With Honors

Here is another album that is WELL worth your time, Kanye West's Graduation. This is the third album that West has released and it is another gem. I am a professed rock fan, but good music is good music, which is where this album lands. Gone are the regrettable skits that often find themselves on hip hop records, so the listener no longer has to wait for new songs to begin while the artist attempts to become a comedian. Each song is very strong and shows the production prowess that has made West one of the most prolific hip hop producers of the last decade. The standout songs include "Good Life," "Champion," "Everything I Am," "The Glory," and "Big Brother." Each of these songs are personal and reflective and show the growth that West has gone through as an artist. His brash sense of self-importance is still evident, but it is scaled back from his previous efforts. Although I do miss the depth that co-producer Jon Brion brought to the last West album (I am also biased toward Brion's old work), West is able to pick up where the last album left off. The listener can hear Brion's influence subtle fashions throughout the album, adding to the depth of each song. One misstep on the record is the inclusion of Coldplay's Chris Martin on the song "Homecoming." People may be surprised to hear me say that, but "Homecoming" is a strong enough without Martin's appearance feels forced and unnecessary. Overall, this is an excellent album and worth obtaining.