audio review : Moon ( song ) … Kid Cudi ( featuring Don Toliver + Kanye West )

This, a sky-gazer’s hymn, is the best cut from Kanye West’s Donda album, but it would’ve been even better than it is if it had a more appropriate song structure. It barely qualifies as a song. There should be not one but two Kid Cudi verses with a Kanye West chorus break in-between.

That chorus, which has West conjuring the melodic chops he showcased on the demo/SNL version of Teyana Taylor’s We Got Love, doesn’t come till near the end. It’s a five-star bit though as he outsings both Cudi, who should also be praised for his wailing ad-libs, and Don Toliver.

my rating : 4 of 5

2021

audio review : Donda ( album ) ... Kanye West

audio review : Donda ( album ) … Kanye West

audio review : Donda ( album ) ... Kanye West

The Chant prelude sounds stupid; Kanye West should’ve replaced the whole Donda concept with something else because it’s too specific for an album that only mentions his mother in spurts; but it gets better from there. Remember when he said he was going to follow Graduation with A Good Ass Job? Perhaps that should’ve been the title here.

Donda is surprisingly good; not so good that it’s surprising but surprising that it’s good after a multi-album slump. It’s easily his best since My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy thanks mostly to a bunch of songs with gorgeous beats; the best thing about gospel music is the sound of the organ; and catchy choruses. West is also a good rapper.

Some listeners will complain about the set being too long and it is. It might near greatness if it were limited to its best twelve songs. Hurricane, Jail, Moon, No Child Left Behind, Pure Souls and Jesus Lord would all have to be included. No Junya and no unnecessary Part 2 bonus remixes at the end. It would also need a proper album cover.

my rating : 4 of 5

2021

audio review : We Got Love ( song ) … Teyana Taylor

What’s missing on the official version of this song is Kanye West’s melodic ad-libs from the demo. It didn’t really make sense for him to back only Teyana Taylor’s first verse; the second verse would’ve been better; but instead of being moved, he’s cut from the song entirely.

Still the best parts aren’t Teyana Taylor’s. That little scream she does after “Home is where the heart is” sounds mildly annoying. It’s the music she’s rapping to I like the most. What I Love is the ending where Lauryn Hill does a bombastic monologue over gorgeous synth chords.

my rating : 4 of 5

2019