Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak

Kanye has faced some harsh criticism for the direction he's taken on his new album, 808s & Heartbreak. The use of the autotune effect throughout the album (made famous in the hip-hop scene by T-Pain) has seen him labelled as a sellout, critics saying he's jumping on the bandwagon, and cashing in on this current craze. You could be forgiven, then, for immediately thinking that 808s is a club album, full of easy to listen to, party type songs, as this is mainly what autotune seems to be used for. If you thought this, you're wrong. Kanye has created a heartfelt, emotional 54 minute journey, documenting a painful breakup and the loss of his mother. The autotune adds to the emotion, his words somehow sounding more sincere (especially on songs like Heartless and Welcome to Heartbreak). The production (handled completely by Mr. West himself, as is usually the case), is sparse and minimal. Tribal-sounding drums, beeps and synth make up most of the album, and works extremely well in the context of the album (although it's sometimes quite repetitive, with almost half of the opening track being made up of a looped drum pattern and nothing else). Make no mistake, this is not a hip-hop album. It is a drastic departure from his usual work, but in his willingness to experiment, push the boundaries and make something completely out of his comfort zone, Kanye has created a masterpiece. It was only ever going to go one of two ways, either turning out completely amazing, or falling flat on its face, and being no more than a nasty stain on Kanye's career. It will surely split opinion, but if there is any justice in the world, the majority will be singing its praises for years to come. If you're looking for a straightforward Kanye West album, then this is not for you. If you want experimentation, emotion and a completely different sound altogether, then you will be a fan of 808s and Heartbreak.

Tags: Kanye West, 808s And Heartbreak, newschooldevil