Kanye West ~ Yeezus

Oh boy. Where to start with this one... Even before Kanye's head was plastered on a building, scaring children, and sparking debates all over the internet, Yeezus was spurring gigantic controversy. If you are still one of the hopefuls expecting a pre-808s style album, you will be sorely disappointed. The Kanye West you once knew is long gone, he is no longer a rapper, and you should not expect that he is going to rap. He has been replaced by Kanye Kardashian, and it is up to you to decide whether this is a good or bad thing.

Right from the start of the album your ears will be engulfed by some of the strongest production that has ever been featured in a Kanye album. Invoking a powerful feeling, the album immerses listeners in superb sampling, progressions, and aggressive, dark inspirations from the Trap music scene. The last minute of ‘New Slaves’ is the pinnacle in this regard, showing how far Kanye has come as a producer. The whole album has been polished to a gleaming shine, with major standouts being ‘Black Skinheads’, ‘New Slaves’, and ‘Blood on the Leaves’.

However, Yeezus does come with a price. Most of it drawing from Kanye's bloated ego and tendencies to complain about things he has done to himself; like becoming famous and a hip hop icon. The lyrical content is not what you would call....well....good. The vast majority of the album is Kanye bitching about how tired he is of being famous, and how hard it is, how the fashion industry did not take him in with open arms, and how he never wanted all the pressure of being famous This is not an album to listen to if you are looking at it for the lyrical content, you will be greatly disappointed.

If you do not mind the direction Kanye has been taking for the past few years, this album may be what you need for a nice summer soundtrack. However, if you are still waiting for the Kanye of ‘College Dropout’ days to poke his head out of the crowd, pass this album up. He has been covered with a sheet, brutally beaten with a bat, and is posing as Jay-Zs new bean bag chair.



Side note: Stop tweeting "I'd rather be a dick than a swallower" please. That shit has been played out since Kanye wrote it down. 

Jon Hopkins ~ Immunity

Well, here we are. After almost two years of inactivity I have decided that this blog needs a new injection of life. Most of the members have moved on by this point, or have not really cared from the start (guilty). But, with that said; I will do my part in trying to start the spark once more.


So, without further adieu.

I have no previous history with Jon Hopkins, but after being linked to this whole album one night I have been fully captivated. It draws you in with a blend of electronic glitch, sharp tones, and upbeat percussion that you cannot shy away from, slowly winding down into an ambiance to cushion your stay. What Jon Hopkins does so well is not from anything that I would say shakes the industry with fresh new ideas; but refines a genre so well that you cannot help but look at it in awe. Calling up cues from fellow artists like Nosaj Thing, Nathan Fake and Boards of Canada. Yet keeping it all his own with piano rolls, electronic stabs and powerful natural sounds. With all the landmark albums releasing early this year, this is not one you should toss to the side for later.

 You can listen to the full album here