However, while it has objectively aged dramatically, that age subjectively gives the album so much more of a nostalgic charm, and I love it for that.

West is angry, and its a bleak departure from some of the witty and hilarious bars featured on earlier projects.

This wouldnt necessarily be a problem, but it doesnt excuse the fact that a majority of the lyrics simply sound uninspired.

From trips to 7-Eleven, to demanding croissants, to even comparing himself to a God, Kanye was at an all-time low lyrically.

Even so, tracks like the soul based Bound 2, is a calm within the storm, and of course Black Skinhead is a rap-rock anthem representing all of Wests frustrations in a smaller, energetic, and heart pumping package.

As such, the album did a sufficient job marrying that pain with Kanyes frustration from past attempts and regrets surrounding love.

However, unlike Yeezus, West took that and dialed it into synthesized pop, and while being an extreme left turn from his previous styles, the album ultimately continued putting West on the map with tracks like, Heartless.

However, the cheesy instrumentals coupled with the tacky autotune in examples like, Robocop, create an album that has grown extremely stale over the years.

However the song,Paranoid, has found a special place in my heart with its repetitive beat and its simplistic step changes, and I also enjoy the slow and methodical opener, Say you will.

Its a collaboration between two rappers growing in age and competing in relevance with other rising artists such as Drake at the time.

As such, it almost seems like theyre trying a little too hard, as, underneath all of the gloss and shininess, neither Jay-Z or Kanye brings their A game all that much, creating unremarkable tracks especially in the second half of the album.

Also, some of the unconventional samplings backfire and become extremely annoying especially in songs like, Gotta Have It or, Welcome to the Jungle.

I do enjoy the rugged synth-based, No church in the wild reminiscent of Graduations Flashing Lights, and the laser light show that is, Lift off, even though its essentially a Beyonc song.

Its a smorgasbord of variety, covering dozens of styles and even qualities over one bloated album.

Theres,Ultralight Beam, where Kanye and Chance The Rapper travel together on a beautiful space odyssey as they discuss the complexities of religion, but, theres also Highlights, another throwaway career accomplishment track.

The Life of Pablo contains a wide variety of tracks and a disparity of quality, and really, its kind of a mess.

Its synthesized majesty creates an incredibly satisfying energy throughout the entire album.

Its yet another celebration track turned into an entire album, but its the sound of Kanyes lyrics poured over the electricity thats so magical.

It was the first Kanye album I was exposed to, but the tracks that hooked me years ago still continue to grab me today.

And who could forget the timeless and iconic momentum building explosion that is Stronger.

While West disguises Chicago as a love interest role model in Homecoming, its piano chords sound super outdated.

And you can feel the 2000s just as much as the love emanating from the bromance track, Big Brother.

Kanye West Graduation Instrumentals