IAmCrack69
09-03-2007, 06:12 PM
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Despite the fact the album is still slated for a September 11th release, it was recently leaked, and I was one of the lucky many to be able to pick up a download. The next day, 50 Cent's Curtis was also released, we got that one too. Anyway, lets start things off.
Track One - Good Morning (Intro):
Nice beat, good backing vocals. Kanye's trademark style is showcased in the first verse nicely. Shit, you could hardly tell this is a intro. A good tunnel into the rest of the album to get the listener started. Nice vibe to it. Not a superb track, but still nice.
3.5/5
Track Two - Champion:
This has got to be one of my favorite tracks on this album. Feel good beat, with a nice sample. Kanye goes with beat smoothly and that adds some quality to it. The bridge was nicely done, good choir feel to me. One of my main gripes with it is the looped sample during the verse, sounding like "Aaron" annoyingly repeated over, and over. Overall, good shit to me. Should've really been a single.
4.5/5
Track Three - Stronger:
As stated by others, the drums were strengthened for the retail version of Stronger, which for me was a good addition, adds something nice to the track. Hasn't been one of my favorite singles since its release, but it's ok. The Daft Punk is sample is beast, lowering the pitch added to the track, though still it really seemed to be on the album to appeal to the commercial crowd.
3/5
Track Four - I Wonder:
This track is really slept on by some. The beginning sample is beautiful, as well as the beat. The thing that brings it down would be Kanye's lyrics. A majority of his verses are one word per sentence. He redeemed himself at the end, with some sub-par lyrics. Alright track.
3/5
Track Five - Good Life:
Sigh...T-Pain. Though luckily he's not to frequent on the track besides the hook and what not. The beat is nice, T-Pain recites some lyrics from Kanye's first album. During Kanye's first verse acceptingly bites off 50 Cent's In Da Club:
Fifty told me "Go head switch ya style up" and if they hate then let em hat and watch the money pile up
This by some has been interpreted as Kanye stating he's giving up good music for the money. By putting T-Pain on your track, you might as well. Lyrics ain't too crisp, T-Pain's Helicon voice gets annoying.
2.5/5 Sorry...
Track Six - Can't Tell Me Nothing:
Another one of my favorites. Great beats, the vocals, which surprisingly aren't sampled add a lot to the track. One of the premier tracks on Graduation, along with Champion, Everything I Am, and Big Brother. What do I need to say about the track, pure excellence to me, though definitely not the best on the album. Young Jeezy's adlibs are sprinkled throughout the track, but adds a good deal to it.
4/5
Track Seven - Barry Bonds:
"It's what you all been waiting for ain't it?!" - Kanye West on Barry Bonds.
Fuck no, we haven't been waiting for this since we heard it in August. The beat is nice, like all West productions. West's lyrics are nice. The hook is alright. Strangely, West sounds a bit down syndrome-ish here. More than Wayne. Speaking of Wayne, he completely ruins the track. No not in a good way. "I'm so white not shay-deh" and "Suck mah back bitch". Someone remove this kid from the hip hop premises. The weakest track on Graduation no doubt.
2/5
Another weak track...
Track Eight - Drunk and Hot Girls:
Catchy tune, but just no...The beat and samples are nice. Mos Def really wasn't needed on it, just threw in a little excerpt and left. Nothing much really. What more can I say, it's just egch.
2.5/5
Track Nine - Flashing Lights:
Finally a breathe of fresh air for the album after those two previous farts. Great beat (love the drums and strings), Kanye brings out some good lyrics IMO. I'm sad to say I slept on this track earlier. Dwele's vocals = pure greatness for this track. He was on Common's Finding Forever earlier, and shit I've been digging him. Great stuff for Kanye, he really redeemed himself.
4.5/5
Track Ten - Everything I Am:
Kanye just keeps bringing out the good shit one track after another. The beat is wonderful, didn't notice the bass during earlier listenings, but that adds a lot to it now that I'm wearing headphones . DJ Premier's scratches add more beauty to the production. 'Ye did great on this track, a video for this would be dope, could imagine it in my head already. One of the best tracks on the album for sure.
4.5/5
Track Eleven - The Glory:
Alright beat, for some reason it reminds me of Stronger, slowed down, added strings and beats, minus Daft. The beat weighs Kanye down since he really shines for me on this track. The sample looping returns again, but it's alright. Good track overall.
3.5/5
Track Twelve - Homecoming:
Sigh...Not feelin this at ALL. From what I've heard Kanye used practicly the same lyrics for a track called Home, only with John Legend instead of Chris Martin (the guy from Coldplay). The production was ok. I just can't see how someone can say this is the greatest track on the album, though most of the people that say that have put 50 Cent over Nas on their favorite rapper list.
3/5
Track Thirteen - Big Brother:
Here it is...the finale. Every time I hear this I get chills. An ode to Kanye's "big brother" Jay-Z. The beat is fire, all of Kanye's excellence from our previous tracks, snowballed into this. This doesn't make you wanna get up and dance, it makes you wanna sit down and just take it all in. Kanye really knows how to make some finale tracks, just take Last Call for example. This should be on everyones playlist for sure.
5/5
With that said, I gotta give this whole album a 4.5/5 . One of the best mainstream hip hop albums for 2007 in a while, right next to Finding Forever. Nice album...real nice. Join the forums ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) and download the album for yourself. All explicit my friend, nothing clean.
Re-Read or Comment the review at: [Only registered and activated users can see links]
Also leave comments here, tell me what you think.
If you haven't already, download Graduation:
|==Hidden Block (you must be registered and have 15 posts)==|
Despite the fact the album is still slated for a September 11th release, it was recently leaked, and I was one of the lucky many to be able to pick up a download. The next day, 50 Cent's Curtis was also released, we got that one too. Anyway, lets start things off.
Track One - Good Morning (Intro):
Nice beat, good backing vocals. Kanye's trademark style is showcased in the first verse nicely. Shit, you could hardly tell this is a intro. A good tunnel into the rest of the album to get the listener started. Nice vibe to it. Not a superb track, but still nice.
3.5/5
Track Two - Champion:
This has got to be one of my favorite tracks on this album. Feel good beat, with a nice sample. Kanye goes with beat smoothly and that adds some quality to it. The bridge was nicely done, good choir feel to me. One of my main gripes with it is the looped sample during the verse, sounding like "Aaron" annoyingly repeated over, and over. Overall, good shit to me. Should've really been a single.
4.5/5
Track Three - Stronger:
As stated by others, the drums were strengthened for the retail version of Stronger, which for me was a good addition, adds something nice to the track. Hasn't been one of my favorite singles since its release, but it's ok. The Daft Punk is sample is beast, lowering the pitch added to the track, though still it really seemed to be on the album to appeal to the commercial crowd.
3/5
Track Four - I Wonder:
This track is really slept on by some. The beginning sample is beautiful, as well as the beat. The thing that brings it down would be Kanye's lyrics. A majority of his verses are one word per sentence. He redeemed himself at the end, with some sub-par lyrics. Alright track.
3/5
Track Five - Good Life:
Sigh...T-Pain. Though luckily he's not to frequent on the track besides the hook and what not. The beat is nice, T-Pain recites some lyrics from Kanye's first album. During Kanye's first verse acceptingly bites off 50 Cent's In Da Club:
Fifty told me "Go head switch ya style up" and if they hate then let em hat and watch the money pile up
This by some has been interpreted as Kanye stating he's giving up good music for the money. By putting T-Pain on your track, you might as well. Lyrics ain't too crisp, T-Pain's Helicon voice gets annoying.
2.5/5 Sorry...
Track Six - Can't Tell Me Nothing:
Another one of my favorites. Great beats, the vocals, which surprisingly aren't sampled add a lot to the track. One of the premier tracks on Graduation, along with Champion, Everything I Am, and Big Brother. What do I need to say about the track, pure excellence to me, though definitely not the best on the album. Young Jeezy's adlibs are sprinkled throughout the track, but adds a good deal to it.
4/5
Track Seven - Barry Bonds:
"It's what you all been waiting for ain't it?!" - Kanye West on Barry Bonds.
Fuck no, we haven't been waiting for this since we heard it in August. The beat is nice, like all West productions. West's lyrics are nice. The hook is alright. Strangely, West sounds a bit down syndrome-ish here. More than Wayne. Speaking of Wayne, he completely ruins the track. No not in a good way. "I'm so white not shay-deh" and "Suck mah back bitch". Someone remove this kid from the hip hop premises. The weakest track on Graduation no doubt.
2/5
Another weak track...
Track Eight - Drunk and Hot Girls:
Catchy tune, but just no...The beat and samples are nice. Mos Def really wasn't needed on it, just threw in a little excerpt and left. Nothing much really. What more can I say, it's just egch.
2.5/5
Track Nine - Flashing Lights:
Finally a breathe of fresh air for the album after those two previous farts. Great beat (love the drums and strings), Kanye brings out some good lyrics IMO. I'm sad to say I slept on this track earlier. Dwele's vocals = pure greatness for this track. He was on Common's Finding Forever earlier, and shit I've been digging him. Great stuff for Kanye, he really redeemed himself.
4.5/5
Track Ten - Everything I Am:
Kanye just keeps bringing out the good shit one track after another. The beat is wonderful, didn't notice the bass during earlier listenings, but that adds a lot to it now that I'm wearing headphones . DJ Premier's scratches add more beauty to the production. 'Ye did great on this track, a video for this would be dope, could imagine it in my head already. One of the best tracks on the album for sure.
4.5/5
Track Eleven - The Glory:
Alright beat, for some reason it reminds me of Stronger, slowed down, added strings and beats, minus Daft. The beat weighs Kanye down since he really shines for me on this track. The sample looping returns again, but it's alright. Good track overall.
3.5/5
Track Twelve - Homecoming:
Sigh...Not feelin this at ALL. From what I've heard Kanye used practicly the same lyrics for a track called Home, only with John Legend instead of Chris Martin (the guy from Coldplay). The production was ok. I just can't see how someone can say this is the greatest track on the album, though most of the people that say that have put 50 Cent over Nas on their favorite rapper list.
3/5
Track Thirteen - Big Brother:
Here it is...the finale. Every time I hear this I get chills. An ode to Kanye's "big brother" Jay-Z. The beat is fire, all of Kanye's excellence from our previous tracks, snowballed into this. This doesn't make you wanna get up and dance, it makes you wanna sit down and just take it all in. Kanye really knows how to make some finale tracks, just take Last Call for example. This should be on everyones playlist for sure.
5/5
With that said, I gotta give this whole album a 4.5/5 . One of the best mainstream hip hop albums for 2007 in a while, right next to Finding Forever. Nice album...real nice. Join the forums ([Only registered and activated users can see links]) and download the album for yourself. All explicit my friend, nothing clean.
Re-Read or Comment the review at: [Only registered and activated users can see links]
Also leave comments here, tell me what you think.
If you haven't already, download Graduation:
|==Hidden Block (you must be registered and have 15 posts)==|