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jdizzle
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True, not all those “for the ladies” songs are terrible, and “One More Chance” is great. But I would say the majority of them are fairly atrocious. There have been a lot of good rap albums that would’ve been better if they didn’t have to devote 2 or 3 songs to those kinds of tracks. Plus, Biggie just has that charisma about him where he could do those songs and get away with it. Rick Ross, not so much.
I listened to it yesterday, granted just once, and was not impressed. He’s definitely become a better rapper, but so many of the beats, themes, etc just seemed subpar. I’d really like to see rappers quit with the “for the ladies tracks” (are there any girls that actually like this stuff? Who really wants to listen to a song with a repeated mantra of “Fucking you” in the background?) I was really surprised to read such a positive review. BUT, I really respect your opinions Tom, and will definitely give this a few more listens before I make any real judgments. That’s what I love about reading music criticism, it can always help me reassesses something, usually for the positive (after all, I’d rather like and enjoy more music than not). So I’ll give it another try.
I love original material, but there were a lot of GOOD Friday songs released before Dark Twisted Fantasy that I think deserve to go on an album proper too, if only because they deserve to be heard by more than just obsessive, blog-following music fans. Casual Kanye listeners should also get to hear (especially) “Christian Dior Denim Flow,” “Lord Lord Lord,” “Take it for the Team,”…even “Christmas in Harlem” is pretty damn good. And so is this. Maybe a double album with a second disc of the GOOD Friday stuff that’s come out before? (excluding early versions of the stuff that did make it on Dark Twisted Fantasy.)
http://www.metacritic.com/feature/music-critic-top-ten-lists-best-albums-of-2011
Hope this helps. It looks like PJ Harvey is in the lead right now.
I’m enjoying it (based off of one listen) but it’s about 30 minutes too long (like most rap albums).
They should’ve just packaged Murmer and Automatic for the People together
Agreed on the song of the year bit.
I can’t believe that guy bought it for 50 bucks. Conrad is right – that record goes for a just a few dollars at most record shops, and that’s with the mark-up after they’ve gotten it from someone else. What a chump!
I thought it was pretty amazing and beautiful. I love watching music done in a more raw way with just one instrument and a voice (which is why I love La Blogotheque). I honestly thought after watching that the comments were going to be about how great it was – it was gutsy, well done, and showed that those Raitt songs aren’t trite or “cheesy” like most people think, but actually very well written and emotional when the overproduction is stripped from it.
Oh, and it certainly didn’t seem like an American Idol audition. Every time someone sings next to a piano, is that an American Idol audition?
Definitely agree – the falsetto is cool, but I actually like his natural lower key a bit better, and think that some songs on the album actually would’ve been better served by it.
And someday, maybe it will be considered a masterpiece. This is a hard band to prematurely evaluate – they have a way of sneaking up on you.
Whether or not you like it, I don’t think it’s calculated or them trying to be “trendy.” I think they actually enjoy the current movements in music and were influenced by it. Just like Kid A was influenced by late 90s Warp records, not some need of theirs to be “trendy.”
It’s okay to not like it, and it’s not the awesome masterpiece I was hoping for, but I can’t really expect that every time, and I respect that it’s different than what they’ve done in the past.
A calculated move would be to remake The Bends or OK Computer for the rest of their career. Again, whether or not you like what they do, I don’t think Radiohead makes calculated moves.
Brandon’s top 10 from last year…
http://www.villagevoice.com/pazznjop/critics/2010/686058/
1 Agalloch, Marrow of the Spirit
Profound Lore Points: 10
2 Swans, My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky
Young God Points: 10
3 Deathspell Omega, Paracletus
Norma Evangelium Diaboli/Season of Mist Points: 10
4 Zola Jesus, Stridulum EP
Sacred Bones Points: 10
5 Thou, Summit
Gilead Media Points: 10
6 Salem, King Night
Iamsound Points: 10
7 Ludicra, The Tenant
Profound Lore Points: 10
8 Inquisition, Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm
Hells Headbangers Points: 10
9 Crystal Castles, Crystal Castles II
Fiction Points: 10
10 Titus Andronicus, The Monitor
XL
I’m going to just agree with you both on that one – I’m tired of the misogyny in hip hop. Period. I
On another note about the song, it’s okay, but I would’ve rather have seen them do something a little more classic Jay-Z/ Kanye West-like, something soulful. Rather than let a 19 year old kid who’s style will (in my opinion) soon be considered a flash in the pan produce the record, why not take it back to a classic, Blueprint/College Dropout sound? Imagine if they were rapping over something like the beat for Exhibit C. Now that would be a single that would blow me away.
I don’t think this will be on Watch the Throne…it was originally supposed to appear on MBDTF. It was part of a leaked tracklist early in the summer.
I criticized “Hell of a Life” earlier, but it’s grown on me quite a bit.
This album definitely should’ve made room for “The Joy” and “Chain Heavy.” Cutting off the Chris Rock bit alone would’ve made room for them, and they are pretty much masterpieces of classic hip hop sound. “Chain Heavy” was originally supposed to go after “Power” and “The Joy” after “Devil in a New Dress.” Would’ve been great additions.
I love Kanye’s music. His personality we could all do without – in fact, I wish he’d let his music speak for itself more often. He’d be a lot bigger artist if he left the bravado for his records (as most hip hop artists do). But his music is undeniable – 3 amazing records so far (especially the first two), and one pretty good experiment.
My quick take on MBDTF: Pretty amazing, but oftentimes way too indulgent. Some of the indulgences could use some trimming, particularly toward the end of the record. It kind of reminds me a bit of Oasis’ Be Here Now, where all the songs are pretty much awesome, but just go on for too damn long. The first half is near perfect, although I think “Gorgeous” could be tightened up by losing a minute (not losing Raekwon’s verse/the beat change, because of course that’s amazing, but maybe Kanye could’ve edited out one of his 3 verses). I love all the changes to the GOOD Friday songs, particularly “Devil in a New Dress.” They earn their lengthy times.
Probably the most controversial part of the album will be the lengthening of “Runaway.” I actually like the vocoder singing and strings, but even that could’ve been chopped down by a minute, minute and a half…it would still be an extended outro, but wouldn’t seem as endless. I think with the extended outro, “Runaway” would’ve made a good penultimate track before “Lost in the World.” Just my opinion, but trac order is really important.
I guess my main issues with the album come with the next two tracks. “Hell of a Life” just doesn’t do it for me. I love the beat, but I hate hip hop songs that completely lift a well known melody that I’ve already heard a thousand times. If I want to listen to “Iron Man” I’ll listen to Black Sabbath, thanks. And again…too damn long.
“Blame Game” is awesome, but again, overindulgent at times. The outro with Chris Rock just goes on FOREVER and I don’t think it’s that funny (and I even like Chris Rock.) It would’ve been okay, if it had lasted a minute, and not 3 minutes, the length of an average song.
“Lost in the World” is just awesome.
I would’ve loved to see “The Joy” on here, and maybe another short and sweet track near the end to relieve the tension. Don’t get me wrong though, the album is all-around pretty much amazing. I’ve made a playlist and CD (for the car) of the GOOD Friday tracks that aren’t featured on the album, and I recommend it to anyone else, because that’s also been great listening. If GOOD Friday continues until Christmas, Kanye will have released enough material for 3 great albums in one year.
When this was announced a bit ago as an upcoming single, I was extremely excited. I thought it was going to be THE GREATEST THING EVER. Then I heard this for the first time, at work, with my headphones in my crappy laptop…and just thought it was okay. Then I went home, and listened to it again, this time without any expectations…and gotta say, though my expectations are always ridiculous, this almost meets them, and that says a lot. Pretty amazing…and I can see now why this wasn’t a single, because it’s more than just a “radio” song.
I really wish people could enjoy a concert and shut the fuck up
Nope, not godawful at all. That beat is pure ear candy. Although I was hoping the next single he’d come out with would be the one he premiered a snippet of last week (“All of the Lights”), this is more of a pop confection. When Kanye made as ass out of himself at the MTV Video Awards, I knew it was a good thing for the music world, because it meant he’d have to make some insanely good music if he wanted to get back in people’s good graces. Kanye may be an obnoxious ass but his music gives me more pure enjoyment than almost anything coming out these last 5 or 6 years.
I didn’t listen to the new song, because when the album (solo or Radiohead) comes out I want it to be completely fresh, BUT that version of “The Eraser” was amazing! The horns really add a lot, and I love the rock out outro. Really wish the tour was going a few more places….
I’ve basically said this in a post somewhere on this site before, but they should’ve definitely had some of those Good Friday songs on here, especially because some of them are great and it would’ve exposed them to a larger audience. Pretty much any of the tracks that haven’t already been released somewhere else (“The Joy” or the ones that eventually did make it onto MBDTF) are just as good as the stuff on here, if not better. “Christian Dior Denim Flow” = amazing. Same with “Lord Lord Lord” and “Chain Heavy.” And the rest is pretty great too (“Looking for Trouble,” “Take One for the Team”)…these are so much better than most of what’s on here except for “Mercy,” “Clique,” “So Cold” and maybe a few others that will grow on me. I just feel like it was a wasted opportunity to get some of that other stuff out there beyond people who would bother finding it on the internet, and it could’ve made for a super strong compilation if they had them on there.