Score: 3.5/5
A thousand name changes later, and here we are, finally with Kanye West’s eighth studio album, “The Life of Pablo.”
The album, shrouded in mystery, controversy, crazy Twitter rants and a Yeezy fashion show in Madison Square Garden, still isn’t available on iTunes yet, but fans can stream it on TIDAL.
After all of Kanye’s recent dramatics, anticipation for the album divulged into plain curiosity about it. While “The Life of Pablo” is the next evolution in Ye’s sound, it isn’t an instant classic. If fans are looking for “old Kanye” with this latest project, they won’t find it.
The first and last songs, “Ultralight Beam” and “Fade” respectively, are two of the most enjoyable tracks on an album full of short, interlude-like songs and beatless samples. To get to the actual music on “The Life of Pablo,” a lot of skipping must be done.
“Ultralight Beam” is probably the most effective song on “The Life of Pablo.”
Featuring Chance The Rapper, Kirk Franklin and a backing choir, “Ultralight Beam” is moving. Chance’s verse is fantastic and the choir is not singing, they are “sanging,” inevitably giving listeners goosebumps. This must have been what West meant by “The Life of Pablo” being a “gospel album.”
“Fade” features Post Malone, and while he goes a little too heavy on the autotune, his feature is still effective and “Fade” is one of the album’s highlights, and one of the few truly upbeat numbers.
Chris Brown lends his vocals to “Waves,” another standout track. Brown’s hook is the catchiest part of the song, and after a while it feels more like one of his songs than West’s, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing here.
“Real Friends” featuring Ty Dolla Sign, is the most intimate and “real” track on the record.The artist seems genuine and honest as he waxes poetic about not having consistent relationships with friends and family, and people who reach out only when they want something. If “Ultralight Beam” is the best, “Real Friends” is a close second, or tied for first.
With “The Life of Pablo,” it’s time to realize and come to terms with the fact that “old Kanye” is gone. We’ll probably never get another “College Dropout” or “Late Registration” or “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.”
But at least new Kanye is a lot more self aware about this than he seems, considering this album’s glorious gem “I Love Kanye.” On the track, we get a little glimpse of how perceptive he is about what fans expect from him. Including the lovely ending line, “I love you like Kanye loves Kanye.” It’s 45 seconds of that old Ye we loved so much.