I think this is the first time they've handed out the 5 star rating since sometime in 2003 or early 2004. Is it really that good? Maybe I'll actually have to give it a shot, despite hating Kanye.

I don't usually put any trust into RS's reviews, but if they only give out that rating every couple years then it's got to have SOME redeeming qualities.

It's a decent album, but the press is seriously overrating it. Listen to the album for the great tracks, but don't expect anything revelatory.

Remember that they gave Mick Jagger's solo album a 5...

I think it's mediocre almost all around.

he didn't produce it did he?

And if you hate Kanye, you're not going to like this any better than his last one.

i think it's really good, and i don't care for kanye's last album or him as a person. rhymes are tight, and the production is slammin'.

This album isn't as good as the last one, but RS has to jump on the wagon.

There are several SLAMMIN songs here, like Drive Slow, but Diamonds and that one with MAroon 5 are stank doo doo shit. The fucking bell/chime repitition and general tonelessness of the Maroon 5 song is surprising. I thought those two could come up with a decent hook.

PFM gives it 9.5 I think thats the best score all year.

Proceed with caution. I think the last 5 star rating they gave was Mick Jagger's solo joint "Goddess in the Doorway".

Jann Wenner meet Mick's cock, Mick's cock, Jann Wenner.

Pitchfork rarely rates things based on what they actually think about it.

as a person?

i think he's a clown/puppet.

but talented.

Isn't this the Kanye album produced by Jon Brion? I'm interested in hearing it just because of Brion's involvement, even though Kanye so far seems to be a typically narcissistic li'l bitch.

I haven't seen anmy reivew for this album that called it anything less than "excellent." The only thing I've seen remotely insulting is that it's "pretentious, but in a good way."

I'm going to pick this up and OK GO's new album tomorrow. I have a feeling I'm going to really enjoy both. Kanye is just all over the place. I mean, shit, he was on the cover of Time. (short article, but good stuff) A tad too much for my liking, but if that Fox Gold Digger song is any indication of the album, maybe the hype is well deserved.

np: Baldwin Brothers-Funky Junkyard

I've listened to about half of it. I like "Bring Me Down" and another one ("Roses" maybe?) wasn't bad, but so far, I don't see what the hype is all about. I didn't like his first album at all, and I don't see myself liking this one a lot either. None of the beats are anything out of the ordinary, and a lot of the rapping has a really, REALLY generic style and sound to it ("Addiction"). I'll give it a couple more listens before giving up, though.

When I saw him at the House of Blues in Chicago a year back or so he really brought it. He just seemed to really know how to rock the crowd. A real good performer, but his encore was honestly one of the worst I've ever seen. I guess Kanye thought he had to come back out for like a hour with maybe two songs in mind, then speak his mind for a bit. Before the encore though we were extremely impressed with everything.

np: DCFC-Transatlanticism

that diamonds song is the most i've ever liked a kanye song.
but that's not saying much.

It's good, but not great. Common's new record was way better. 'Drive Slow' and 'Touch the Sky' are pretty sweet.

Yea, I believe it was co-produced by Brion, which made me more interested once I read that fact yesterday.

I don't know, this album has kind of growed on me in the past couple days. It's no way near 5 star and isn't that much like the last album. A little less directly pop. There are still a few total clunkers and the album isn't as consistent as College Dropout but this one is still decent I guess.

All I know is it's going to sell bazillion copies. There were like 8 people in front of me at Best Buy today, and only one of them didn't have Kanye in hand.

Anyway, bought it and Death Cab for 9.99 a piece.

wow

"album isn't as consistent as College Dropout"

i thought the new one and college dropout are both inconsistent. i give each album 3 stars. some really good songs and some crap/fluff songs that i could easily do without.

west has the ability to make a record that could go down in with the group of greatest records of all-time.........just havent seen it yet.

there are some amazing beats, but overall the album falls way short of the hype. aside from "drive slow" i don't think there are any stand out tracks. also, when i'm done playing the record i have no desire to play through it again since there are so many mediocre/average tracks.

here is the review we posted at prefix:
http://www.prefixmag.com/reviews.php?pa ... n_083005MG

it's gotten some really high scores overall though:
http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists ... gistration

Had my girlfriend do that for me during her lunch today. listening to the Death Cab now...