Kanye West - Late Registration

[Eikman]

out now - any opinions?

i think it's a really great successor to "the college dropout". it seems to be a bit more focused all in all, and Kanye really improved his lyrics IMO. but it's the production that really struck me, containing a particular pop-appeal (of course), but staying 'interesing enough' on the other side. even popular feature artists like that guy from Maroon 5 and Brandy actually sound nice in context.

and sampling Mayfield's "move on up" - priceless! haven't heard a song that gave me such a broad smile all year....(i'm speaking of "touch the sky" btw..)

here's a, uhm, review from *cough* pitchfork *cough* (look at the rating...)

PS: does anyone know where the saxophone on "drive slow" is from? sounds familiar....

[IsiliRunite]

Yes, you can be an excellent producer of pop music, but coming up on Rocafella doesn't buy you street cred, or wax cred, as they say in the music business.

Do another kind of music; don't just incorporate Fionna Apple into yours. That's too easy, and it's been done since the days of, "Planet Rock".

[Eikman]

get off that stuff, mate.....

[adam]

Aye, listen to Eik.

[IsiliRunite]

Off what? I have the locational right to talk about rap, and Rick Rubin could do more asleep than Kanye could with 3,000 other guest producers of his choice. Remember Run DMCs first middle-america hit? He was behind the decks on that one. And Glenn Danzig's #1 Single? He did that, too.

It takes you a while to connect The Misfits to Run DMC, without him.

His branching out is fine, but jumping all over him and acting like he is a pioneer (Rolling Stone) is not justified what-so-ever.

If he makes a good Soul album, or R & B (can't ask for too much of him), then I'll call him a great producer. Now, he is just leading the front for current hip-hop, and simply using old tricks at that.

[adam]

The locational right? I guess all I can talk about is marijuana, then.

Saying that he's using old tricks and is overhyped is one thing: valid criticism. Saying he lacks street cred is just a knee-jerk reaction to his over-hype, and just as uninteresting.

[Eikman]

Originally Posted by IsiliRunite

His branching out is fine, but jumping all over him and acting like he is a pioneer (Rolling Stone) is not justified what-so-ever.

well, it's always the same with music magazines.....the NME has a new rock pioneer every two weeks...but who actually gives a f***?

If he makes a good Soul album, or R & B (can't ask for too much of him), then I'll call him a great producer. Now, he is just leading the front for current hip-hop, and simply using old tricks at that.

you're obviously one of the guys who rather listen to old underground records than admitting that a pop record is great.
yeah, it's pop music, yeah it's R&B, yeah it will probably be #1 in the charts, but after all it's a good record and neatly produced (maybe a bit too much of the horns and strings and stuff, but it works).
i didn't say that he is going to change the world of hip hop, right?

[GreenPea]

Originally Posted by Eikman

PS: does anyone know where the saxophone on "drive slow" is from? sounds familiar....

Assuming that you most likely got the album from soulseek or wathever I will just quote what the booklet says about that track:

'Drive Slow' contains a sample from a Hank Crawford recording, used courtesy of Sony BMG etc...

I have no idea who Hank Crawford is or if the saxophone comes from there.

P.S. Well he does play the sax.
http://www.fantasyjazz.com/html/crawford_bio.html

[djeddy]

'touch the sky' is da funk-diggity-doggy-dong bomb

[Jafs]

9.5 on pitchfork

This is a good album. I bought it yesterday, I like it a lot but I don't think this is SO great. I'll be back after some more listens...

I haven't heard "College dropout" yet.