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It's one of my favorite albums of the year, which I suppose I should mention while the critics are writing their year-end lists (which are ridiculous; how can anybody rank Kanye West above or below, say, the last These New Puritans album, for example? - said albums have entirely different emotions they express, although they are expressed well). I wasn't into Kanye West's poo poo before this, though I wondered why I couldn't get into his earlier shite, since I could tell it was nearly material I would usually enjoy - if it wasn't for all of his singers who sing well (I would rather he featured rappers almost entirely, or weird singers, than people with traditionally good singing voices). "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" is weird enough overall that any 'mainstream' vocal parts (especially those on "All of the Lights") can transcend these limitations - because despite the technical highs, never before has any artist so bravely straddled the lines between sounding ridiculous and straight-faced. This is what bands like Muse have loving failed at for years. Kanye West is the Queen of rap. But I don't like Queen at all. EDIT: I don't personally enjoy listening to Queen, but I assume that's what they were going for - occupying a line between the obscenely, overblown bombastic and the sincere. ie. Muse writes overblown songs about fame and politics, and while they sound overblown and exaggerated to caricature to any ear that isn't their own, they mean to say exactly what's expressed at face value, though it doesn't gel because the group lacks the imagination of a true ego-tastic visionary who has tons of crazy ideas he or she will just loving run with. Kanye West has ideas that sharply divide between what seems obviously brilliant and idiotic in the same song - he's like an Ed Wood who could've had the production skills to make "Plan 9 From Outer Space" into an obvious satire instead of a parody. the boy in a well fucked around with this message at 04:12 on Nov 25, 2010 |
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Nov 25, 2010 03:57
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I hope you've listened to Queen tracks aside from the hits, there is some loving amazing stuff that I would wager 80% of the people who say they like Queen never get too.
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Nov 25, 2010 05:16
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What's wrong with "mainstream" talents?
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Nov 25, 2010 05:54
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The Singing Chav posted:I thought everybody was exaggerating about the mastering of this poo poo. Then I listened to it on headphones. Now that I'm actually doing this myself, I'm the opposite--I thought it was going to bother me but it isn't. It actually adds to the out-of-focus, "tape" aesthetic of Monster (which is what the most people are complaining about). btw n-thing the love for Jay-Z's verses on the album
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Nov 25, 2010 08:01
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Such a powerful album, waiting on my physical copy as we speak. All of the Lights has got to be my favourite track though I have to admit the square bass in it really makes it feel like the production's a lot weaker than it is. The album's full of little touches like that which manage to undermine the production quality. All in all I love it though, but I'm not sure how much Nicki Minaj I'll be able to handle in future listenings.
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Nov 25, 2010 09:35
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Just posting in here to say that Kanye has totally redeemed himself for 808's in my eyes(I thought it had some good tracks, but was overall mediocre, not really Kanye-caliber). Not only is this his best album, it's one of the best hip hop records in the last few years. I'm only disappointed that Kid Cudi's new album has been completely overshadowed by it, which is probably appropriate since it's not as good as the first Man on the Moon. Maybe next time, Scott. Also, Monster was the first time I had ever hear Nicki Minaj, and now I have to check out her album. I hope I'm not too disappointed with it.
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Nov 26, 2010 12:33
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Pink Friday is not very good, to be honest. Monster was my first time with Minaj, as well, and nothing within the first five tracks comes close -- I tapped out at that point.
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Nov 26, 2010 16:15
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Pitchfork actually did a really good job summing up and expressing my feelings for Pink Friday. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14898-pink-friday/ Also, College Dropout it still my favorite Kanye Album and I don't see that ever changing to be honest.
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Nov 26, 2010 18:23
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This is my new favorite album, I really can't describe it. Although it was tough to get through the first time but when it was over I just hit play again. If rap and post-rock had a baby album this would be it.
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Nov 27, 2010 05:05
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40 lbs to freedom posted:Pitchfork actually did a really good job summing up and expressing my feelings for Pink Friday. http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/14898-pink-friday/ Jesus. Is there actually a track called "Dear Old Nicki?" That's just depressing. 
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Nov 27, 2010 17:58
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she raps about how she sold out and tries to rationalize it. its pretty awful.
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Nov 28, 2010 02:08
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A Butt Fiesta posted:All in all I love it though, but I'm not sure how much Nicki Minaj I'll be able to handle in future listenings. What do you mean, her verse is one of the best things and it goes perfectly with the music. 40 lbs to freedom posted:Also, College Dropout it still my favorite Kanye Album and I don't see that ever changing to be honest. I feel this, too. Also, "Never Let me Down" probably won't be surpassed, but then again it might be impossible for anyone to do so. Mystic Stylez fucked around with this message at 03:10 on Nov 28, 2010 |
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Nov 28, 2010 02:32
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The Modern Leper posted:Pink Friday is not very good, to be honest. Monster was my first time with Minaj, as well, and nothing within the first five tracks comes close -- I tapped out at that point. I haven't had a chance to get through the entirety of Pink Friday yet, so my opinions are pretty much moot, i guess. But the first few tracks weren't as bad as I thought they would be. Admittedly, I didn't have very high hopes at all for it in the slightest. So I guess, if you're going to listen to it, come in with low expectations. It's kind of nice having a mainstream female rapper doing well though. In my mind, she probably had the most memorable (if not the "best") verse on MBDTF.
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Nov 28, 2010 04:07
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cymbalrush posted:I haven't had a chance to get through the entirety of Pink Friday yet, so my opinions are pretty much moot, i guess. But the first few tracks weren't as bad as I thought they would be. Admittedly, I didn't have very high hopes at all for it in the slightest. The complaints about the album are more or less about songs in the middle, probably most significantly the ones that are pretty much R&B tracks. The first few tracks and the bonus ones are probably the most solid material on the album. However, for the sake of not derailing this thing, I'll just leave this here.
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Nov 28, 2010 04:22
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Jam2 posted:when and where Found it in the Nicki Minaj thread http://www.djsemtex.com/blog/2010/10/07/kanye-west-runaway-album-launch/
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Nov 28, 2010 05:22
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Uh, so i like "all of the lights," but gently caress who needs kid cudi's whinging over jukebox piano and fergie's bullshit verse eating up 2 minutes of the song? so really i only like most of "all of the lights." this is a microcosm of the whole album. dude can write music but i actually don't want to listen to all his bros hit the mic.
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Nov 29, 2010 01:23
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SHINEBLOCKA posted:Uh, so i like "all of the lights," but gently caress who needs kid cudi's whinging over jukebox piano and fergie's bullshit verse eating up 2 minutes of the song? so really i only like most of "all of the lights." this is a microcosm of the whole album. dude can write music but i actually don't want to listen to all his bros hit the mic. Fergie really ruins the song for me. It's like Kanye tried and failed to get MIA, then tried Santogold, then finally said gently caress it and scraped the bottom of the barrel by asking Fergie to do an imitation of what she thought MIA sounded like. Goddamn, those lyrics are terrible to boot. John Legend's lyrics on "Blame Game" is really something terrible too. Sucks because I actually think his voice adds to the song.
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Nov 29, 2010 10:41
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Brett824 posted:Rome got Gidget is a reference to Gidget Goes To Rome, the other got Bridget is a reference to Bridget Jones. Rome and London are sister cities, and going from Rome to London is a 'trip'. Bridget and Gidget in the context of the song are both "sisters" (culturally (they're black)) and sisters, biologically. You are reading too much into these lyrics.
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Nov 29, 2010 11:37
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Here is a review of Pink Friday: http://rapreviews.com/feature.html
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Nov 29, 2010 11:49
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U2 are touring Australia with Jay-Z as the support act, I'm going on wednesday. The news has reported Beyonce travelling with him of course And KANYE flew into Melbourne today ahead of wednesday's show If Monster or So Appalled or gently caress anything gets played by both I think I'll die
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Nov 29, 2010 16:16
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For those interested in the vinyl release, Amazon has it on pre-order for almost $10 below Insound (it looks like Insound is selling it flat retail, with no markup). Just put in my order, with free 2-day shipping (I got a free trial of Prime with a .edu email address). \/\/\/Dammit, totally remember reading that. Someone even posted tragically funny (hilariously tragic?) photos. Call it informed risk: $10 plus free shipping is a pretty great incentive, since I've never had a problem with Amazon shipments in the past. Maybe they know what they're doing. The Modern Leper fucked around with this message at 21:48 on Nov 29, 2010 |
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Nov 29, 2010 21:12
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Just be warned that Amazon packaging for vinyl is awful, big cardboard box with some loving air packing pillow bags. (At least in my & some other goon's experience)
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Nov 29, 2010 21:43
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http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/11/the_ten_best_qu.php I love this quote: "People are not going to agree with everything I do. I look back and look at stuff I do and don't agree with it. Man, if I made a dis record of myself, I would kill me. I would be extremely good at it."
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Nov 30, 2010 00:29
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BrTEHUQAsM I might be late on this one, but this song is kinda fire in a corny white boy way.
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Nov 30, 2010 01:20
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I keep listening and listening to this despite my issue with the lyrics and content. It's really that good.
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Nov 30, 2010 04:02
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SafetyDancer posted:Fergie really ruins the song for me. It's like Kanye tried and failed to get MIA, then tried Santogold, then finally said gently caress it and scraped the bottom of the barrel by asking Fergie to do an imitation of what she thought MIA sounded like. Goddamn, those lyrics are terrible to boot. Wait are you telling me that is NOT MIA?
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Nov 30, 2010 04:40
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SafetyDancer posted:Fergie really ruins the song for me. It's like Kanye tried and failed to get MIA, then tried Santogold, then finally said gently caress it and scraped the bottom of the barrel by asking Fergie to do an imitation of what she thought MIA sounded like. Goddamn, those lyrics are terrible to boot. the lyrics are conveying the exact message of the song in one of the simplest and most precise ways i dont really see why you are so disgusted with it other than the fact that its fergie performing it. i hate the black eyed peas as much as the next guy but what im trying to say basically is simmer down friend.
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Nov 30, 2010 04:47
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Final Fart Buttball posted:http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2010/11/the_ten_best_qu.php
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Nov 30, 2010 04:58
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Brett824 posted:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BrTEHUQAsM Mr Hudson is pretty awesome. His album was really good, although he got called a sell out for it.
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Nov 30, 2010 14:38
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40 lbs to freedom posted:the lyrics are conveying the exact message of the song in one of the simplest and most precise ways i dont really see why you are so disgusted with it other than the fact that its fergie performing it. i hate the black eyed peas as much as the next guy but what im trying to say basically is simmer down friend. uh the lyrics are like 4 bars of boilerplate delivered in a fake english accent. it's lame because this is supposed to be kanye's beautiful dark twisted fantasy that he labored years over and curated impeccably and the world is paying homage to him but if I had that kind of POWER I'd pretty much make sure Fergie stayed as far away from the studio as possible. Same thing for Cudi. Self-editing is an (maybe the most) important creative skill.
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Nov 30, 2010 15:48
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40 lbs to freedom posted:the lyrics are conveying the exact message of the song in one of the simplest and most precise ways i dont really see why you are so disgusted with it other than the fact that its fergie performing it. i hate the black eyed peas as much as the next guy but what im trying to say basically is simmer down friend. lol it sounded like I was spergin out over it. Maybe ruining the song is an exaggeration, as I still listen to it, but Fergie is really out of place in the song. I'm not saying that Kanye is some lyrical genius, but her lines are really uninspired.
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Nov 30, 2010 21:12
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SHINEBLOCKA posted:uh the lyrics are like 4 bars of boilerplate delivered in a fake english accent. it's lame because this is supposed to be kanye's beautiful dark twisted fantasy that he labored years over and curated impeccably and the world is paying homage to him but if I had that kind of POWER I'd pretty much make sure Fergie stayed as far away from the studio as possible. Same thing for Cudi. Self-editing is an (maybe the most) important creative skill. i dont think you "get" all of the lights man i'm sorry. also if you don't think kanye man handled fergie to the point of writing everything for her and making her sound exactly like he wanted then well i dont really know what to say
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Nov 30, 2010 21:41
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Apparently it sold around 518k in the first week. Which pretty impressive, considering the lack of both promotion and a strong radio single. edit: 495,800 TITY BOI fucked around with this message at 15:42 on Dec 1, 2010 |
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Nov 30, 2010 23:28
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Yeah why hasn't ehere been a video for this cd released yet? And no I do not count Power because it's 30 seconds long. It's a glorified perfume as at best.
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Dec 1, 2010 00:00
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Dead Snoopy posted:Yeah why hasn't ehere been a video for this cd released yet? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg5wkZ-dJXA Listening to So Appalled, I love it but the track could've been so much better if RZA had actually dropped a verse.
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Dec 1, 2010 00:36
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Finally got a chance to get the CD and do a full playthrough. Lost in the World is simply amazing. I had never really given Kanye a chance mainly because I was turned off by his douchebaggery, but this album made me realize how much of a genius he is and how his public image is really fitting considering he has the talent to warrant it.
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Dec 1, 2010 00:45
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40 lbs to freedom posted:i dont think you "get" all of the lights man i'm sorry. right, i do think he did that. i also think it sounds bad. therefore... the only reason i point this out is that i think it's a great album but not "perfection" the way it's been so often received. "lost in the world" and "POWER" are a couple of songs that actually get there, IMO SHINEBLOCKA fucked around with this message at 01:10 on Dec 1, 2010 |
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Dec 1, 2010 01:06
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For those interested in the Nicki Minaj aspect of this whole process, there's a fairly decent article on theawl about Pink Friday: http://www.theawl.com/2010/11/selling-herself-short-the-miscontexualization-of-nicki-minaj It's sort of apologetic, but it seems to present Nicki Minaj as a martyr for the cause of female rappers. The author discusses female rappers who have quit (or never started) because they were pressured to compromise their vision, and then talks about how, by basically compromising her vision after raising expectations, Nicki Minaj has changed the game, because generally female rappers have never had high expectations to start with. Female rappers are starting to create diss tracks against her, and so she's effectively creating a space for female rappers to interact, battle, and grow the way the boys do.
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Dec 1, 2010 01:25
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Bruce Boxliker posted:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg5wkZ-dJXA Thank you for this. Easily the most pretentious poo poo I have ever seen. And I sat through Under The Cherry Moon. Twice. I may never take Kanye West seriously again.
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Dec 1, 2010 02:45
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I'm not sure exactly why but the line about putting a pussy in a sarcophagus is the funniest thing I've ever heard in a song. Album is great.
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Dec 1, 2010 02:45
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