![]() There’s a beautiful juxtaposition of lush strings and mechanical, computeristic percussion and synth lines all across this record that illustrates the torn nature of Kanye’s mind. “808s and Heartbreak” is Kanye West’s most thematically and conceptually brilliant project. These vocals almost always have autotune or some other processing effect on them, which, while it’s done quite tastefully, I could see being off-putting to some. For one, Kanye sings more on this album than any other by a mile, never even rapping a single verse himself. “808s” is, somewhat famously, a black sheep in the Kanye West discography. ![]() With the benefit of hindsight, I think that designation is much less clear now, but my first impression of this project was more positive than any other. In fact, I vividly remember two moments (during “Say You Will” and “RoboCop”) where I stopped walking and simply thought to myself… My first listen to Kanye West’s 2008 release “808s & Heartbreak,” however, was different. But typically, I don’t retain much from these soundtracks to my walks. It’s been a great excuse to leave the house, really. I’ve been listening to these albums during my conveniently album-length walks around my neighborhood. Rating: S ( super, higher than an A – ratings explained in the chart below)įavorite Tracks: “Say You Will,” “Heartless,” “RoboCop,” “Pinocchio Story” In thinking about my favorites, I almost named two-thirds of the album (including “Welcome to Heartbreak,” “Street Lights,” “See You In My Nightmares” and “Coldest Winter”), so the tracks I’ve listed here shouldn’t be perceived as being on some sort of untouchable pedestal above the rest. The album also has West’s most consistent tracklist, with its weakest tracks outclassing those of the other S-tier albums significantly. The album’s true glory comes from its thematic value, something deeply intertwined within the music and gorgeously portrayed. “808s and Heartbreak” (2008) is an S-tier album for more than just its phenomenal compositions and production.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |