WAKE UP MR. MARTYN!
YOU ARE BREAKING MY HEART WITH THAT REVIEW!
First of all, 808’s is a quantum leap from his previous mainstream release, 2007’s Graduation.
Bursting with raw emotion and juxtaposed against a cold, electronic backdrop – Kanye delivers his most audacious, most mature effort to date. Be aware – this is not a rap album! This is Mr. West’s version of pop music. His Thriller, if you will. And while I can’t say that every single track is successful, the overall concept is nothing short of brilliant.
As most of you know, it was an emotionally distressful year for Kanye West, marked by the end of a seven year relationship with his girlfriend and the passing of his mother – not to mention a relentless international touring schedule and several run-ins with paparazzi and police.
West translates his tragedy into a musical journey – opening with the deathbed denial of Say You Will, a hazy recollection of missed opportunities despite a love gone down in flames. Anger and resentment begin to surface with Welcome To Heartbreak and Heartless, where misguided rage and finger-pointing come easy for an egocentric superstar. Emotional walls surround West in Amazing and Love Lockdown’s methodical timpani evokes somber introspection. The playful Robocop deals with mutual mistrust in the final stages of a turbulent relationship. The storm clouds lift momentarily with the bouncy Paranoid – followed up by the measured tread of Street Lights, where West searches desperately for hope and enlightenment in the aftermath of painful reflection.
Street lights glowing/ Happen to be just like moments passing in front of me/
So I hopped in a cab and I paid my fare/ See I know my destination but I’m just not there
Bittersweet acceptance comes in the form of Coldest Winter, where he bids a final farewell to his mother, but questions whether he will ever truly love again. For a finale, West confronts himself – a long, hard look in the mirror with Pinocchio Story, which crescendos with West ultimately breaking down during a live performance. To the album’s credit, the production has minimal dependence on samples and cameos – the current mainstay of hip-hop. West’s confession is intimacy incarnate – just the Roland TR-808 and emotional scars laid bare.
808’s is also an important lesson in creative development. You have to respect an artist who steps out of their comfort zone and into the hostile territory of “something new” – a precarious road that mainstream musicians (especially R&B/Hip-Hop artists) are reluctant (and sometimes fearful) to explore. To paraphrase Kanye: “Music used to be about being fearless and standing out, now it’s only about being afraid and fitting in.”
I implore people to look beyond the ‘auto-tune’ criticisms (and the lack of actual rapping) so as to allow yourself to experience this masterpiece on your own terms. Note: This is a personal album – so at least for the initial listening, treat it as so – solitude, headphones, candles and most importantly – an open mind. As Bruce Lee once posited, “Don’t think. FEEL. It is like a finger pointing away to the moon. Do not concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.”
Agent Zero signing off.
