808s & Heartbreak

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Average Customer Rating:	3.5
Release Date:	2008-11-24
Publisher:	Roc-A-Fella Records
Artist:	Kanye West
Track 1:	Say You Will
Track 2:	Welcome To Heartbreak featuring Kid Cudi
Track 3:	Heartless
Track 4:	Amazing featuring Young Jeezy
Track 5:	Love Lockdown
Track 6:	Paranoid featuring Mr. Hudson
Track 7:	RoboCop
Track 8:	Street Lights
Track 9:	Bad News
Track 10:	See You In My Nightmares featuring Lil Wayne
Track 11:	Coldest Winter
Track 12:	Pinocchio Story
Weight:	0.21 pounds

Product Categories

General; General; General; Pop Rap; Black History Month; CD Album; Main Albums (Discography Pages); Main Albums; All product; Music

Product description

The ten-time Grammy Award® winning musical phenomenon, rapper, producer, and now singer embarks on a new musical journey taking his audience to new heights. Kanye West returns with his fourth album 808s & HEARTBREAK. His highly anticipated new album set for release on November 25th, featuring the heart pounding first single LOVE LOCKDOWN which premiered live for the first time on the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. LOVE LOCKDOWN quickly exploded at radio with the video premiering nationwide on the Ellen Degeneres show. "Heartless," the second single, is next up to hit the airwaves further amplifying the story behind the musical direction for 808s & HEARTBREAK.

Customer reviews

« Kanye's Newest Masterpiece »

Kanye may be known for his crazy public antics, but when it comes to him producing music, he never fails to impress. His ability as a producer and as a mainstream rapper come together with something he has not used in his past albums: auto-tuner. In his Graduation album, the style was strong and straightforward, saying what he wanted to say. 808's is the same way but with a lighter side to it, and outstanding produced beats. The songs "Robocop" and "Welcome to Heartbreak" show different sides of him, "Robocop" expressing his need to be free and not to be tied down by a woman; how he she needs to relax and let him do his own thing. In "Welcome to Heartbreak" he expresses his success at being famous as he is, but not having the true things that make people happy in his life. As his "friend showed...pictures of his kids," he could only "show him pictures of...cribs." (houses). A certain verse stands out as he says, "Chased the good life my whole life long, look back on my life and my life gone...where did I go wrong?" I always love listening to his music just because he talks of what he wants and isn't afraid to tell it how he feels it is. It may get him in trouble with the public with his outbursts, but no one can argue that his music is outstanding and lyrically wonderful. If you like Kanye's style, the next album you should buy is one by Drake, Kid Cudi, or Wale. (Wall-ay)

Rating: (5 out of 5) @ 2010-03-03

« Good Music! »

Another good gift idea for the music lover in your family =). I didn't know Heartless was a remake though .. wow.

Rating: (5 out of 5) @ 2010-02-13

« You can't deny the guy has talent, dispite all the attitude.. »

I know that Kanye is not amungst the most liked people because of his antics, but his talent for music is undeniable. I only recently purchased this CD well over a year after the original release date, and after his popularity pummeted. Therefore, I was able to purchase the CD for what some have paid for a single song download. I can't stop listing to certain songs again and again. This was the only one of his albums that I didn't buy within days of release. In my oppinion Kanye is now 4 for 4, with about a 4.5 rating average on a 5 point scale.

Rating: (5 out of 5) @ 2010-01-20

« A heartbreaking result... »

I don't think that anyone out there is going to fight you on the fact that Kanye West is a ridiculous individual. He is an egotistical maniac who is so hyped up on himself that he lacks any and all tact that is required to substantiate his own talent. He is a very adventurous and visionary musician and his talent is unquestionable, but it is hard to really enjoy his work when you are constantly reminded of how horrible he is. That said, I have never really been one to label a person's artistic contributions based on their personal lives.

So I purchased `808s & Heartbreak' based on the fact that `Heartless' is one of the best songs of the decade.

I really wanted to love this album. I wanted to be able to spout, once again, on the fact that artistic merit is in no way related to one's social habits. Sadly, `808s & Heartbreak' is so far outside of Kanye's comfort zone that it becomes an admirable mess. It is awkward, uneven (at times even uninteresting) and underwhelming across the board really. I really feel that Kanye has courage as an artist, and he really tried some commendable things here, but in the end it is only really commendable if it is pulled off right; and Kanye doesn't pull this off.

It's a conceptual album, but the concept seems to get lost somewhere along the way.

I'll start by saying that `Pinocchio Story' is totally unnecessary. It doesn't belong here; it is basically inaudible and just painful to listen to. I don't even consider it a part of the album. It's just, awkward.

I'll start from the bottom and work my way up.

The two-star tracks...

The opening song `Say You Will' should have been a great kick start to the album. It had some elements of technical excitement going for it, but in the end it winds up far too long and far too underwhelming. There is no `pop', no `bang for my buck' so-to-speak. It just falls flat instead of stirring my attention. `Street Lights' is just rather boring, and `RoboCop' is campy. `RoboCop' may be the worst track on the album. It's just really cheesy and that's not just the horribly written dialog present, but the actual musical arrangement is just cringe worthy.

So far we have:

11) RoboCop
10) Say You Will
09) Street Lights

Next, the three-star tracks...

I really don't like `Welcome to Heartbreak' as a whole, but in parts I find something there to at least admire. The whole auto-tune facet of the entire album has been ridiculed to death, so I'm trying to stay away from that part of the equation. I really felt that lyrically, this is the strongest track on the album. Musically I also felt that it really had a nice structure. Sadly, the way Kanye delivers each word is so void of any emotion it basically does away with any impact that song could have had. `Amazing' and `Bad News' are really muddy, but they are at least entertaining for the most part. `Amazing' is completely owned by Young Jeezy, so much so that Kayne is completely overshadowed.

So, we have:

08) Bad News
07) Welcome to Heartbreak
06) Amazing

Now, the four-star tracks...

Yes, `Love Lockdown' is a good song. It was the first single off the album and one that I enjoyed. It showed a new side to Kanye and one that was unexpected yet intriguing. If only the rest of the album could have lived up to this standard (and this isn't even that `amazing' after repeated listens). The drumming is instantly recognizable and memorable and just, well, very intriguing. The song makes you want to hear more. I really want to love `See You In My Nightmares', and for the most part I do. Lil Wayne makes everything better, and he OWNS this song. If this was just his solo effort it may very well be the best thing on the album, but Kanye drags it down a tad here. His aggressive spewing in parts ("that and you know") is awkward and unflattering. It's funny because usually I find Kanye to be the best part of the songs he guest raps in. `Coldest Winter' is well done, but it is a tad boring. I still rank it pretty high because it is one of Kanye's better vocal efforts.

So:

05) Coldest Winter
04) Love Lockdown
03) See You in My Nightmares

And now, the five-star tracks...

As I mentioned, `Heartless' is basically one of the best songs of the past decade (see, I am not against Kanye). The song is new, fresh and very imaginative. I only wish that the rest of the album had achieved such greatness. The only song that comes close is `Paranoid'. There is a life to this track that is not found on any of the other songs. It is far from boring. It is fun, funky and exciting. I found myself thoroughly entertained. Sure, it is not your typical Kanye (then again, none of this album is typical for him) but it just captures such energy.

In the end, I'm very disappointed with this album. I give it a low C. He could have had a brilliant masterpiece on his hands had he really honed this, but maybe this is so far beyond him that he would have been best to walk away from it. It is an admirable attempt, but I cannot commend him on the finished product.

Rating: (3 out of 5) @ 2009-12-28

« Thanks »

CD came quickly and in great condition! I only like 2 of the songs though. Thank you!

Rating: (2 out of 5) @ 2009-12-21

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List Price:	$13.98
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