- PREMIERE: Eloah Jones – “Under the Bridge” - November 18, 2021
- PREMIERE: Highbeams – “Campfires” - November 10, 2021
- Tali Azerad Shines on New Album - November 5, 2021
Oh Yeezus, Kanye’s back. If you couldn’t tell by the album title or the song title “I Am A God,” it’s the same egomaniac back to take over hip-hop. *Although, the fact that he included (feat. God) into that song title is actually really funny.
Pitchfork loved this album because of the relative inaccessibility. Some of their favorite words are “discomfort” and “restlessness.” Many other outlets loved this album simply because it was an album by Kanye West and at this point it’s way out of bounds to question anything he puts out. Those same outlets would probably criticize this review because it’s relatively brief (they all wrote novels on the album). They’d challenge me for not studying it for days and letting the brilliance of his arrangements and lyrics sink in.
Sorry, but part of what makes Kanye great is his ability to craft his message around something incredibly fun to listen to. This album just feels like a lecture. It’s obvious that it was a major point of emphasis of his to make this album less about grand music and sing-a-long choruses and more about toning the music down and getting his point across.
Okay then, let’s get to his “point.” He does present relevant social commentary at times, and he does offer some thought-provoking lyrics. Then again, there’s a lot of the usual lazy bullshit about “Stick my dick in her mouth,” and “Eating Asian pussy, all I need was sweet and sour sauce.” That’s fine I guess (if you’re 16 years old), but at a certain point, if you are one of the predominant voices in a genre, one of the biggest names in music, we should hold you to a higher standard. Whether you want to be or not, you’re now a role model for thousands of kids, including young girls. Rapping about the same old egotistical misogynistic garbage we hear 24/7 will only perpetuate the next few years of imitators and admirers. We get it…you like power and you like ‘bitches.’
Some would argue I have to look at the bigger picture of what he is trying to say and the perspectives from which he is writing. At some point though, overanalyzing music will make you see and hear whatever message you want. You can play with lyrics and verses here and mold them into some grand scheme. Or, you can take it for what it is, realize who is writing these words, and let the music affect you objectively.
Sonically, the album is admittedly pretty cool. Some of the production choices, effects and beats Kanye experiments with sound great. Yeezus is starkly different than preceding Kanye albums, which is admirable. It’s a hell of a lot more admirable than many artists and bands that try to recreate success and not stray too far from a sound that made them popular. He could have easily written an album that appeased the masses, yet he decided to continue to progress and change things up.
There are several moments here where you stop and realize what makes Kanye unique. The track “Blood on the Leaves” showcases his special knack for a highly skilled level of songwriting. “I’m In It,” and the closer “Bound 2” (my personal favorite) get your attention and beg for repeated listens. Unfortunately, once the album is done, it leaves you with a tangible “what if?” feeling. 10 songs, exactly 40 minutes. You get the feeling Kanye had a precisely packaged message and was striving to turn heads and open eyes without the use of hooks and catchy choruses. Did he accomplish this? The vast majority of reviews say yes. I say no. But hey, maybe I’m too distracted with the subtle references to “naked titties,” “eye-fucking,” or the 29 times he references “bitches” or “pussy.”
*When I review an album, I don’t use numbers, ratings, scores, stars, thumbs, etc. I feel like music is a fluid experience where opinions and feelings may change over time. I think ratings are a bit arbitrary, and to reduce complex feelings into a single score or value doesn’t do the overall assessment justice. All I really want to get across is “What does it sound like,” “Where does succeed/fail,” and “Do I recommend it?” Meat and potatoes, no flowery adjectives and groundbreaking metaphors. Meat and potatoes…mmmm…delicious!
