Edit: After digesting this for a few days, I think the concept is great, but it will be a hard pill to swallow for some. Much like yeezus and 808's i think it will grow on those people over time.
Its strongest focus is being unfocused - playing off Kanye's erratic persona just as much as TLOP did, except I think its even more evident here. The polar nature of the songs and song transitions should come off jarring, but for me, feel genuine. The third track, "All Mine", opens with a brief, haunting church organ, but immediately shifts into an abrasive, in-your-face beat and flow. Kanye is unapologetic about his base sexual urges and unleashes a flurry of uber-quotable one-liners. Before you even have time to settle into the song, "Wouldn't Leave" opens with a beat that sounds straight off of Bon Iver's "22, a million". Glitchy but beautiful, its full of layered vocals, resonant piano chords and fluttery synths. Ye is sincerely sorry for causing his wife distress because of his recent outbursts in the media. He's both insecure and confident, however, telling Kim she could leave him right as the chorus rings a sort of solemn sureness that she'd stay. Similar paradoxes twist most of the songs on "ye", notably the opener and "No mistakes" as well.
Speaking of the bizarre opening track, who else could say what Kanye says in the intro? What crazy state of mind must you be in? Who is he talking about? His wife? Jay-Z? Its probably his other manic half, the catalyst to his creative genius that drives him to wear a MAGA hat and declare slavery "a choice". His verse has a cycling moment, where he changes from positive to braggadocious. Kanye left the building, this is Yeezy. His verse is no longer flowy and sing-songy. Its punchy and the beat switches to match. He's off the defensive and now he's on the attack. Its a call to the haters to get out of the way. The following tracks match the latter part of this verse. "This ain't no disability" he screams like smeagol's evil half gollum, "I'm a superhero! AAAAHHHH!"
The real standout though is Kanye's most grandiose track since MBDTF's "Runaway", "Ghost Town". Glorious and rich and passionate in many ways, this song features both a crooning Cudi and West, a hopeful intro from Jon Legend and a euphoric outro. The singing from the duo is imperfect but raw and emotional (much like "Runaway") and the production just as opulent. This is Kanye during loving manic episode.
The album closes with a heartfelt message to West's daughters, acknowledging the feelings he had towards women as a young man while trying to protect his children's innocence from emotionally "ruthless" and "savage" men. "Cause now i see women as something to nurture, not something to conquer" he admits, as all father figures realize one day.
Empathizing with Mr. West will be the listeners biggest hurdle. "ye" is only about him: its personal and mirrors his at-one-time big brother's "4:44". The lyrics are often cheesy and plain and the album lacks cohesiveness, which even if its a theme, will put off many. Also, probably my biggest complaint, is't the album's brevity, but the fact the ending feels like an incomplete thought - like its missing the last chapter (the pitfalls of being manic!).
Overall, for me, I buy into the persona. This fits right in with the rest of Kanye's projects from this era. Its controversial, eclectic and brash just like he is and I love it.