CD Review – Kanye West: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Kanye West
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Roc-A-Fella

Kanye West could have released anything after his last album and it would have been better than the disaster that was 808s & Heartbreak. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy should bring a sigh of relief to fans who were worried about it being anything like Kanye’s previous release. However, those who are looking for an album of songs that feature a simple hook with a verse/chorus/verse structure should look elsewhere. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy showcases West’s ability to write and create songs that are more than just a quick line to hum along to; the shortest song, “Dark Fantasy,” is almost five minutes long, and tracks like “Blame Game” (ft. John Legend) and “Runaway” (ft. Pusha T) are over seven minutes long.

The album has a dark vibe to it with chromatic dissonance, heavily distorted vocals, and fuzzy synths. There are numerous guest appearances from the likes of Jay-Z, Dwele, KiD CuDi, and many others. Kanye had a lot to think about after dismal results with 808s & Heartbreak, and it’s evident that My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is a brave step in a new direction that is pushing the boundaries of popular hip hop.

Paul Bogdan
Arts Writer