A real heartbreaking album (808's And Heartbreak - Kanye West)

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	808's And Heartbreak - Kanye West
Date:	03/12/08 (373 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A new direction for Kanye

Disadvantages: I liked the old direction!

I came to Kanye West quite late - about 12 months ago. I picked up his albums and immediately fell in love. I'm a lover of rap and Hip-Hop, and Kanye became my number one. His word-play was amazing: filled with double meanings and internal rhymes, I just loved it. Musically, his tracks all had a strong sense of energy too, and a positive vibe. Whereas 50 Cent and Eminem had very pessimistic vibes, Kanye was much more positive, with horns blaring.

With all that in mind, last week I got hold of 808s, and was very excited - until I started playing it! Most of the album features Kanye SINGING! Track after track is devoid of his trademark fast and clever lyrics, and filled with his own melodic singing. Gone is the fast paced rap and blaring horns, and in their place are Kanye singing the melody on track after track. Many of the tracks are also pretty slow in tempo - it's a real turnaround from previous material.

The current chart single off the album is 'Love Lockdown', which many people may know. It's a good example of the style of the whole album - Kanye sings, the tempo is low, and there is NO rap!

There are a couple of tracks I like, but I just feel Kanye has got hung up in the musicality of his tracks, and the lyrics have taken a back-seat. This album is much more electro than his previous, and uses an auto-tune device way too much!

Of course, it's good for artists to evolve, but hardcore Kanye fans will likely be unfulfilled.

The album contains 12 tracks, one or two are half decent and the rest are a waste of time! 'Welcome to Heartbreak' is a decent rap tune with some clever lyrics, and a strong tune, but that's about it.

Summary: Do not buy it!