Kanye West — Graduation

Graduation

Roc-a-fella/Universal

Noah Love (CHARTattack)

09/11/2007 1:37pm

As music superstars go, Kanye West is a walking contradiction. On one hand, he's a boundlessly talented producer and surprisingly engaging with a tremendous sense of humour (see the Zack Galifianakis/Bonnie "Prince" Billy, West-endorsed video for "Can't Tell Me Nothing"). But on the other, he's a whiny, egomaniacal diva who has shown himself a poor loser at not one, but two MTV Video Awards shows. The one place where you can mostly forget about who West is and just appreciate why the world's come to know him in the first place is on disc. Graduation is positively stacked with hit-worthy hip-hop, most of it oddly based on a sample list that would make even the most comprehensive music collectors scratch their heads. Some of the artists West cribbed from include Elton John, Steely Dan, Mountain, Laura Nyro and Michael Jackson. Summer smash hit "Stronger" is worthy of the repeat plays — its "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" underpinning somehow sounding more Daft Punk than the Daft Punk song it originated from. Less Jon Brion production means less symphonic touches, but, frankly, it's nice to hear one of this generation's best producers living up to his promise and putting out an album full of songs that are as catchy as everyone had hoped they'd be. Plus, there are no skits and the guest vocalists, including Young Jeezy and Lil Wayne, blend in rather than deviate from the main attraction. West is still finding his stride as a lyricist and I could have done without Chris Martin crooning over "Homecoming," but these transgressions are easily ignored when "Good Life," "Barry Bonds" and "Big Brother" blast through your speakers.