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Thread started 11/22/10 12:07pm

Alamine

Pitchfork gave the new Kanye a 10.0

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14880-my-beautiful-dark-twisted-fantasy/

Kanye West's 35-minute super-video, Runaway, peaks with a parade. Fireworks flash while red hoods march through a field. At the center of the spectacle is a huge, pale, cartoonish rendering of Michael Jackson's head. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy's gargantuan "All of the Lights" soundtracks the procession, with Kanye pleading, "Something wrong, I hold my head/ MJ gone, our nigga dead." The tribute marks another chapter in West's ongoing obsession with the King of Pop.

West's discography contains innumerable references and allusions to Jackson. His first hit as a producer, Jay-Z's "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)", sampled the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back". For many, his first memorable lines as a rapper came during 2003's "Slow Jamz": "She got a light-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson/ Got a dark-skinned friend look like Michael Jackson." And when West's recent interview with Matt Lauer on the "Today" show went awry, he took to Twitter, writing, "I wish Michael Jackson had twitter!!!!!! Maybe Mike could have explained how the media tried to set him up!!! It's all a fucking set up!!!!" Like most everything else, Kanye may exaggerate the kinship, but it's real. And it's never more apparent than on Twisted Fantasy, a blast of surreal pop excess that few artists are capable of creating, or even willing to attempt.

To be clear, Kanye West is not Michael Jackson. As he told MTV last month, "I do have a goal in this lifetime to be the greatest artist of all time, [but] that's very difficult being that I can't dance or sing." He ended the thought with a laugh, but you get the impression he's not kidding. Unlike Michael, he's not interested in scrubbing away bits of himself-- his blackness, his candidness-- to appease the masses. And while Jackson's own twisted fantasies of paranoia and betrayal eventually consumed him whole, West is still aware of his illusions, though that mindfulness becomes increasingly unmoored with each newspaper-splashing controversy. The balance is tenuous, but right now it's working to his advantage. On Twisted Fantasy, Kanye is crazy enough to truly believe he's the greatest out there. And, about a decade into his career, the hardworking perfectionist has gained the talent on the mic and in the control room to make a startlingly strong case for just that.

Kanye's last album, 2008's 808s and Heartbreak, was heavy on the Auto-Tune and stark synths, but relatively light on grandiose ideas. It was a necessary detour that expanded his emotional palette; a bloodletting after a harsh breakup and the passing of his mother that manifests itself in Twisted Fantasy's harshest lows. But musically, the new album largely continues where 2007's Graduation left off in its maximalist hip-hop bent, with flashes of The College Dropout's comfort-food sampling and Late Registration's baroque instrumentation weaved in seamlessly. As a result, the record comes off like a culmination and an instant greatest hits, the ultimate realization of his strongest talents and divisive public persona. And since the nerd-superstar rap archetype he popularized has now become commonplace, he leaves it in the dust, taking his style and drama to previously uncharted locales, far away from typical civilization.

He's got a lot on his mind, too. After exiling himself for months following last year's infamous Taylor Swift stage bomb, the rapper made some of his first comeback appearances at the headquarters of Facebook and Twitter in late July. Videos of West standing on a table in tailored GQ duds while gesticulating through new rhymes (sans musical accompaniment) quickly made the rounds. The Silicon Valley visits seemed like a stunt, but they were prophetic. Forever an over-sharer, Kanye was looking for an outlet for his latest mirror-born musings. He found that platform with Twitter, and proceeded to dictate his own narrative in 140 character hits. Whether showing off exotic purchases, defending himself against the press, or going on stream-of-consciousness rants, Kanye finally had the middleman-free, instant-gratification platform he'd always wanted.

Juiced on the direct connection, he began releasing weekly songs for free online, the generosity of which would be moot if the songs didn't deliver. But they did, over and over, eventually building up the same type of superstar goodwill Radiohead pulled off with their pay-what-you-want In Rainbows release plan and Lil Wayne's free mixtape barrage leading up to 2008's Tha Carter III. So while Kanye can't sing or dance like Michael, he's making meaningful connections in a fresh, oftentimes (ahem) naked way. "When I used to finish an album I would be so excited for my mom to hear the final - final!" he wrote on November 11. "The final - final is what we used to call the... completed album with all the skits!!! I made songs to please one person... MY MOM!!! I would think... would my my Mom like this song!"

I'm not sure which song he's talking about. Because, between July and November, West seemingly decided to make My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy less mom-friendly and more of a hedonistic exploration into a rich and famous American id. At Facebook, he rapped the first verse of what would become album closer "Lost in the World", at one point changing Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Something" refrain to, "Mama-say mama-sah Mama Donda's son," referring to his late mother. The familial allusion was left off the album. Another Facebook tune-- a brutally oedipal account called "Mama's Boyfriend"-- was also deleted, along with the vintage-Kanye-sounding "See Me Now". Such exclusions speak to the album's sharp focus-- to move everything forward while constantly tipping on the brink of frantic instability.

This isn't the same resourceful prodigy who made The College Dropout or even the wounded soul behind 808s and Heartbreak. Instead, Kanye's Twisted Fantasy incarnation cherry-picks little things from his previous work and blows them up into something less than sane. The expansive, all-encompassing nature of the album is borne out in its staggering guest list which includes mentors Jay-Z, RZA, and No ID, along with new charges like Nicki Minaj, Rick Ross, Kid Cudi, and Bon Iver's Justin Vernon. The inclusion of Minaj (who contributes the schizoid verse of her life on "Monster"), Ross (a guy known for making up his own reality as he goes), and Cudi (who's probably even more wildly self-destructive than Kanye) especially adds to the hallucinatory tone. By the time Chris Rock shows up to provide comic relief during one of the album's bleakest moments, it begins to feel as if Kanye is stage-managing his own award show with enough starpower, shock, and dynamism to flatten the Grammys, the VMAs, and the rest all at once.

Over the past few months, Kanye has intermittently tried to flush away his rep as a boorish egoist in interviews and on Twitter, which is, fortunately, impossible. Because without his exploding self-worth-- itself a cyclical reaction to the self-doubt so much of his music explores-- there would be no Twisted Fantasy. "Every superhero needs his theme music," he says on "POWER", and though he's far from the virtuous paragons of comic book lore, he's no less complex. In his public life, he exhibits vulnerability and invincibility in equal measure, but he's just as apt at villainy-- especially here.

With "Runaway", he rousingly highlights his own douchebaggery, turning it into a rallying cry for all humanity. Like many of his greatest songs, it's funny, sad, and perversely relatable. And while the royal horns and martial drums of "All of the Lights" make it sound like the ideal outlet for the most over-the-top boasts imaginable, West instead inhabits the role of an abusive deadbeat desperate to make good on a million blown promises. "Hell of a Life" attempts to bend its central credo-- "no more drugs for me, pussy and religion is all I need"-- into a noble pursuit. As a woofer-mulching synth line lurks, Kanye justifies his dreams of not sleeping with but marrying a porn star, peaking with the combative taunt, "How can you say they live they life wrong/ When you never fuck with the lights on." Inspired by his two-year relationship with salacious model Amber Rose, the song blurs the line between fantasy and reality, sex and romance, love and religion, until no lines exist at all. It's a zonked nirvana with demons underneath; a fragile state that can't help but break apart on the very next song.

The haunted, Aphex Twin-sampling "Blame Game" bottoms out with a verse in which Kanye's voice is sped up, slowed down and stretched out. The effect is almost psychotic, suggesting three or four inner monologues fighting over smashed emotions. It's one of many moments on the record where West manipulates his vocals. Whether funneling some of his best-ever rhymes through a tinny, Strokes-like filter on "Gorgeous" or making himself wail like a dying cyborg in the final minutes of "Runaway", he uses studio wizardry to draw out his multitudes. Tellingly, though, he doesn't get the last word the album. That distinction goes to the sobering tones of Gil Scott-Heron's 1970 spoken-word piece "Comment #1", a stark take on the American fable. "All I want is a good home and a wife and children and some food to feed them every night," says Scott-Heron, bringing the fantasy to a close.

On "POWER", Kanye raps, "My childlike creativity, purity, and honesty is honestly being crowded by these grown thoughts/ Reality is catching up with me, taking my inner child, I'm fighting for custody." The lines nail another commonality between the rapper and his hero. Like Michael, Kanye's behavior-- from the poorly planned outbursts to the musical brilliance-- is wide-eyed in a way that most 33 year olds have long left behind. That naivety is routinely battered on Twisted Fantasy, yet it survives, better for the wear. With his music and persona both marked by a flawed honesty, Kanye's man-myth dichotomy is at once modern and truly classic. "I can't be everybody's hero and villain, savior and sinner, Christian and anti Christ!" he wrote earlier this month. That may be true, but he's more willing than anyone else to try.

— Ryan Dombal, November 22, 2010

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Reply #1 posted 11/22/10 1:15pm

2freaky4church
1

avatar

Rolling Stone gave it five stars! Remember, 20ten got three.

I have heard two songs so far. It's ok, no masterstroke.

All you others say Hell Yea!! woot!
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Reply #2 posted 11/22/10 1:22pm

JoeTyler

does anyone take Shitfork seriously ? ieek neutral

and Rolling Stone??? puaggh! ill barf

tinkerbell
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Reply #3 posted 11/22/10 3:02pm

Cotontige

actually everybody gave him 10/10

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Reply #4 posted 11/22/10 3:08pm

piepie1976

I've heard it a few times now from top to bottom, and I have to say it's pretty fucking brilliant. The bonus track "See Me Now" is the cherry on a sundae. I've never loved an album of his, and I hated the last one with a passion. But this shit is CRAZY!

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Reply #5 posted 11/22/10 4:59pm

NoVideo

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i'm definitely going to give this album a listen or two.

* * *

Prince's Classic Finally Expanded
The Deluxe 'Purple Rain' Reissue

http://www.popmatters.com...n-reissue/
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Reply #6 posted 11/22/10 6:03pm

Unholyalliance

I love Kanye's new album, but I am indifferent to Pitchfork.

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Reply #7 posted 11/22/10 6:10pm

MendesCity

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It's definitely a big step up from 808 and Graduation, but not as good as the first two. Self-reflexive, slightly depressed Kanye just isn't as engaging as self-reflexing prankster Kanye.

And the music occasionally get a little too prog-rocky for my taste

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Reply #8 posted 11/22/10 6:11pm

xlr8r

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It deserves all the accolades it's receiving. The music is awesome. It's sonic hip-pop.

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Reply #9 posted 11/22/10 6:23pm

Huggiebear

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I'm gonna listen to it too, College Dropout and Late Registration were the last hip hop albums I loved right through.

So what are u going 2 do? R u just gonna sit there and watch? I'm not gonna stop until the war is over. Its gonna take a long time
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Reply #10 posted 11/22/10 6:54pm

minneapolisFun
q

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What are you trying to prove?

If you like Kanye thats all that should matter.

Insecurity runs deep within thee!

You're so glam, every time I see you I wanna slam!
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Reply #11 posted 11/22/10 7:08pm

LittleBLUECorv
ette

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He doesn't play an instrument, that's all ou need to know. lol. biggrin

But for real CD is bananas.

PRINCE: Always and Forever
MICHAEL JACKSON: Always and Forever
-----
Live Your Life How U Wanna Live It
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Reply #12 posted 11/22/10 7:49pm

xlr8r

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All Of The Lights is my shit

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Reply #13 posted 11/22/10 7:59pm

BklynBabe

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Well it's $3.99 on Amazon right now. thumbs up!
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Reply #14 posted 11/22/10 11:16pm

P2daP

Has everyone lost their minds!?? This IS NOT that good! I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars....4 star if it didn't use so many samples. I look around everyone is calling the album perfect. Just leaves me scathing my head.

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Reply #15 posted 11/22/10 11:53pm

trueiopian

Love the album! love

P2daP said:

Has everyone lost their minds!?? This IS NOT that good! I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars....4 star if it didn't use so many samples. I look around everyone is calling the album perfect. Just leaves me scathing my head.

Have you lost yours? falloff

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Reply #16 posted 11/23/10 12:02am

P2daP

trueiopian said:

Love the album! love

P2daP said:

Has everyone lost their minds!?? This IS NOT that good! I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars....4 star if it didn't use so many samples. I look around everyone is calling the album perfect. Just leaves me scathing my head.

Have you lost yours? falloff

Maybe I have... Like i said the album is good... Even very good. (listing to it right now) But its not perfect.... Too many samples... Too many STUPID lyrics. It's def. something different and more unique for hip-hop. Especially by a mainstream artist and Kanye deserves a lot due for that... But if you want to see a much better attempt at this.. Check Q-Tip's "Kamaal The Abstract"

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Reply #17 posted 11/23/10 12:36am

silverchild

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I'm thinking about buying this on Friday while the Black Friday sales are blooming, but I'm a little on the fence over whether the guest appearances and critical hype are gonna bog down the album and lessen my anticipations even more. I haven't really been too crazy about Ye lately because his stuff has become a little watered down after such a tremendous 180 turn he gave on 808's & Heartbreak. I don't know...Late Registration will always be his best record in my eyes.

[Edited 11/23/10 0:41am]

Check me out and add me on:
www.last.fm/user/brandosoul
"Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for." -Bob Marley
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Reply #18 posted 11/23/10 12:50am

silverchild

avatar

P2daP said:

trueiopian said:

Love the album! love

Have you lost yours? falloff

Maybe I have... Like i said the album is good... Even very good. (listing to it right now) But its not perfect.... Too many samples... Too many STUPID lyrics. It's def. something different and more unique for hip-hop. Especially by a mainstream artist and Kanye deserves a lot due for that... But if you want to see a much better attempt at this.. Check Q-Tip's "Kamaal The Abstract"

nod Word!!!! I haven't encountered too many progressive hip-hop albums that have come close to Kamaal in the 21st century. Electric Circus and Phrenology have probably, but not many...

Check me out and add me on:
www.last.fm/user/brandosoul
"Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for." -Bob Marley
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Reply #19 posted 11/23/10 2:33am

aiden

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NME in the UK gave it 9/10 and they are hard to please...

If you havent listened o this album from start to finish you should...

It's pretty Epic, I give it a 9

"Still Crazy 4 Coco Rock"
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Reply #20 posted 11/23/10 4:30am

smoothcriminal
12

It's a great album. I'd give it an 8/10.

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Reply #21 posted 11/23/10 4:44am

csharp57

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loving this album. Its on constant repeat.
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Reply #22 posted 11/23/10 5:51am

WildStyle

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Hmmm... will I have to pick up a Kanye West album for the first time in my life? hmmm

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Reply #23 posted 11/23/10 6:02am

aiden

avatar

WildStyle said:

Hmmm... will I have to pick up a Kanye West album for the first time in my life? hmmm

Yes! If you are unsure a good portion of the album (about 40 mins of the 69 min record) is featured in his film "Runaway" which you can watch here.

http://kanyewest.com/

"Still Crazy 4 Coco Rock"
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Reply #24 posted 11/23/10 6:52am

JoeTyler

P2daP said:

Has everyone lost their minds!?? This IS NOT that good! I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars....4 star if it didn't use so many samples. I look around everyone is calling the album perfect. Just leaves me scathing my head.

that's what I was thinking about...

a modern rap album that gets a 5 out of 5 means that it's as good as Raising Hell, It Takes a Nation of Millions, Death Certificate, The Chronic, Illmatic or even the Marshall Matters LP...

So, I'm asking you all: is this album that good?

tinkerbell
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Reply #25 posted 11/23/10 8:51am

larksanders

avatar

JoeTyler said:

P2daP said:

Has everyone lost their minds!?? This IS NOT that good! I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars....4 star if it didn't use so many samples. I look around everyone is calling the album perfect. Just leaves me scathing my head.

that's what I was thinking about...

a modern rap album that gets a 5 out of 5 means that it's as good as Raising Hell, It Takes a Nation of Millions, Death Certificate, The Chronic, Illmatic or even the Marshall Matters LP...

So, I'm asking you all: is this album that good?

Yes it is. You should take a listen. He really outdid himself on this one. I am seriously impressed. Better than that shit album by Kid Cudi.

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Reply #26 posted 11/23/10 10:44am

BklynBabe

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Q-tip album been out for a long minute. Is it possible people may want to buy music from this decade sometimes?
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Reply #27 posted 11/23/10 11:07am

P2daP

BklynBabe said:

Q-tip album been out for a long minute. Is it possible people may want to buy music from this decade sometimes?

Then buy Janelle Monae's "The ArchAndroid" It's a 10.0 and the album of the year.... And she doesn't have a 15 minute skit from chris rock abut pussy. touched

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Reply #28 posted 11/23/10 11:25am

CPest1

P2daP said:

BklynBabe said:

Q-tip album been out for a long minute. Is it possible people may want to buy music from this decade sometimes?

Then buy Janelle Monae's "The ArchAndroid" It's a 10.0 and the album of the year.... And she doesn't have a 15 minute skit from chris rock abut pussy. touched

Yeah I had to skip that chris Rock nonsense. Otherwise a decent album. Janelle's album is seriously good though. Nice to be surprised by someone you never heard of before biggrin

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Reply #29 posted 11/23/10 11:41am

Pr1nceQuik

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The album is a masterpiece. Best album I have heard in years. Everything about it is perfect- production is flawless, features are spread out and everyone elevates themselves to the next level, the choruses are amazing, lyrics are brilliant.

From start to finish this album is brilliant. All the accolades are spot on.

10/10 masterpiece. I salute you Kanye for the eargasm you give me with this album.

Be glad that you are Free, Free to change your mind. Free to go almost anywhere anytime
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