When I tell friends to listen to Vespertine, I usually tell them to take their time – give it multiple listens, sit with the lyrics, let it reveal itself gradually. I’m not saying that to play the role of some pretentious music enthusiast; I say it because the album is layered in a way that you can't possibly get in a single pass. It is built from intimate textures – micro-beats, soft percussion, breath, and electricity – so the emotional impact arrives like a ... read more
While there are some absolute highlights of Kanyes career on here, there also are a few misses and several tracks that are pretty much just alright.