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The Official Kanye West - "808s & Heartbreak" Album Thread of Lockin Down Love
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mckmas8808
Mckmaster uses MasterCard to buy Slave drives
Mason said:
It can't sound that bad.
I wasn't feeling this album at first (a whole CD of singing with a vocoder by a guy who can't really sing, really?) and hearing a few individual tracks didn't really do anything for me, but I listened to it on repeat about four times in a row today and I have to say that I'm sold.
The first time I couldn't get past his failings as a singer and the vocoder, but after repeat listens they grew on me. They allow him to reveal a vulnerability which is kind of amazing when you consider that so much of rap culture is built upon bravado and ego. It's incredibly brave for him to put so much of himself out there and one can only hope that it encourages other rap artists to allow a similar vulnerability in their music. The nearest comparison I can think of is Wu-Tang's last album, but even there the introspection was more in the production than the lyrics.
The lack of ego on 808s & Heartbreak is refreshing and really a stark contrast to Graduation in particular, which was basically a victory lap. Thematically, it feels like OK Computer with a soul.
The first time I couldn't get past his failings as a singer and the vocoder, but after repeat listens they grew on me. They allow him to reveal a vulnerability which is kind of amazing when you consider that so much of rap culture is built upon bravado and ego. It's incredibly brave for him to put so much of himself out there and one can only hope that it encourages other rap artists to allow a similar vulnerability in their music. The nearest comparison I can think of is Wu-Tang's last album, but even there the introspection was more in the production than the lyrics.
The lack of ego on 808s & Heartbreak is refreshing and really a stark contrast to Graduation in particular, which was basically a victory lap. Thematically, it feels like OK Computer with a soul.
Straightballin
Member
At first I enjoyed every song as they were being released, but after the full album is out its as if I just got sick of every song. I think I have only listened to each song around 5 times too. I don't know if its because each track sounds alike or it just gets really played out quickly for some other reason.
Crazyorloco
Member
I loveeeee the entire CD. 
P.S. CD version does have Pinocchio Story on it...it's just not listed in the back of the CD case.
P.S. CD version does have Pinocchio Story on it...it's just not listed in the back of the CD case.
lunarworks
Member
Words cannot say how much I hate auto-tune.
lunarworks
Member
zhenming said:
Doesn't matter. Auto-tune will cause me to immediately stop listening to a song 99% of the time.
Crazyorloco
Member
I just realized he barely curses on this album. I think I heard "bitch" in Robocop, but that's it. This is good for our ears.
jordan0386
Member
Kanye never really curses.
He said he didnt want to because it was a more sensitive album. He replaced "fucking evil" with "doctor evil" in heartless. As he said in an interview...
He only altered his voice a little since he knows he can't sing... and we know tpain really cant sing....
He only altered his voice a little since he knows he can't sing... and we know tpain really cant sing....
got my copy today. couldnt decide whether to get the jewel case or the digipack so i got both...does the jewel case version come with the poster?
and since i havent opened it, i downloaded a 320kbps quality today and listened to it vs the group rip with some seinnheiser (however u spell them) headphones. should i be hearing a difference? i believe the rip is variable bitrate, and i know a lot of ppl say its like night and day. honestly it just sounds a little louder, and maybe a bit more clear. but im not like hearing subtle qualities that i couldnt before...
and since i havent opened it, i downloaded a 320kbps quality today and listened to it vs the group rip with some seinnheiser (however u spell them) headphones. should i be hearing a difference? i believe the rip is variable bitrate, and i know a lot of ppl say its like night and day. honestly it just sounds a little louder, and maybe a bit more clear. but im not like hearing subtle qualities that i couldnt before...
Oldschoolgamer
The physical form of blasphemy
Man...words can't describe how let down I feel, as a fan. I understand where he was going with this, but I'm not feeling the album as a whole, in the slightest. College Dropout is damn near a classic, Late Registration was fuck awesome, and while it was nowhere near as good as the first two albums, Graduation owned too. This though...I don't even know where to begin.
I don't care for the album in the slightest, but Love Lock-down, Coldest Winter, and Robocop are pretty good. I hope he goes back to rapping...
I don't care for the album in the slightest, but Love Lock-down, Coldest Winter, and Robocop are pretty good. I hope he goes back to rapping...
Oldschoolgamer said:Man...words can't describe how let down I feel, as a fan. I understand where he was going with this, but I'm not feeling the album as a whole, in the slightest. College Dropout is damn near a classic, Late Registration was fuck awesome, and while it was nowhere near as good as the first two albums, Graduation owned too. This though...I don't even know where to begin.
I don't care for the album in the slightest, but Love Lock-down, Coldest Winter, and Robocop are pretty good. I hope he goes back to rapping...
Oldschoolgamer
The physical form of blasphemy
(Today, 07:23 PM)
jk, but this album is awesome.
first listen through. I gotta say I love Paranoid(am i the only one that get a little neptunes vibe from it?), aside from that though meh. I'll give it another listen, maybe the album will grow on me, I really didn't expect much from this album to begin with though. Now....just give me CRS.
Not to hate on Kanye, but I think he's a way more gifted producer than he is a writer/singer/rapper. I'm sure if these beats were given to the right talent, I'd love some of the shit. The example I always give is "Diamonds are Forever". Sick James Bond sample, great production, lyrics on the song are average at best though, he really doesn't do his own stuff justice all the time. Then listen to Lupe Rap on it, "Conflict Diamonds" absolutely shits on Kanye's version period.
Not to hate on Kanye, but I think he's a way more gifted producer than he is a writer/singer/rapper. I'm sure if these beats were given to the right talent, I'd love some of the shit. The example I always give is "Diamonds are Forever". Sick James Bond sample, great production, lyrics on the song are average at best though, he really doesn't do his own stuff justice all the time. Then listen to Lupe Rap on it, "Conflict Diamonds" absolutely shits on Kanye's version period.
roosters93
Member
omg rite said:
wat
Imm0rt4l said:
Totally. But I am willing to ignore his shortcomings as a lyricist/rapper because he makes enjoyable music.
Future PhaZe
Member
Wow this stuff is weak :O
Killa Sasa
Member
Funny how the best two songs are the closest ones to rap (re: Amazing and See You in My Knightmares).
Decent-Good album, much less wack than I thought it would be. I don't like how he lets the beats play on for 1-2 minutes on a couple of tracks after he finishes his bars. They all sound easy to dissect and they aren't appealing to my ear, I like trying to dissect ebats when it's a little more complicated, like on Gone from Late Registration.
I wonder if anyone else does that...
Decent-Good album, much less wack than I thought it would be. I don't like how he lets the beats play on for 1-2 minutes on a couple of tracks after he finishes his bars. They all sound easy to dissect and they aren't appealing to my ear, I like trying to dissect ebats when it's a little more complicated, like on Gone from Late Registration.
I wonder if anyone else does that...
ddb320 said:
you are crazy. like mthanded said, all you need to disprove that comment is a trip to his glow in the dark tour. fucking amazing.
Killa Sasa said:
i do this too depending on how much i like it. i definitely did it for gone, loved that beat. dont really do it for say you will though.
and regarding robocop, u really cant go back after listening to the final cut a good amount of times. good shit
I'm totally not surprised how different the reactions now are to this album. It's pretty much love it or hate it.
I love it but I always liked his pop sensibilities in his previous work. So I don't mind the fact that he's expanding on that, trying to sing more, etc. I like his new direction. I don't think he had much new to say after Graduation. How much longer could he sing about dropping out of college and Louis V?
I'm even warming to his auto-tune usage in the album. It actually works, IMO. I've had this whole album on a loop for over a week now (leaked version first)
I love it but I always liked his pop sensibilities in his previous work. So I don't mind the fact that he's expanding on that, trying to sing more, etc. I like his new direction. I don't think he had much new to say after Graduation. How much longer could he sing about dropping out of college and Louis V?
I'm even warming to his auto-tune usage in the album. It actually works, IMO. I've had this whole album on a loop for over a week now (leaked version first)
TheGreatDave
Banned
The album isn't as awful as I expected. Say You Will is pretty good. It's really hard listening to Love Lockdown now though; I've heard him perform it live so many times that the CD version is boring. It lacks the energy.
Oldschoolgamer
The physical form of blasphemy
So I spun this like three more times since I posted, add Heartless and Paranoid to the list of good shit. The rest of this album I could do without, especially the shit with Wayne and Jeezy.
Cold Shadow
Member
Yesterday was the Final Glow In The Dark Show in Holland.
And ofcourse it was awesome. After He finished his glow in the dark set, he said goodbye en then came back to perform Amazing, Heartless & Love Lockdown.
Total set took 2 hours.
Also his freestyle/talking at the end of Glow in The Dark was also awesome.
And ofcourse it was awesome. After He finished his glow in the dark set, he said goodbye en then came back to perform Amazing, Heartless & Love Lockdown.
Total set took 2 hours.
Also his freestyle/talking at the end of Glow in The Dark was also awesome.
actually pretty good.Slizz said:Everyone who likes kanye both new stuff an old should check this mixtape out, dropped about a day ago, hot remixs, real hot.
link: http://www.mixtapetorrent.com/dj-benzi-kanye-west-sky-high
btw no copyright infringement or anything, its a mixtape for promo use only
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