audio review : Blame Game ( song ) … Kanye West ( featuring John Legend )

The most endearing part of this song comes near the end where a semi-funny Chris Rock engages in a dialogue with what is supposed to be Kanye West’s girlfriend. She sounds awkwardly copy-and-pasted, retarded or drugged out of her fucking mind, but it’s cute how she says what she says. Though neither voice should be panned to the left or the right because its supposed to be “Yeezy” listening from his mono phone speaker, the background piano music is as beautiful as the Dark Twisted album title suggests.

Lo-fi drums come and go, but that music, which is at times highlighted by what sounds like a violin, is looped from start to end. That’s a winning move, along with the chorus. The “for sure” part sounds out of place, but it’s a nice chorus, especially when Kanye West replaces John Legend and adds his own melodic touch. If nothing else, that part supports my point that it’s nice vocal melodies, not nice voices, that matter most when it comes to the quality of a song. As far as intimacy goes, John Legend distracts.

There should be an unknown voice as the “local dude” West’s chick cheats on him with instead of Chris Rock. It’s certainly conceivable that a pretty “bitch” who’s leeched onto the dick (heart) of one wealthy celebrity would leech onto the heart (dick) of another, but it’s not supposed to be that way. He’s supposed to be a “neighborhood nigga” who couldn’t afford to buy the watch he wanted. That artistic blunder throws the concept off a bit. Then again, Chris Rock is a professional actor, so I guess it’s okay.

my rating : 4 of 5

2010

audio review : My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy ( album ) ... Kanye West

audio review : Hold My Liquor ( song ) … Kanye West ( featuring Chief Keef + Justin Vernon )

“Calling-up your uncle’s place,” Justin Vernon sings, “Shit’s all over the place”. I guess that part, the song’s melodic highlight, is supposed to be the bridge, but it should be the chorus. The real chorus, sang by an Autotuned Chief Keef, is comparatively lame.

I’m glad he doesn’t rap, but there should be two verses. Kanye West’s one, which reveals a romantic theme undetectable in the “nigga”-ridden hook, makes for a song that’s structurally awkward. Not that the spacey instrumental isn’t a form of drunken tranquility.

my rating : 3 of 5

2013

audio review : Yeezus ( album ) … Kanye West

audio review : Somewhere In America ( song ) … Jay-Z

It’s not the horn loop but the pianos that make the beat special. They carry it along with the ghetto elegance of a Dr Dre production circa 2001. It’s actually produced by Hit-Boy and Mike Dean. The best part is when the drums drop out and are replaced by what sounds like stringed instruments of some kind.

That’s the part rapper Jay-Z, wise enough not to bog the vibe down with one of his lame hooks, has sex doll Miley Cyrus dancing to. “Twerk, Miley,” he commands with a giggle. It’s a random way to end this semi-song and the music seems a bit slow to do that particular dance to, but it’s a cute nod nonetheless.

my rating : 4 of 5

2013

audio review : Magna Carta Holy Grail ( album ) ... Jay-Z