Kanye West’s latest album takes the artist beyond hip-hop with tastes of tribal rock, electro beats and tender tunes. (
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Albums of the Week
Kanye West
“Yeezus”
*** 1/2
Call it hip-hop if you must, but in reality, the latest coming of Kanye West operates on a far more expansive and ambitious level than that. “Yeezus” is every bit as bold and brash as the Chicagoan promised. From the thumping, electro blasts of “On Sight” and “I Am a God” to the tribal rock rhythms that run through “Black Skinhead,” the onslaught makes you feel like you’re being bludgeoned by sound — and it’s a thrilling experience. The release, his sixth solo studio effort, has lighter moments — such as the tender and remarkably soulful finale of “Bound 2,” which sees Yeezy getting surprisingly mushy — but for the most part, this is an album that is unapologetically brash in nearly every facet. He may lose fans in the short term, but once his achievement is realized, “Yeezus” is likely to make Kanye’s artistic status grow exponentially.
Kelly Rowland
“Talk a Good Game”
* 1/2
SUCH is the deeply personal nature of Kelly Rowland’s fourth solo album, it really wouldn’t be a surprise if her therapist is taking a cut of the royalties. The former Destiny’s Child member goes deep inside herself throughout “Talk a Good Game,” most notably on the much-discussed “Dirty Laundry,” which covers (in saddening detail) her feelings of envy toward Beyoncé and an abusive past relationship. The need to share also extends to more risqué content, especially during “Freak” and “Kisses Down Low,” but while Rowland’s lyrical honesty is commendable, many of the songs are enslaved to dull and often hammy production throughout. And so, as the sedate R&B jams keep coming, the desire to listen to Rowland’s innermost thoughts gradually wanes. Sorry Kelly, but simply talking a good game isn’t quite enough.
Downloads of the Week
J. Cole
“Villuminati”
***
FOR those turned off by Kanye’s new adventures and left cold by Jay-Z’s corporate rap antics of teaming with Samsung, J. Cole may fill the vacuum nicely. The suave and self-assured lead track off his impressive second album “Born Sinner” shows that he’s primed and ready for an ascendance into the big time. It won’t be long now.
Mac Miller Feat. Earl Sweatshirt
“I’m Not Real”
** 1/2
THE fratty feel of Miller’s first full-length album hasn’t completely disappeared, but the Pittsburgh rapper certainly gets much more introspective on the follow-up “Watching Movies With the Sound Off.” With its mournful piano notes and hazy ambience, this impressive collaboration, in particular, suggests that he may yet develop a strong off-campus following.
Sigur Rós
“Kveikur”
***
THE Icelandic group’s indecipherable wailing has becoming repetitive over the past few years but thankfully, they’ve taken steps to beef up their sound on the new album “Kveikur.” The title track is one such example, injecting their typically grand sound with a rhythmic muscle that’s almost savage. They really should rock more often.
3OH!3
“You’re Gonna Love This”
Half a star
IT’S hard to think of another act that writes music so gratingly synthetic and simplistic as 3OH!3’s electro-pop, but as “You’re Gonna Love This” (from the new album “Omens”) shows, the Colorado duo is sticking to that rancid formula. Bad euro-disco beats, moronic lyrics sung in horrid Auto-Tune and scoring a negative on the personality scale. You’re gonna hate this.
Empire of the Sun
“Alive”
**
THE Australian duo’s second album, “Ice on the Dune,” continues their cosmic dance-pop blueprint with the psychedelic bounce of “Alive” being one of its highlights. A blissful sound though it is, you can’t help but feel that “Empire of the Sun” is resting on its laurels just a little bit.