Don't believe the hype. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy has bite, but it is not a better listen than Kanye's previous albums, particularly the multi-faceted flow of The College Dropout or the candy-gloss shine of Graduation. The album is strong, no doubt, but it is not once-in-a-generation material.
In a genre with few interesting moments this year (yes, that means you hip-hop, minus this song, of course), Kanye is hailed by critics as the latest and greatest hope, and this album is viewed as the most audacious rap record of the past several years. There is little doubt that Kanye is a better recordmaker than his peers, but The D Man is confused as to why this effort has garnered such over-the-top praise. We rave about his self-awareness, his honesty, his bravado, but with so few competitors, where exactly is the critical bar? Where does dirty self-congratulation end and true lyrical deftness begin? (Note to parents: The D Man highly recommends the edited version). Several of the tracks are massive and original, while others result in numbing fatigue, and the album's sum total is an erratic depiction of a talented but troubled soul.
So why the Top Twenty? Despite the above disclaimer, the record still has potent musical moments, and the artist's attempt at global pop domination is too convincing to overlook. Kanye culls inspiration from all of his previous material, and his hard-hitting and bombastic production (great samples and guest stars abound) give life to his innermost grievances, fantasies, and lyrical postulations. (Best line: "Too many Urkels on your team/ that's why your Winslow.") The songs are wide-ranging and, for good or ill, depict the many faces of Kanye: Kanye, the grand minister of inspiration ("Dark Fantasy"); Kanye, the dark-tribal overlord ("POWER"); Kanye, the pensive relationship-hero ("Runaway"); Kanye, the furious MC tag-teamer ("Monster"); Kanye, the major hit-maker ("All the Lights"); Kanye, the hedonistic apologist (multiple tracks). You get the idea; the man is so complex. But with so many different faces, one is left wondering: will the real Kanye please stand up?
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