Kanye West September 6, 2007
I’ve been meaning to post for a while, but most of the month of August was devoted to preparing for Burning Man. This was my 9th year on the playa, and certainly the best time I’ve had there. Someone set the man on fire during a lunar eclipse Monday night. There were maybe 2k people awake for it and definitely the most intimate burn I’ve experienced. I thought this was the perfect thing to shake up the festival a bit and I hope that BMorg doesn’t try to prosecute to the fullest extent. Depending on what they do, I may or may not go back again. I’ve enjoyed watching the festival evolve over the last decade, and feel that it just keeps getting better.
I have to admit that I was a bit apprehensive about the new Kanye West album after hearing the first few singles and not loving them. Generally, I’ve taken to everything he’s released immediately and love everything he’s produced. Stronger and Can’t tell me Nothin’ were, in my opinion, bad introductions to this album. When I heard them, I was afraid Kanye West had shifted into the category of mastubatory rappers who like to talk about how badass they are.
After giving Graduation a few listens, I love it. I wasn’t stunned like I was with the new Common album the first time through, and there are definitely tracks I don’t like. Regardless, I think kanye west has done it again and pulled of another solid release! My favorite lyric is “Everything I’m not made me everything I am”. It resonates very much with me and where I’m at with my life.
I’m going to focus on his new release in this post, and perhaps do a followup with my favorites from other albums, and the production work he’s done over the years.
