Has 'Love Lockdown' got you excited for more Kanye?
After debuting his new song at the MTV Video Music Awards this Sunday, signs are pointing to a winter release for Kanye West's new album, which, according to retailers Amazon.com and Target.com, is titled "808's & Heartbreak."
But there's a slight mystery here, as the album is listed as being released by a Pendulum Records. Pendulum Records? Kanye is signed to Roc-A-Fella/Island, and Pendulum is in the midst of working the debut gospel album from Regina Belle.
The official Roc-A-Fella site has no mention of the album, Kanye hasn't responded via his blog, and we've requested some confirmation/denial from a Kanye spokeperson, which we have yet to receive. Kanye, has however, made "Love Lockdown" available as a free download on his site, and you should go grab it, as it's a terrific song.
Retailers are listing the new album with a Dec. 16 street, meaning it would be eligible to lose a Grammy for album of the year in 2010.
"Love Lockdown" saw West again going in a new direction. It's arguably West's sparsest, spookiest song to date, built around a stalking bass, a menacing, jazz-like piano and a haunting rhythmic march. West, singing "I ain't loving you, the way I wanted to," is putting his electronically enhanced vocals front and center. He's half singing, half lecturing, and his gradual build matches the torment and tension of the music.
But others weren't so kind. The New York Times' Jon Pareles wrote that West "made the mistake of singing rather than rapping," and Simon Vozick-Levinson, one of the Pop Watchers at Entertainment Weekly, wrote "This song would be awesome ... if Kanye gave it to an actual singer."
But the vocal approach West takes in "Love Lockdown" isn't all that different from some of his past works (see "Drunk and Hot Girls"), and it sounds even more damning on the single version than it did live (although I do think West goes a little overboard on the vocal manipulation). But it again proves West to be the rarest of superstars -- an artist unafraid to challenge himself, and to trust his instincts enough that he'll perform a new song on such a staged and safe event as the MTV Video Music Awards, where a comedian with some scripted and amateurish political jokes passes as rebellion.
Photo credit: Associated Press
can't wait for 808's and heartbreak
Posted by: gcg | September 10, 2008 at 02:17 PM
To quote Ms. Whitney Houston, "Oh HELL TO THE YES!!"
Kanye is taking it to the next level. Big time.
Posted by: Jordan Catalano | September 10, 2008 at 05:16 PM
Amazing song, but I believe that the MTV version had more ... umph.
Posted by: Josh | September 10, 2008 at 07:11 PM
Kanye is not "taking it to the next level." If anything, he seems to be jumping down to a lower one. He cannot carry a single song with his singing, let alone a whole album. I understand that he's being innovative (somewhat, if you ignore how he's copying The Love Below), but innovation doesn't always work. I hope the rest of the songs are sung. And if they are, I pray that they're not sung by Kanye.
Posted by: Clay Atlas | September 10, 2008 at 09:52 PM
i feel the exact same way it explained it to my girl perfect
Posted by: ronald tucker | September 19, 2008 at 01:44 PM
The song is fearless. Bold move by Mr. West. Its good to know that in a landscape of Hannah Montanas we still have true talents like Kanye who can take chances and pull them off. He has yet to let us down.
Posted by: Brandon | September 24, 2008 at 09:37 PM
i loooooooooove this song.. it is the best ever since blood diamonds.
Posted by: fyfyfyfy | October 13, 2008 at 07:25 AM