Album Review: "808s and Heartbreak" by Kanye West

808s and Heartbreak can be seen in two ways.

For some, it is Kanye's magnum opus. It is the album that proves that all of the self-imposed hype is true; he is a musical genius.

For others, it is Kanye's declaration of insanity. This is the album that proves that all of that self-imposed hype has gotten to his head, causing it to explode, leaking epic amounts of failure.

Here's how I see this album; if it wasn't a quarter-stroke of genius, I would've believed Kanye has lost his goddamn mind.

Hearing the album for the first time would make you think the second of the previous two statements. That's because its a cold, calculated piece of work, production-wise. The electro beats and the terrible overuse of Auto-Tune/Vocoder gives off this chilly aura, as if Kanye deliberately wants us not to connect to the music. Unlike his previous works, there is little warmth or fun on this album. The sound is harsh, as clearly evidenced on the distorted "Street Lights" and the foggy "Welcome to Heartbreak". The two tracks that carry some kind of energy, "Robocop" and Paranoid", still have the sharp, unconventional sounds throughout. Quite frankly, its a bit of a turn-off.

After a second listen, however, the lyrics are taken in and you kind of understand the point of this record. Apply Kanye's tough year filled with death and broken engagement, everything clears up. Many of the songs are clearly about his troubled times, and they are his most personal and emotional to date. Lyrics like "when I grab your neck, I touch your soul" from "Say You Will" are jarring, but effective. Obviously, he has put the ego aside while writing this album, letting people see the Kanye without the gloss.

Still, the vulnerability that Kanye shows is contrasted by the production. While the lyrics show his passionate anger and sorrow, the heavy beats, buzzing synths, and the Auto-Tuning sound empty and emotionless. Yet, the battling sides don't cancel each other out. Somehow, Kanye has smartly applied one of the basic rules of interaction: "opposites attract".

The only downside is Kanye's voice. It's clear why he chose to mostly sing on this album (sometimes, rapping doesn't quite cut emotionally). It's also clear why he decided to Auto-Tune and Vocode his voice within an inch of its life (1. he can't sing well, 2. the robotic voice counters the powerful lyrics well). What's really unfortunate is that his voice is really, really not suited for singing. In fact, his voice may be a hindrace to the impatient listener; its the biggest detractor from many of the songs that really need a second chance to take. Although the effort is appreciated, Kanye should probably find another way to convey the complexity of his emotions.

Since the album is mostly about him, the guest appearance are smartly scarce. Lil' Wayne's inclusion on "Welcome to My Knightmares" is great and lends to the song. Young Jeezy's appearance on "Amazing" (while obviously a return on Kanye's appearance on his hit "Put On") is also purposeful. On his most personal album to date, Kanye was surely not going to let anyone overshadow him.

Kanye's album is a triumph for many reasons. For one, it proves that he can pretty much get away with anything (let's call a spade a spade here; this is a pop album). Despite the danger of alienating his fanbase, he is willing to take outrageous risks to prove his points. While pompous, its also admirable.

More importantly, though, 808s and Heartbreak is a creative, enigmatic gem. Kanye juxtaposed affecting lyrics with distant, barren production, and created a powerful collection of music. While it's not one of his most understandable efforts, its probably his most important.

So yes, its a bit psychotic, but the brilliance overweighs it completely.

9/10