The College Dropout
Kanye WestSolid beginning up and down
Solid beginning up and down
Very similar not bad but that crazy. Fine
This one’s sitting right in the middle for me. The production is incredible, easily some of the best I’ve heard so far. The instrumentals carry everything. There’s so much variation and it all works in its own way, full of layered sounds that feel alive and unpredictable. The beats keep changing and each one has its own energy. The lyrics don’t do as much for me. They repeat a lot and sometimes get buried under the noise, but the production more than makes up for it. Jimmy and Paper Planes are the standouts. Jimmy feels hypnotic, and Paper Planes finally gives that payoff the rest of the album keeps teasing. It’s not a 4 for me, but it’s higher than a 3. If I could, I’d give it a 3.5
Really good album. Has a mix of very many great tracks, the transitions on the listens are phenomenal, and standouts are Move Over and Half Moon
Not bad at all, just not really my cup of tea. I can appreciate the quality. Her voice is strong and the production is clean, but the album didn't fully connect with me. Still, “Water With the Wine” and “People” stood out as highlights and felt more emotionally resonant. If half-stars were an option, this would probably be a 2.5. But since I’ve given stronger albums a 3, this lands at a 2. Solid effort, just not something I see myself revisiting.
Wow, this is exactly what I started this challenge for. It feels like driving through an empty city at night with headlights cutting through fog. There’s tension beneath every beat, but it never explodes. It just keeps you suspended. It’s a bit therapeutic, and I’m confused about why I’m so into it. Also, I don’t think there’s a genuinely bad song. I’m not giving it five stars because I’m not sure it has replay value, but experiencing it on a cold workday morning while getting things done was genuinely an amazing feeling. The standout is Aisha because the way it arrives after so much quiet feels like a release, a kind of crescendo to everything before it. Definitely best experienced with noise-canceling headphones.
Thought I would love this one a lot since I’m a big Strokes fan. As much as I love some of their songs, hearing the full album feels different. The highs are great, the beats hit, and it has that indie sound I’ve fallen for over the years. But overall it feels mid. Maybe I missed the cultural moment that made it special, because right now it’s just okay. A few amazing tracks surrounded by a lot of same-sounding ones. It has sparks of what made them great, but not the fire yet. My favorite track is Trying Your Luck because it captures the softer side of their sound
Not a big fan overall, but I can appreciate why people love it. The production is clean, dark, and big, and This Corrosion stands out as the one that really works for me. The rest felt too slow and detached to connect with, even though I can see the vision behind it.
Blur starts with promise but quickly loses its grip. Song 2 is a pure burst of fun and noise that still holds up, but most of the album drifts between half-formed ideas and filler. Country Sad Ballad Man feels like it’s building toward something that never comes. nd the middle section struggles. 2/5
My Aim Is True is just a good listen. Every song works, and before I knew it, I was bopping through the whole thing. Nothing felt out of place or dull. Alison still stands out as the one that really sticks, but the whole album just feels easy to enjoy. 4/5