Actually, beyond the vocal effects, the album is really pretty good. Good use of new wavey keyboards, nice melodies. Even Lil Wayne doesn't get in the way. There is is a vulnerable side to Kanye in the lyrics, especially after losing his mother. This is a side of rappers you rarely see--their heart on open display. Good one Mr. West.

2freaky4church1 said:

Its a depressing moody electronic album. Its cold and robotic. Its different than any r&b artist or rapper is doing too.

Kanye gets all the credit in the world for being creative and a true innovator. I think the album seals his position as an artist.
However for me personally I'm a hip hop traditionalist and can't get into it.
But it still earns my respect

He took a chance, give him that.

We thought u had standards...

He meets my high standards..lol

I think the passing of his mom, had allot to do with this,CD. My girlfriend and I talked about this, the day that his mom passed. She said that, she expected to see something totally different come out of him. Something that he had inside of him and that he had to do. I like it, but I perfer the CD before this one.

I'd never bought a Kanye album before this, I kinda liked some of his stuff but some I just didn't like,.

When Love Lockdown came out I loved it, so after a bit of consideration I decided to take the plunge and get the album.

Apart from the hidden track it's grrat from start to finsih one of my favorite albums from 2008 and I never thought at the start of 2008 I have a kanye West album in my top 5 of the year

Yea, I am not a big fan of Kanye either; always thought he was a bit overrated. This album is different. This easily makes my top ten of the year.

About as good as the last Gnarls Barkley album.

My main beef with it is just the excessive use of Autotune.
The use of Autotune beyond its intended purpose, is what's destroying music primarily hip hop
If he would have learned how to sing, or gave it to an actual singer It might be really great.
But its excessive use totally destroys any artistry it has in it.
The love Below, was a prolific album because it did exactly what Kanye tried to do, possibly pushed the envelop even more.
Andre probably wasn't the best singer, but he sang and created his own style, and Autotune can barely be detected on his vocals.
But then again Andre is a different type of musician
rather that just a programmer, which Kanye only is (nothing wrong with that)
If you wanna be a singer, than sing...
Autotune was originally created for singers who sometimes have a bad day, giving producers the ability toe develop a scratch vocal to create an arragement post production.
its getting out of hand now...
But its just a phase..., like everything else is in pop music

EmbattledWarrior said:

If we stop buying from those who use it, they might get the message.
[Edited 1/5/09 17:13pm]