Album Rating: 3.5

There are some seriously MBDTF-sounding moments on this album, like the end of Guilt Trip with Kid Cudi.



I don't know why exactly, but the sample of "He'll Give Us What We Really Need" in On Sight is one of my favorite moments in the entire album. The way it spans both channels and then the noise erupts right afterwards in the center.

fergie pissed all over aotl yeah

guests on this are aight but it's all about yeez for me

the sample of "He'll Give Us What We Really Need" in On Sight is one of my favorite moments in the entire album. The way it spans both channels and then the noise erupts right afterwards in the center.

Album Rating: 4.5

Can we all just stop a moment and talk about how amazing the horns on Blood on the Leaves are?

Album Rating: 4.7

Wasn't that just HudMo and not Lunice though? I may be remembering incorrectly

Album Rating: 4.0

^ knew it sounded familiar. wasn't sure if it was a sample or just a coincidence

Album Rating: 4.7

Sweet, thanks for the link

Album Rating: 4.5

Ok, so let's start with the good bits first, and I'll be as honest as I can be because that's probably why you dialed me AND whatever little help I can give assists in building this beautiful site as a whole. So, ok, my thoughts are that this is a good review. Not terribly fantastic, but in so far as tackling an album on the scale of Yeezus a lot more could have gone wrong. I really like this bit of analysis right here: While this is true in theory, it misses the reason why Yeezus is one of the best albums of the year: the ugly juxtaposition of Kanye West the rapper and Kanye West the producer explores the mind of a genius spinning out of control. It's appropriate that Yeezus finds influence from industrial, because much like Trent Reznor's famous chronicle on The Downward Spiral, West is breaking new ground to tell his story about the beginning of a collapse (whether it be his own or that of another character he's creating). I think it very quickly captures what the album sounds like and, more importantly (due to the timing of the posting of this review), why it has been SO polarizing.



Also, this gem right here - As a producer, though, Kanye is terrified - really could have been expanded upon, but let's just leave it at that because I feel like there's some much bigger issues at play here. I'll start with the smaller niggles:



a.) Looking back now that the dust has settled a bit, Kanye West's interview with The New York Times set the stage perfectly for Yeezus.



You don't need "Looking back"; just starting off with "now that the dust has settled a bit..." would have been perfectly fine.



b.) West as a producer understands the monster West as a rapper cannot comprehend



Probably better worded as "West the producer understands the monster that West the rapper cannot comprehend".



c.) You alternate between "Kanye" and "West" way too much - often in the same sentence (like West's focus on self and lack of perspective angered many, and the popularity of the interview and analysis thereof (see Vulture's "The Sixteen Most Amazing/Ridiculous Things Kanye Said in His New York Times Interview") was indicative of the polarizing nature of Kanye's personality.). Either you permanently assume that degree of familiarity, or you don't at all. Pick one, you can't have both. This is the same reason why the actor Sean Bean's name should really either be "Sean Bean" or "Shawn Bawn". Pick a side.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I feel like there's some much bigger issues at play here. I'll start with the smaller niggles

Shame Kanye can't write lyrics to save his life. And some of the most ridiculous lines are the hookiest.

Album Rating: 4.5

(continued)



There are many more little things like those three I just posted but I think the message is sufficiently conveyed there. Elsewhere, I want to mention two more things:



a.) The intro is really cluttered. Like, really cluttered. I'm not sure how it's context adds to the review (and a lot of it is just stating the obvious i.e Kanye is polarizing - we all knew that already pretty much) and on the scale of 1-5 where 1 is just stating public knowledge and 5 is solid observational evidence that instantly revokes the idea of polytheism, lines like "The cynical among us may have assumed the interview was nothing more than a publicity stunt, meant to sell copies of West's then-upcoming album and create hype where there was (apparently) not enough before" is a mere 1.5. I understand that brilliant statements of fact don't just appear out of thin air, but if you've got one sentence to make a point, might as well make sure it's a damned good one, no? =)



b.) I'm quite - ok no, very - uncomfortable that you referenced Pitchfork's review twice. For starters, you used them in very pivotal moments - as the explicit example to prove your point OR (and this is the worst part) as verification of your ideas, which immediately puts their opinion above yours in the Hierarchy of Importance. Also, it doesn't help that their observations are actually super-astute. Don't get me wrong, I'm well aware that those guys are paid to do what they do (and are extremely good at it), but I think this site (and all writers in general) would do very well to assert themselves a bit more. The impression that I mostly get from reading this review is that I'd be better served stopping right this instant and just head over to P4k. So yeah.



=S?



Man I hope I haven't burnt a bridge here. =(? For what it's worth though, I really like what I'm seeing so far, which is probably why I'm stating all that I can; I think one of the things the Staff don't do nearly enough of is to polish our wonderful lineup of Contribs, which is a shame because you guys are essentially Staff on training wheels. You can definitely write mate, and given a push in the right direction I'd like to think that you can make a good impact on the site one day - bigger than what the current batch is managing thus far. Cheers.



=)

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

damn that's an essay review of an album review.

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

http://oi41.tinypic.com/1zzhrbc.jpg

Album Rating: 4.7

Thanks a ton for your input Irving! No, you didn't burn any bridges haha - I've done way worse to some reviews. I totally agree with most of your feedback, and that's one of the reasons I asked you to give me your no-holds-barred thoughts. I'm a good writer, I know that, but I have a ways to go before I can be staff (if I ever make it that far) - it's such that I'll probably not apply next round of promotions unless that next round doesn't happen for another year and a half or so. In comments for a previous review, Dev pointed out that my reviews are often pretty formulaic - intro, what I liked, what I didn't like, conclusion - and this is part of my first step at breaking away from that mold. I still don't really have a good idea how to write a great, breathtaking intro - I'm working on it, but it helps that most of my writing is still produced and looked at on a high-school level (gonna be a senior next school year) and I've never really learned how to write at a higher point.



The bit about P4K is good. I thought it may have been a good idea to point out what other people think (Downer's Iceage review where he calls out Ian Cohen is one of the absolute best pieces on the site IMO) but I can see what you're saying when you say that it kind of invalidates my own opinion. After all, the review is about me, not Ryan Donohue (or whoever the hell wrote that piece).



Anyways, thanks a ton again. I really hope I can beg you to do that next time I feel proud (or not proud) of a piece, it's really helpful to get a second (or in your case third) set of eyes on the review, and while Jacob's helped me a TON it's always good to get different perspectives.

Album Rating: 4.7

and @cyg looking at that bingo board (which is fantastic btw) I'm surprised I only tick off one box (I

think, unless this is "too long") aka the Pitchfork mention

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Brostep, it's a thread bingo board, not just a review one.



Agreed with 4th but might read this sometime.

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

Hold My Liquor, Blood On The Leaves and Guilt Trip are the three best songs in this, in my opinion.

Amazing album.

Album Rating: 3.5

wag album

Album Rating: 4.7

what a quality bump

Album Rating: 3.5

you need to learn to differentiate between a bump and a bmup



this was clearly a bmup