- Here's an album debate/review on Kanye West's Yeezus between Heartbreaker (aka Connor) and Brono (Chris), which turned into a Facebook conversation when our other form of communication fell out. Enjoy.
Heartbreaker: Well, how'd you feel about the overall sound of the album? Extremely electronic, even some hints of trap
Bronco: Yeah def
Bronco: It's like My Beautiful Dark Twisted 808s
Heartbreaker: I didn't like it much
Bronco: Of course you didn't
Heartbreaker: I thought it was too experimental
Heartbreaker: Even for Kanye
Bronco: Eh
Bronco: I think on one or two songs yeah, overall I think it works
Bronco: Either way that was obviously his intent
Bronco: Going for that minimalist sound
Heartbreaker: I mean it's the direction that music is going in so I can't fault him for taking that step, but I don't know how I feel about his voice on the electro
Heartbreaker: Yeah very minimalist. Speaking of which, how about that run time
Heartbreaker: 40 minutes?
Bronco: I ain't mad at it
Bronco: Again I think that's what he was going for
Heartbreaker: I mean Illmatic was 40 minutes...but it costs 12 dollars for 40 minutes of music
Heartbreaker: Especially 40 minutes that I won't be relistening to much...
Bronco: True, probably should've been $9.99
Bronco: at least
Bronco: I remember there was talk that it would be a free album
Heartbreaker: Could he be cheating the listener by being so minimalistic? Was there really>
Bronco: That's pretty subjective
Heartbreaker: In your opinion
Bronco: I don't feel cheated at all
Bronco: But I don't think the notion of feeling cheated here is so left field
Heartbreaker: Haven't you ever felt cheated by an album before?
Bronco: Hmm
Bronco: Good thing I only paid like $4 for that slaughterhouse album
Heartbreaker: Food and Liquor II, for example. Haha on the Slaughterhouse
Bronco: Ugh I didn't even go near F&L2
Heartbreaker: I downloaded Food and Liquor II and felt cheated of the 70 minutes I spent listening to it
Bronco: Hahaha
Heartbreaker: I didn't feel I got a real Lupe experience. And I feel like here I didn't get Kanye's best effort.
Bronco: How do you define his best effort though?
Bronco: Like I definitely wasn't expecting another MBDTF so I wasn't disappointed in that regard 
Connor Hartley
Oh ok fair enough. I guess I felt like in terms of lyrical content and song potential fulfillment, I didn't get the best Kanye. Like Dark Twisted Fantasy was experimental in sound, content and structure, but every song sounded complete, it had a sensical conclusion. I thought this was experimental for experimentation's sake. Like he tried something new, it didn't sound great, but he just continued to run with it. It's the same way I feel about Indicud. That's the album I would most compare this to.
Chris Culcasi
Mmm Indicud was kinda disappointingAlthough I think that stemmed more from Cudi's determination to do everything by himselfLike doing all the beats by himself really showed, in a bad way- Connor Hartley
Agreed. I think Yeezus is equally disappointing though. We have such high expectations for both Cudi and Kanye, and I don't think either of them met them in 2013. - Connor Hartley
Honestly, Yeezus makes more sense on Kanye's career arc than it does in 2013.Yes it doesLike we can look back and say, yeah Kanye tried an all electronic album, just like we can look back on 808s and say "Look at the way Kanye tried this much softer album!" It doesn't make it any better though. - Chris Culcasi
Honestly I was listening to this in my car on my way home from work & I think that's the way this is meant to be listened toDefinitelyI think it kind of sums up the whole album nicelyShort, cocky lyrics with a message, electronic/industrial productionOne of the more replayable tracks IMOWhat are your thoughts - Connor Hartley
That reminds me of another issue with this album. Some electronic music uses notes that are out of the range of most speakers. A lot of drum and bass, for example, uses basslines too low for regular speakers to pick up, so the only good way to hear it is at live shows where the speakers have the range for the songs. - Connor Hartley
Kanye uses a similarly huge spectrum of notes in this album, enough that I noticed it. I first listened to it riding in my friend's car, which has terrible speakers. The album sounded awful! - Connor Hartley
Then I played it on my computer, which has a better range of notes, and it sounded a lot better, notably different. - Connor Hartley
Finally, I listened to it on an iHome with ok range. It still doesn't sound right compared to my computer. The point is, along with the minimalism, this is NOT an accessible CD to the average listener. - Connor Hartley
Someone playing the iTunes demo on their Macbook Pro isn't going to enjoy it the same way. - Chris Culcasi
It's one thing to say fuck mainstream radio and do your own thingIt's another to be like my music is too good for this bullshitI feel like he's somehwere in the middle - Connor Hartley
I think Kanye went the second way with that.We know how he feels about his own music. Aren't we eventually going to see him descend into narcissistic insanity and make the worst album of all time while he insists it's the greatest CD ever? - Connor Hartley
After a long and successful career, singer/guitarist Dewey Cox begins to work on creating the perfect song, parodying some of the super long songs in the 70s. His song ends up being over an hour long and includes like 200 instruments. It sounds horrendous. Kanye will one day drop the rap version of this album. - Connor Hartley
You're right, it was the perfect intro for the album. For me, that's not the best thing. - Connor Hartley
The electo is present right away and he uses a mid-song change up, but On Sight already has me tired of the insistent bragging and references to banging random chicks.I thought it was whatever.Black SkinheadThis was a good song until he said "I keep it 300 like the Romans"Whoops - Connor Hartley
And on my computer, but the distortion sounds really bad on a lot of sound systems.Is there another version of this song? - Chris Culcasi
I like this version a lot moreI remember when he premiered it on SNL I could hardly understand what he was sayingI believe there was a leaked version that sounded a lot more ruggedCould be wrong thoughI mean like when he performed it live there was a lot more screamingAnd a lot less clarity as a result - Connor Hartley
Um, as far as its blasphemy level, I mean it's relatively high. But I think the song is hilarious more than offensive - Chris Culcasi
I mean I definitely don't think he's trying to offendThis song bangs thoughThree songs in a row that I enjoy - Connor Hartley
We've seen this from Kanye before. Remember the Power video where he puts his own face on the sphnix? - Connor Hartley
I'm more offended by his sense of self-worth than anything else. And those mid-song screams.Those make me think this is kind of for shock value. - Connor Hartley
Reminiscent of the random feedback throughout Coldest WinterBut yeah, I like the song. 4/5 - Connor Hartley
But he still hasn't given us an honest emotion until track fourI like New Slaves a lot - Connor Hartley
The bass is so distorted and so low, it's beautifulIt does NOT sound good on bad speakers though. - Connor Hartley
But I'd agree, probably my favorite song too. He really goes at this song. He sounds like he wants it in the lyrics. - Chris Culcasi
He definitely doesGreat beat tooI love the breakdown at the end with the Frank Ocean cameo - Connor Hartley
To me, the first three songs he coasted by on swag. Here, he makes the effort. Yeah the breakdown is a nice addition.This is really a producer's album. - Connor Hartley
Not much polish, but not really gritty either. Charismatic and offensive, honest and contrived. - Connor Hartley
I Can't Hold My LiquorI like the use of Chief KeefIt's dark, just like the past two songs - Chris Culcasi
I like Justin Vernon on it, I'm not really sure what purpose Chief Keef serves hereI guess I was just hyped to see those two artists on the same track but the result is nothing specialAlso the song is too long - Connor Hartley
It's just his voice and his presence. Ever since Hate Being Sober, any song about a lot of drinking has to include Chief Keef. He's like the Guardian Angel of getting fucked up. - Connor Hartley
This song strikes me as an industry favorite, kind of like Drunk and Hot Girls was a huge hit amongst rappers - Chris Culcasi
I think the last minute and a half could've used another verseThe beat builds up to nothingAnd I still hate that song so maybe this one just isn't for me - Connor Hartley
Then again, if you really listen to Drunk and Hot Girls and think about it in just a college context, Kanye nails that concept haha3.5/5 for Hold my Liquor - Chris Culcasi
Then the hook drops and I'm like wtfThen this dude Agent Sasco comes in with his heavy accent and I fall in love - Connor Hartley
That's true. See tell me he's not just throwing out random shit in the chorus.The fucking dog barking? - Chris Culcasi
I love Vernon on the chorusOtherwise yeah it's pretty badOverall a great song thoughAfter Hold My Liquor I needed this to restore my confidence in Yeezy4/5 - Connor Hartley
I didn't like Agent Sasco on hereAnd at first I hated the track because I was tired of hearing about Kanye's sex life - Connor Hartley
But besides the chorus the beat is beautifulAnd I love that he uses the deep voice in the backdropLast thought, the last line sucked"I be speaking Swagheli" - Connor Hartley
The way he changes perspective is pretty coolYeah the length is wildLongest on the CD - Chris Culcasi
I hope Kanye and Cudi continue to work together for a long timeI love Cudi's bridgeKanye's verse is good, not greatI almost didn't notice the sample at first, think it really adds to the song's atmosphere - Connor Hartley
Yeah Kanye's part doesn't stand out to me at allPlus the whole one verse thing is tough to deal withIt's got that really deep sound again, but I wasn't too big a fan of this one. - Chris Culcasi
The Pitchfork review said this song is the most likely to be a radio hit, not sure how I feel about that - Connor Hartley
Agreed, due to a lack of other options.But New Slaves will be the most popular song on this CD - Chris Culcasi
I feel like as the cd progresses I'm listening to it less for kanye and more for the overall sound/atmosphere - Chris Culcasi
I'm not totally sure why it's even here but I love it regardlessLyrically he's on pointOnly part I don't care is the beat switch up during Charlie Wilson's part - Connor Hartley
See I liked that. The "1 good girl is worth 1000 bitches" line is great as well, but totally opposite what Kanye has been preaching this whole albumI'll give this one a 4/5 - Chris Culcasi
Yeah it really doesn't fit the album which is a shame cause it's such a great song4.5/5 - Connor Hartley
There's a hidden song. A Teck Teck Tonic remix with the first verse from The New Workout Plan on it - Connor Hartley
It's fun, not necessary though. Ok so give the album an overall score out of 5 and where you rank it amongst Kanye's albums. - Chris Culcasi
Overall I give it 4/5I'd probably put it above Graduation, College Dropout and 808s, below MBDTF and Late Registration - Chris Culcasi
ShitNew Slaves, Black Skinhead/Bound 2/On Sight, Send It Up/ denotes a three way tie - Connor Hartley
haha fair enoughI'm giving this album an overall 3.5/5, which puts it above College Dropout and 808s but below the other threeAnd I'll go New Slaves, I'm In It, Blood on the Leaves, Bound 2, and Send it Up (only because of King Louie)
Brono? Sick bro
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