Kanye - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

[Ian]

AOTY

ps: that's album oty, and artist oty

[Wildcatblue7]

Since I don't torrent I haven't heard the whole thing yet but based on his GOOD Friday releases...this thing is gonna be legit.  I'm excited.

[ewok20t3]

Rolling Stone gave it 5 stars. Take that for what you will. The tracks I've heard sound pretty great, though.

[bloop]

I think it's pretty alright.

[bloop]

I can't really listen to this too long to judge, though. Give me the unedited, or don't bother.

[Ian]

I can't really listen to this too long to judge, though. Give me the unedited, or don't bother.

dirty version is out there

rolling stone otm for once

[bloop]

Yeah, I'm listening to it now, and it is really strong. I prefer my music a little less self-absorbed generally, but the music is undeniable.

[Josh]

As a record-maker, Ye is like no one else.

But as far as pure MCing goes... Big Boi still rhymes circles around this guy. Which is, I acknowledge, sort of an unfair comparison, as Ye has always struggled as an MC and has really made improvements, this being his best work on the mic yet; Sir Luscious, on the other hand, is top dog right now as far as I'm concerned, one of the all time greats for sure.

[bloop]

Song for song, I like Big Boi's album more, but I think Kanye's is better-connected as an album, maybe. Both are very enjoyable, even though Kanye is sort of gross at times.

[Josh]

Hmmmm... I would probably still say Big Boi's album is much tighter and more streamlined as an album, despite a kinda out-there middle section. Not that I'm knocking Ye's album, which is great precisely because of its mess and its sprawl. What's really amazing is that, even after all the GOOD Friday songs and whatnot, I STILL think Big Boi has recorded more blockbuster-worthy singles this year. Though again, not a knock against the Kanye, which really is killer.

[Wildcatblue7]

Hmmmm... I would probably still say Big Boi's album is much tighter and more streamlined as an album, despite a kinda out-there middle section. Not that I'm knocking Ye's album, which is great precisely because of its mess and its sprawl. What's really amazing is that, even after all the GOOD Friday songs and whatnot, I STILL think Big Boi has recorded more blockbuster-worthy singles this year. Though again, not a knock against the Kanye, which really is killer.

Fo Yo Sorrows is amazing.  Actually, I just loved Sir Luscious, front to back. From what I've heard of the new Kanye . . . I'm excited.

However I feel that being a law student precludes me from illegally downloading anymore, soooo I have to wait a few weeks.  haha.

[Ian]

I like Big Boi but I don't get into quite as much as some do I guess.  Daddy Fat Sax by far my favorite song on that one.

Big Boi obviously has the technical skills over Kanye, but Kanye gets by on personality.  I don't really go into a Kanye album expecting a technical showcase.  That said, Kanye is much improved since College Dropout.

You guys heard this week's Good Friday track, Chain Heavy?  Excellent track, good as anything on the album.

[Josh]

Kanye's got a lotta balls for the stuff he's leaving off his album. I still think "Christian Dior Flow" is one of the hottest things he's released all year.

[bloop]

I like Big Boi but I don't get into quite as much as some do I guess.  Daddy Fat Sax by far my favorite song on that one.

Big Boi obviously has the technical skills over Kanye, but Kanye gets by on personality.

Kanye's personality is grating, IMO.  As I said, I like the album in spite of myself, which probably says something pretty good about the album.

You guys heard this week's Good Friday track, Chain Heavy?  Excellent track, good as anything on the album.

No. I'll have to do that.

As much as I like Kanye's and Big Boi's albums this year, I don't think either of them are as good as Stankonia was 10 years ago. Care to agree/disagree?

[Ian]

10.0 on p4k, holy shit

[Wildcatblue7]

It's up for $3.99 on Amazon MP3, btw

[bloop]

Pitchfork 10.0

Too high, IMO, but I agree that it's an excellent album.

[Josh]

10.0 is higher than what I'd give it, but it's not a huge exaggeration, I don't think; I can understand the rating, even if I don't agree with it.

And as for the Stankonia question, I am beginning to think that I might actually prefer the Big Boi album. It's certainly a stronger rap album, insofar as it's, well, a rap album, where Stankonia mostly resisted rap in any conventional sense. But as far as the 'kast goes, I'm an Aquemini man.

[bloop]

Aquemini is my favorite of theirs as well, but I think I'll stick by my assertion about Stankonia (perhaps largely because it resisted convention).

[Josh]

Well, let me refine my earlier statement and say that I think Big Boi's album is more consistent, more streamlined, and more even in tone. I think its workmanship is more assured, its artistry more focused. But I would not disagree with the assertion that Stankonia is more ambitious, in most respects, or that its biggest hits (in particular "BOB" and "Ms. Jackson" but also "Gasoline Dreams") are more iconic than anything on Big Boi's album.

At the end of the day, I just enjoy listening to Sir Luscious more, front to back, all the way through, no skipping, than I do either Stankonia or Dark Fantasy. My argument is really no more involved than that.

[bloop]

I think I like Allmusic's review for this one more.

I'm not looking for a take-down. Just a little perspective.

[Josh]

My own take falls somewhere between Kellman's and Dombal's. Yes, the three minute vocoder solo is annoying, but the electric guitar on "Devil" isn't, and a big part of the album's appeal is in its sprawl and its excess. Also, if the P4k review overplays Kanye's skills on the mic, AMG's undervalues them.

[bloop]

I do like Chris Rock, but did it really need all that?

[ewok20t3]

I do like Chris Rock, but did it really need all that?

That's probably my least favorite section of the album. I think it's a very good album, but I'm not a big fan of the vulgarity. The music and production are top notch.

[bloop]

The vulgarity in itself doesn't bother me, nor should it. The misogyny on display is a bit much for me, though.

[Aaron]

As a record-maker, Ye is like no one else.

But as far as pure MCing goes... Big Boi still rhymes circles around this guy. Which is, I acknowledge, sort of an unfair comparison, as Ye has always struggled as an MC and has really made improvements, this being his best work on the mic yet; Sir Luscious, on the other hand, is top dog right now as far as I'm concerned, one of the all time greats for sure.

I've said this for a while - Kanye as a MC and a lyricist is mediocre at best.  He is great at producing, putting albums together, etc.    He doesn't deserve the attention and hype given to him.

And he's a royal douchebag.

[bloop]

And he's a royal douchebag.

To his credit, he at least sort of admits that on this album.

[bloop]

The Plugged In "review". Some of their criticisms match mine in this case, which bothers me (difference is, I don't think the whole effort is wasted because of it. I'm actually interested in engaging it as art, not just doing it to tell parents not to buy it for their little delinquent).

[Josh]

I do think the vulgarity is part of the art here-- part of the story Ye is trying to tell. Same could maybe be argued for the misogyny, I suppose, though I myself would not make that argument.

Big Boi's album is really just as profane, I think, or at least pretty close... difference is, he never sounds like he's taking any of it very seriously.

[ewok20t3]

It currently has a 3.92 (out of 5) from 1,416 reviews on RateYourMusic.com. Pretty impressive considering half of the reviews seemingly mention a dislike of Kanye, rap music, Pitchfork, or hype. http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/kanye_west/my_beautiful_dark_twisted_fantasy/

[ajyouthguy]

i listened to it and it turned my stomach.

[Wildcatblue7]

i listened to it and it turned my stomach.

There's a pretty high quotient of this for me too, but that's kind of Kanye's schtick . . .


. . . and oh how jaded I have become

[Ian]

Yeah, I almost feel guilty for the fact that I never blushed for this album... long live desensitization :/

[spacebrat311]

Yeah, I almost feel guilty for the fact that I never blushed for this album... long live desensitization :/

I didn't blush, and I don't feel bad about that.

[bloop]

Yeah, I'm pretty shameless and clinical about these things, too. One particular segment just seemed unnecessary to me, though.

[bloop]

Listening to this with Watch the Throne since those comparisons are inevitable. It's probably AOTD so far whether I like it or not, but I still can't shake that it would be a lot stronger if it trimmed back some of its excesses, starting with Chris Rock (who I generally like a lot).

[Aaron]

Listening to this with Watch the Throne since those comparisons are inevitable. It's probably AOTD so far whether I like it or not, but I still can't shake that it would be a lot stronger if it trimmed back some of its excesses, starting with Chris Rock (who I generally like a lot).

AOTD content wise or critically speaking?

[bloop]

In terms of the larger critical community. Content-wise, well, how does one even choose?

[Aaron]

In terms of the larger critical community. Content-wise, well, how does one even choose?

After i posted that, i thought to myself...wouldn't those go hand in hand? 


Did this album actually get that much critical acclaim?  I didn't pay much attention to what was written about any album, really.

[bloop]

Yeah, it did alright with critics.