These are the 2 most anticipated releases of the year not counting a certain small rapper from New Orleans. Here are my initial thoughts on both albums after hearing them a couple of times. click on the links to stream the albums.
Kanye West 808 & Heartbreaks
Kanye and others keep talking about this record being partially inspired by Phil Collins, but when I listen to the album, it reminds me a lot of Beck's Sea Change album.  Both Beck and Kanye's albums main theme is dealing with a bad break up and feeling a general disconnection from society. In addition, nearly all the songs on the album are similar and almost play as one long song as opposed to separate songs. Kanye uses the autotune throughout which usually annoys me, but is not as grating the way he uses it here. (though it still can get a little annoying after a while) Overall, the album does work really well for what it is intended to be; a soundtrack for the end of a relationship. Furthermore, it is a nice change up from the past 3 great Kanye albums that where all pretty musically and themematically similar. However, I hope that the 808 version of Kanye is just a one time thing. Overall Grade B+
Guns & Roses: Chinese Democracy
This album is a jumbled mess, but I can't help but love it a little bit. The songs all sound like Frankenstein creations of mash ups of different songs that where recorded years apart. Actually, considering how long it took Axl to make this, all the different band members, and different producers involved that is most likely the case. It is kinda like Micheal Douglas' character in the movie Wonder Boys who created one great book and has taken way too long to write his follow up leading the book to become a 1000 page mess. Some of the songs feature 80s style metal guitar along with more modern electronic drum loops. None of it should work in the slightest, but it usually does. Maybe it is because I grew up singing Mr. Brownstone as a little tot while my peers where singing Sesame Street and Disney songs, or maybe because Axl in his crazy old state is still a more compelling front man than any other of the bands that try to pass off as hard rock today, but I can't stop listening to this. Songs like "This I Love"  and "Catcher In The Rye" do a decent job of emulating classic old school GNR style ballads. The title track Chinese Democracy sets the mood much like Welcome To The Jungle did about 20 years ago with murmuring voices in the background that are slowly joined by loud drums and a menacing guitar riff. And when Axl sing the lyrics below at the start of the song "Madagascar" , you can't help root for him especially if you are someone who has come back from the brink. Overall Grade: C+ (for non Axl devotes) A- (for those that still believe)
"I won't be told anymore
That I've been brought down in this storm
And left so far out from the shore
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore

No I won't be told anymore
That I've been brought back in this storm
And left so far out from the shore
That I can't find my way back, my way anymore

No, I..
No, I...

Forgive that they teared down my soul
Bless them that they might grow old
A dream that's forgotten may know
That it's never too late"