5)
See You In My Knightmares: My personal favorite. Lil’ Wayne drops a solid verse and Kanye’s “that you know” repeated is one of the most memorable moments on the album. The dramatic beat fits well with an angry song. (6/5)
Coldest Winter: The shortest track on the album is dedicated to Kanye’s late mother. It is an eerie track, with the vocals echoing and a beat that alternates from subtle to pounding. It plays with the listener’s expectations, building up and then dissipating. (4.25/5)
808's & Heartbreak is one of the more unusual hip-hop albums in a long time, and a personal favorite of us here at illRoots. Between top-notch production, quality hooks and features, a constant vision, and good lyrics and flow, 808's is a refreshing new sound. The only question is, “are we ready yet?”
