Kanye West: Graduation

[missionhockey21]

So who has been listening to this as well? I have to be honest, getting the CD in the mail and taking it to my player directly looking for a few huge, immediate standout tracks like his past few albums... I didn't find it right away (at least on that level.) But listening it from the start to the end a few times, and it grew on me in a big way. A ton of experimentation on the tracks, from Daft Punk's influence on Stronger to the french house sounds and more. Lyrically, he seems to have lost some of that personal and introspective lyrics on his past albums, but it's still a strong effort. Overall it's not his best album, but with his production quality as strong as ever (despite all the different album's influences) and really progressing as a musician in a creative sense, I think his next album is going to be beyond killer.

Favorite tracks (no order):
Champion, Good Life, Homecoming, Stronger, I Wonder

8.5/10

Oh and the art direction on the video for Good Life is fantastic, I have to get a hi-res version of that off of iTunes.
Kanye West - Good Life (Feat. T-Pain) (Dirty)

[Dry1313]

Mediocre. My roomate and I got it on Sunday (holla to people who know people) and we listen to it a lot, but it isn't anything super amazing.

[realmofotalk]

Proceeds from Kanye West's album benefit Fiddy Cent's retirement party.

[missionhockey21]

Mediocre. My roomate and I got it on Sunday (holla to people who know people) and we listen to it a lot, but it isn't anything super amazing.

A few of my friends will definitely agree with that. One of the interesting things about the album is that it seems that some of the songs some love, others hate and vice versa.... really polarizing on that front.

I like it a good deal, obviously according to the rating, but like I said I really think this will set up for an awesome album to follow since some of the new elements hit and others missed.... basically growing pains for a changing sound.

And yeah mofo, I don't think it's any question that this will outsell Fiddy.

[browntown653]

It's pretty solid so far, I've listened to about the first 8 tracks or so. Can't Tell Me Nothing has really grown on me after I didn't like it at first. Not a huge "Barry Bonds" fan though. Good listen so far.

[Hammer]

i didnt care for the second album, maybe one or two good tracks, so i was gonna wait on it... but i have no doubts that its 100 times better than curtis. nonetheless, his first album had 5-6 really solid tracks, including two words which is just outright tremendous. ill check it out eventually certainly... the only track ive heard is stronger, kinda meh but i could tolerate it once in a while.

after further review... homecoming is solid, cant tell me nothing is listenable, stronger is alright and mos defs part on drunk and hot girls is awesome but alas its not the full song. everything i am and the glory are tolerable too. truth be told, i think i like the intro more than any track on the album. not sure what that says. none of the beats stood out, his lyrical ability is really meh, and im really not impressed but its still miles better than the 2nd album.

[Kingdom]

I hope he out sells 50 Cent.

[missionhockey21]

Hammer, I also dig the intro Good Morning a lot (Elton John with the assistance ha.)

[ATLien]

Fantastic.

The lyrics are maybe not as strong as the last two albums (especially his debut), but the production on here is top notch stuff. My favourite tracks would have to include I Wonder & Flashing Lights..

[BuckFoston]

Not the worst CD but defiently the not the best. The only song that I actually can listen to more then once is stronger. Barry Bonds is just an awful song and gets on my nerves in the first 10 seconds. Kanye could have done better...50 Cent's new CD is better then this...Some others I would recommend is, Gorilla Zoe, and Boyz-N-Da-Hood.

[perforatededge54]

T-Pain really holds it down on this album