"Graduation - Kanye West" Kanye's Finest On Display

 

Side note: why is it kind of hard to get a decent quality version of the album cover for this album? 

     It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these hasn’t it. I suppose that’s partially my fault but work is work I suppose. I mean Kanye does have a spotty legacy but what can I say, this is by far my favourite album from him if memory serves me right. It’s insanely catchy and the sampling and production on this album are simply unmatched, this is what made me really enjoy Kanye’s music. It’s kind of sad watching his downfall to be honest because he’ll definitely be looked back as one of those artists which is a shame because I genuinely do love this album for all it has to offer. I wouldn’t call it perfect by any means but it’s basically what I want from an album that I want to listen to over and over again. So, without further ado, my track-by-track scores.

Graduation – Kanye West

Good Morning – 75/100 A strong opener to this album, the swooning good morning is so good I love it. It’s a bit of taste into what’s to come, it’s uplifting and anthemic. Overall, it’s actually pretty plain though so I can’t really give it a higher score

Champion – 85/100 I really love the chorus and the sample that this song draws from. The Steely Dan song that it draws from is also good but this song is oddly inspiring it just makes me want to stand up and dance.

Stronger – 80/100 Oddly enough I don’t really listen to either this song or the song it samples that much. It’s not that it’s a bad song but I guess I’ve just heard it so much so that’s why. The song still bangs though even if it might be a bit aged. 

I Wonder – 83/100 This album just continues to deliver I don’t know what to tell you. I’ll admit that it’s kind of the perfect album for me and a lot more pop oriented listeners because it’s just like you’re hearing a bunch of hits that are quite accessible but they’re just so dang catchy.

Good Life – 80/100 This album is simply too solid it’s hit after hit. If this album is on I’m smiling and singing along and there’s nothing you can do it’s just too infectious of an album. 

Can’t Tell Me Nothing – 90/100 Need I say more? Braggadocios and proud this song just continues the absolutely insane train of hits that this album has. It really is that solid (until the next two songs but let’s not talk about them for now)

Barry Bonds –  50/100 “With something crazy on my arm, uh-uh-hum, And here’s another hit, Barry Bonds”. I don’t know just something about the delivery of the hook of this song is so off. Like this song is fine but after what was just delivered it really does make the drop off feel steeper than it really is.

Drunk and Hot Girls – 25/100🧍‍♂️Kanye what in the world is this song. It really just makes me feel like the person standing straight staring forward emoji. Like really? This is what you decided to put on this album?

Flashing Lights – 85/100 Hmmmmmmmm. A Kanye line about Nazi’s? Oh how the times have changed. In all seriousness though this song is seriously catchy, the synths are immaculate man.

Everything I Am – 77/100 I don’t know if I’m the biggest fan of the DJ scratches on this song, it really does make this song feel like it’s a bit older than it should be. However, despite that the simple piano tune is so effective. 

The Glory – 78/100 I’ll admit I could see the sample on this song being a bit annoying because it’s a bit high pitched but this song is still darn fun. this album is getting back on track.

Homecoming – 85/100 I’m not the biggest Coldplay or Chris Martin fan but the chorus on this song makes me feel like I’m the biggest man in the room, which I guess is how Kanye always felt. This love for Chicago is kind of nice I always felt like it was admirable to rep your hometown so proudly.

Big Brother – 78/100 I really like the story on this song about how Jay-Z and Kanye met. I guess it’s weird to think about because I didn’t really listen to Kanye until after but it’s nice to hear about their friendship and what it once used to be.

Good Night – 50/100 I think I remembered why I don’t remember this song at all. Graduation really ended like this? Like no offense Kanye but why does the instrumentation sound so fuzzy? In like a bad way too, just like how the vocals kind of sound like a shitty chiptune. Sadly, nothing’s changed this song is quite mid.

Final Score: 80/100

Look, this album may not have ended out the strongest, but it sure did have one of the catchiest runs I have ever seen an album. It was hit after hit and it seemed like Kanye could do no run, I wouldn’t skip a song because they were all just that fun, frankly I think I like this album better than I did when I first listened to it. Now are the low points kind of low? Yeah, they make me question how they even made it onto an album like this because it feels like it was immaculately crafted at this point. I’m kind of disappointed that what defines Kanye’s legacy is not going to be great ones like this and just the fact that he became the Nazi rapper. Literally, as of writing this, of the albums I’ve listened to I don’t know any album other than Discovery that has been able to be this successful with the sampling they’ve used in an album. Like it’s actually impressive how well crafted this album is. Of course, I love this album because I enjoy pop rap, so it’s the Kanye album that plays to my sensibilities the most. All I have to say is, rap fan or not, pop fan or not, if you haven’t listened to this album, why haven’t you? I guess you have to separate the art from the artist but this album is insanely catchy it’s like an ear worm you want to stay in your brain.