Album Review: Kanye West - Yeezus

Yeezus feels like a continuation of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy mixed with 808s and Heartbreaks.

Upon hearing Yeezus, it is not such a surprise that fellow label mate J. Cole decided to release his new album Born Sinner on the same day as Kanye. Yeezus does not have a radio single, does not have any music videos (yet), does not have any artwork and has had little promotion. It is of course a Kanye West album so interest in the project has been high (online at least). This has in turn meant that artists releasing albums the same day as Kanye have been asked questions about their confidence that their albums will not suffer from sales as a result of sharing the same release day. I call that cross promotion, because if you didn't already know Kanye was releasing an album the same day as J. Cole or Mac Miller, you soon would having watched or listened to any of their recent interviews. Do not believe that the album hadn't been promoted as Kanye's previous "June 18" tweet, the 'please add graffiti' poster , Kanye's Saturday Night Live appearance and interview with the NY Times all amount to promotion. What Yeezus has not had is a traditional promotional campaign.

"How much do I not give a fuck?

Let me show you right now before you give it up" - Kanye West on “On Site”

Yeezus opens with "On Site" and much like the album it has a different sound than we are used to hearing from Kanye. The album has an electronic Dance influence and prior and to Yeezus Kanye’s biggest Dance track was “Stronger”, a song that sampled Daft Punk. It is by no coincidence then that Daft Punk worked on two songs on this album. Furthermore there’s an "I need you right now" lyric borrowed from "Stronger" on the song. Although it wouldn't seem like it after the initial play, "On Site" is one of the songs that will stay with you after you've played the album.

"soon as I pull up and park the Benz

we get this bitch shaking like Parkinsons" - Kanye West on “On Site”

"The only thing that has changed with this album is Kanye's style. He is still ultimately delivering content with similar themes and expressions as he has done previously, see the quote above for example. There is however alot of screaming on the album, something new for Kanye.

"I am a God, Even though I'm a man of God" - Kanye on “I Am A God”

M.I.A. - Bring The Noize

MIA's back and she's bringing the noise! Thank God. "Bring The Noize" is available to download now on iTunes.

Previously: Music Video of The Year 2012

Album Review: J. Cole - Born Sinner

While the production is good, there are far too many average songs

J. Cole moved the release date for his second album Born Sinner forward to coincide with the release of Kanye West’s new album Yeezus. A bold thing to do considering the power of Kanye, he beat 50 Cent in sales when the two released albums on the same day in 2007. In the end Kanye managed to achieve the “largest sales total in more than two years” according to Billboard! Good luck J. Cole.

Lyrically the album opener “Villuminati” is poor; it lacks a topic but what it does have is brilliant production and a well used Biggie sample. Cole touches on illuminati rumours late in the song, much like when most rappers discuss the subject it sounds forced (see Rick Ross on "Free Mason"). “Villuminati” is nothing more than an intro song and being that it is a good way to start proceedings.

The following Kerney Sermon skit sounds real, it feels like an ad you'd hear or see on a religious based tv or radio station. But it’s quite random and the album wouldn't be any better or worse if it was not on it.

J. Cole samples OutKast’s “Da Art of Storytellin' (Part 1)” on “LAnd Of The Snakes”. Ultimately though Cole’s song isn't as good as Andre 3000 and Big Boi’s was, having not heard the original though it is likely that one would favour this song more. The beat switch towards the end of the song is brilliant though, if only it lasted for more of the song.

"Ass stupid, how you get to college?" - J. Cole on "Power Trip"

Cole mentioned that the early version of “Power Trip” featured his drunk vocals on the chorus, that would be interesting to hear. J. Cole and Miguel do however work well and bring the song together and ultimately the song serves its purpose of being a radio single well.

The interludes/ skits on the album are annoying and Born Sinner would be better if it didn't have them on it. “Mo Money” is a key case in point; it features an underground sounding beat and with the next song it's like the statement being made is more money more problems. But this is a long way of making a statement that was made in a far more entertaining way by Biggie and Diddy. The following song, “Trouble” is another instance where the production overshadows the vocals/ lyrics. As a song it is nothing more than average, when it comes to recalling the best songs on Born Sinner this will not be one the songs mentioned.

"In this life ain't no happy endings,

only pure beginnings - J. Cole on "Runaway"

Cole uses another old school/ gritty sounding beat on “Runaway” but the vocals once again blend in to the backing track. Apart from a few qoutables there is little little here to make the listener want to come back to this song after the initial play.

“Even in your lowest days,

when you're no longer Superman, at least you know you got Lewis Lane” - J. Cole on "Runaway"

“She Knows” feels like a a song targeted for radio aswell as Cole's core female audience. Because it feels like Cole is playing a role rather than expressing something genuine, it is hard to enjoy “She Knows”. It is however one of the better average songs on the album.

"What these bitches want from a nigga

that's some DMX shit

I know them other niggas love trickin'

on some BMX shit - J. Cole on "She Knows"

(Album Review) Disclosure - Settle

Settle is an intriguing album title because one would hope that is the last thing that an artist does approaching their debut album, writing and finishing it. Interestingly that is the name for brotherly production duo, Disclosure’s debut album. Read on to find out what it is that they settle for or if infact the name is all a facade.

Like the intro track, the production on album's second song "When A Fire Starts to Burn" is quite good, but the vocal sample does nothing positive to the song. It is quite nice how the intro track leads into "When A Fire Starts to Burn" but that is the best thing about the two songs. I am now at the point to where I cannot listen to the song in full, such is the level of annoyance caused by the vocal sample.

The album's third track "Latch" is one of its highlights and should have been the first song on the album. Rather than it beginning with two skippable songs, which it sadly does. Add this song to the growing reasons as to why Sam Smith is great.

Songs like "F For You" don't stand out and sound far too similar to proceeding songs. This is mainly due to the production but the vocals (which are sung by Disclosure's Howard Lawrence) don't do anything to excite.

"White Noise" is a song that we have become very familiar with in recent months, no thanks to the heavy airplay it has received. It is not Disclosure's or AlunaGeorge's best work but it is satisfactory, in small doses. The concept is probably the best thing about the song; "Just noise/ White noise/ I'm hearing static," Aluna Francis sings on the chorus.

"Defeated No More" is a slightly more chilled affair than the preceding songs. Its is fairly ordinary; the vocals are OK and the production's bouncy rhythm does just enough to keep you engaged.

Autoheart - Punch (Album Sampler)

Punch is the awesome debut album from London based Indie band Autoheart. You're in for one hell of treat, if like me you hadn't heard any of Autoheart's music until now. All of the tracks on the sampler sound brilliant, this album has the potential to be a knockout! Punch is released on 15th July and you can Pre-Order it now on iTunes.

Limbo Kids - RG3 EP

Following the release of their Wanderlust EP in 2012, which was one of the best releases of 2012, Oxford based duo Limbo Kids are back. The RG3 EP  was inspired by a recent trip to Texas and is named after Robert Griffin III - the young NFL quarterback and 2012 Rookie of The Year. Much like RG3 this EP is a winner, Limbo Kids are on good form at the moment!

Previously: Limbo Kids - Wanderlust EP