New Kanye Album & 4 xmases

Posted on: December 21st, 2008 by Jeremy Schoemaker

I bought the new Kanye West album off itunes on friday and have been listing to it over the weekend.

Is it just me or is it very disappointing? I LOVED the first 3 Kanye Albums…. but in this one it has that vibraphone effect on EVERY TRACK… I think its annoying as crap.

So is it just me? What do you guys think?

On another note I went to see Four Christmases with my wife last night and …. I have not laughed so hard in a theater since I went to see the 40 Year Old Virgin.

There are TONS of movies out I want to see…

Post written by Jeremy Schoemaker

Hi I am Jeremy Schoemaker and ShoeMoney.com is my blog. 99% of the post here are done by me but you will see others occasionally make guest posts. This blog is fun to write but for my day job I run several online companies.

More about Jeremy at http://www.shoemoney.com!

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94 Comments. What Say You?

  1. Shannon
    December 21, 2008 at 8:50 pm

    What….I love that album. I think its soothing. I like down my homework and a little marketing while listening to that album.

    • Shannon
      December 21, 2008 at 8:51 pm

      I meant to say doing my home….lol sorry…

    • Ben Pei
      December 22, 2008 at 8:29 am

      Yup vibraphone is meant to give that dreamy effect..

      • Typhoon
        December 22, 2008 at 8:57 am

        Yea, it gives awesome effect.

      • Goran Website
        January 12, 2009 at 4:13 am

        Yeah, that dreamy effect is a bit hypnotic. I kinda dig the two singles of the album that I’ve heard so far. It’s different, therefore refreshing. But I still think it’s too enhanced with effects, which takes away the raw art behind it. So on an artistic point of view, it sucks.

    • Nashville4U
      December 22, 2008 at 10:10 am

      I am with shoe on this one I thought the album was terrible. It is all autotune and no rap at all really. I like the old kanye with the lyrics that are catchy but also are well thought out. Everyone is trying to do the T-Pain autotune method now and it is really taking away from the music.

      • Stuart
        December 23, 2008 at 8:58 am

        The album isn’t meant to be a rap album, sorry you guys didn’t realize this before purchasing it. I actually enjoy the album, I thought the songs were good. It’s meant to be a pop album. Search and read up on Wikipedia.

  2. jtGraphic
    December 21, 2008 at 9:12 pm

    I hadn’t checked out the album out yet, but I’ll definitely check it out now. Speaking of which, what kind of music do you listen to normally? Mostly Hip Hop?

  3. jtGraphic
    December 21, 2008 at 9:13 pm

    Oh, and by the way – thank god your comments are working ok. It takes like 2 minutes to submit a comment on John Chow’s site right now. It’s probably all of that donated server stuff… Good thing yours are in-house.

    • Tushar
      December 21, 2008 at 11:20 pm

      Same here.

      I love Shoe`s site because he has AJAXed comments and his servers are always super fast.

      • jtGraphic
        December 22, 2008 at 1:05 am

        Shoe, you should sell hosting to John…

        • SEO Tips South Africa
          December 22, 2008 at 5:14 am

          John should take heed that he’ll lose visitors if the experience proves to be unsatisfactory!

        • Tushar
          December 22, 2008 at 12:06 pm

          That’d be the day!

      • Typhoon
        December 22, 2008 at 8:58 am

        Yes Shoemoney servers are really fast..so many visitors daily..But i want to say shoemoney getting 10000’s of visitors daily but alexa rank doesn’t impress me..

        • Tushar
          December 22, 2008 at 12:05 pm

          Alexa rank means little to nothing these days.

        • TYCP Entertainment Magazine
          December 24, 2008 at 4:38 am

          I don’t get why some people pay attention to Alexa. Their stats are always inaccurate.

      • Ben Pei
        December 23, 2008 at 7:40 am

        You can’t say that for sure because it still means something to some epeople..

  4. ethan
    December 21, 2008 at 9:22 pm

    I think the Vibraphone effect is the only way that they could make Kanye actually sound good singing.

    His other stuff was solid, but this album was a change-up that did not need to be thrown…

    • Arfan
      December 21, 2008 at 11:13 pm

      I honestly found the change to be a good change, i really liked it.

      • ShoutWhat
        December 22, 2008 at 9:30 am

        Yea I think I liked the new changes in this album, though I thought that the previous album sounds better in some way.

    • R
      December 22, 2008 at 7:18 am

      The Vibraphone effect is one of the biggest things now in hip hop / r&b, but then when you have people like little wayne moaning into the mic, you understand where that type of music is going. Thats why you see all these old school people coming back up, like MC Lyte, she has a new group called “Almost September” that has been touring the whole USA. They know there is a void to fill with all these fakers using effects.

      • Dick
        December 22, 2008 at 10:07 am

        The effects are part of modern music.

  5. salzano
    December 21, 2008 at 9:23 pm

    c’mon man, auto-tune is just as good as being able to sing.

  6. dan
    December 21, 2008 at 9:25 pm

    808’s just gets boring after a while. A couple tracks with the voice synth wouldn’t be too bad. I do dig the pinochio track though.

    Twitter @dhutes

  7. Philippa
    December 21, 2008 at 9:37 pm

    I honestly have never liked him but I have heard the same thing already. His other albums were way better and in this one the songs sound repetitive.

  8. Mr. Meltdown
    December 21, 2008 at 9:48 pm

    I have to agree with you on this one. Kanye is trying to hard to reach a new audience and as a result he is losing his loyal fans. He is a rapper not a singer, if I wanted to buy a pop record I would have did just that. I only hope that he get’s his soul back before the Devil sells it on ebay. LOL

    • Dick
      December 22, 2008 at 10:09 am

      This music is exclusively for young people. This is business!

  9. BusinessX
    December 21, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    Appreciate the thumbs up for Four Christmases, now I have a reason to go. Been wanting to see it, but without hearing reviews didn’t want to take a chance either. So, my last movie was the Punisher.

    • Tushar
      December 21, 2008 at 11:22 pm

      You should also take a look at Seven Pounds if you`re looking for other good movies to see.

      • BusinessX
        December 22, 2008 at 4:15 pm

        Thanx for the heads up, I will probably be doing two movies Christmas Day. Although, Frank Miller hasn’t disappointed me yet.

    • Taris Janitens
      December 22, 2008 at 12:09 am

      Yea I’ve heard this movie is a good chuckle for sure!!! My buddy checked it out last weekend – looking forward to seeing it myself!!

  10. Brian
    December 21, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    Yeah, this album is terrible. I listened to it twice just to give it a second chance and it was even worst the second time. Sometimes creative artists get a little too creative and cross the line into trash.

    • Tushar
      December 21, 2008 at 11:21 pm

      Just goes to show that you should stick with your niche and not try to expand everywhere.

      *cough* Yahoo *cough*

  11. Jeremy
    December 21, 2008 at 10:06 pm

    Have you heard Akon’s new CD – Freedom? That is one amazing CD. Not sure about Kanye’s album though.

    • Tushar
      December 21, 2008 at 11:21 pm

      Akon is an amazing artist. He can make the worst of lyrics sound good with sound effects.

      • Typhoon
        December 22, 2008 at 8:59 am

        Yes I heard that but didn’t purchased it just downloaded from torrent site.. :)

        • Tushar
          December 22, 2008 at 12:07 pm

          Shouldn’t say these things in public ;)

        • Jeremy
          December 22, 2008 at 12:48 pm

          lol. I stopped illegally downloading things quite a while ago. Feels more rewarding actually supporting the artists now. No criticism, though. I used to do that. Just takes a personal realization – either that or a letter from a lawyer.

        • Tushar
          December 22, 2008 at 1:08 pm

          Lucky for you the RIAA has stopped suing individuals and now will move on to more major offenders and ISPs.

  12. meethere
    December 21, 2008 at 10:11 pm

    yes, they are not as good as expected..

  13. sillimanster
    December 21, 2008 at 10:24 pm

    Was it in SNL that he sounded crap?

  14. Chester
    December 21, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    I haven’t get his album yet but I will get it.

  15. Rekzai
    December 21, 2008 at 10:52 pm

    I thought the Kanye album was pretty good, “Amazing” is my favorite track,

  16. IamJustinM
    December 21, 2008 at 11:04 pm

    Ya this album seems a little half ass. I really like a couple of the songs, but it’s not “completely great” like his other albums were.

    And ya that auto-tune shit gets annoying real quick. I think he’s been doin too much acid lately.

  17. Arfan
    December 21, 2008 at 11:12 pm

    haha I liked the kanye west song and i think i bought the “vibraphone” by accident too i love all the song except some wierd buzzing noise. However i watched 4 Christmases it was pretty funny especially at the guys dads house when he literally destroyed the house almost lol.

  18. jtGraphic
    December 21, 2008 at 11:18 pm

    I’m listening to the album now. It’s like pop techno. Not what we’re used too…

  19. Tushar
    December 21, 2008 at 11:19 pm

    I don`t like Kanye West, period.

    Never was a fan of his type of music.

    • MMA Web Design
      December 22, 2008 at 7:21 am

      His type of music is Rap. Why didn’t you just say you don’t like Rap.

      • Typhoon
        December 22, 2008 at 8:59 am

        Lolz.. absolutely right

      • Tushar
        December 22, 2008 at 12:08 pm

        Because, I thought I had made it clear that I don’t like his music.

        Not like I’ve heard 100 of his songs, just that I’ve heard a few and I didn’t like them.

  20. Taris Janitens
    December 22, 2008 at 12:01 am

    I haven’t listened to it yet personally!! I’ll check it out tho as I’m a Kayne fan for sure!!!

  21. bread
    December 22, 2008 at 12:46 am

    Agree with you on Kanye.

    Disagree with you on 4 christmases. Too many spells of no humor…..some of the humor was predictable and not that funny. Certainly not one of Vince Vaughn’s finer performances.

  22. Nicholas Chase
    December 22, 2008 at 12:50 am

    Hi Jeremy,

    Just received an email from Sharon that I won a Shoemoney T-Shirt, and an entry in the contest! Hey, that is cool. …

    Of course I will blog about this and send a photo of me wearing your shirt proudly.

    Hope to see you at Affiliate Summit West in Las Vegas next month.

    Respectfully,

    Nicholas Chase – future Super Affiliate and nice guy!
    Twitter.com/nachase
    http://donotreadthisblogunless.blogspot.com/t

    • Typhoon
      December 22, 2008 at 9:00 am

      Congrats for the T-Shirt!

    • Tushar
      December 22, 2008 at 1:06 pm

      Congratulations on the T-Shirt.

      It`s an awesome prize to receive!

  23. myrtle beach condos
    December 22, 2008 at 1:02 am

    yea i’m a kayne fan, but i haven’t heard it yet. I head that movie was good. I want to see the new brad pitt movie coming out christmas day

  24. Kolby Bothe
    December 22, 2008 at 1:49 am

    WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT! this is one of the best CDs I have heard in a long time haha! I LOVE IT! Although I do agree with you that there are a few songs on there that sound pretty strange like they are scratched / altered too much. Overall though I think that the CD is great!

    Just my thoughts…and I am not a big Kanye fan at all but the majority of the songs on this CD hit me…and I like it!

  25. Informixx
    December 22, 2008 at 3:53 am

    are those music from Kanye West this time cool like before?! :D

  26. Greg Ellison
    December 22, 2008 at 5:59 am

    Everyone is harsh on his new album. Greg Ellison

  27. Affiliate Showdown
    December 22, 2008 at 5:59 am

    I used to be a fan of his and now I think he is a douche. Yes I said it! I listened to his album twice. I was just in the mood to listen to music and I listened to one album then my songbird went to his album and played and it was god awful. He is really arrogant and its a shame.

  28. Mubin
    December 22, 2008 at 6:06 am

    May I just make the suggestion of “Pineapple Express”, it is laugh out loud comedy that Hollywood has not seen for a very very long time. Kanye didn’t do shit for this generation, but Seth Rogan… he is the man.

  29. MMA Web Design
    December 22, 2008 at 7:16 am

    It’s not vibraphone, it’s vocoder. He’ll win alot of awards with this album guaranteed. It’s stuck at number one on billboard currently I believe. I saw him on SNL (saturday night live) and he can’t sing for snot. He had some girl in the background hitting the high parts of his song, but the disc is EXCELLENT. It’s clear that he wants to be Chris Martin, Bono and Elvis all wrapped into one rapper. He’s a hardworking individual and just watching him I think we can learn a lot. Especially the fact that he re-invents himself every time to stay on the cutting edge of music.

  30. Ben Pei
    December 22, 2008 at 8:29 am

    Lol Shoe, I am glad you found the time to enjoy these movies.

  31. Nick Stamoulis
    December 22, 2008 at 8:51 am

    I was planning on buying it soon but now i think I might just get something else. I was fan as well of the first three. hmmm

  32. Ian Fernando
    December 22, 2008 at 8:56 am

    interesting I thought it wasnt that good either. the past kanyes were better, even his mixtapes were better. I think kanye is trying to switch up his style, I mean he only raps in one song

  33. Jagdeep
    December 22, 2008 at 9:31 am

    its not just you

    it really is crap

  34. Dick
    December 22, 2008 at 10:06 am

    I liked this album. -(

  35. Nashville4U
    December 22, 2008 at 10:12 am

    I am with you I was as well very disappointed by both the 808’s and heartbreaks.

  36. BlogAngry
    December 22, 2008 at 11:36 am

    I think Kayne is so over rated, did you see him on Saturday night live??

  37. BlogAngry
    December 22, 2008 at 11:38 am

    And you should definitely see Gran Torino, one of the best movie I’ve seen in a long time. I have an article about it, check it out here http://blogangry.com/gran-torino-oscar-contender/

  38. irokm
    December 22, 2008 at 11:45 am

    Shoe, take a look at the background of the album and why/how it was created. You will discover why this album was so different, and maybe in that have a different take towards the album.

  39. Douglas
    December 22, 2008 at 11:49 am

    Hey Shoe, I can’t stand the new release he has on the radio right now. Not a fan of the guy… lol

  40. Steve
    December 22, 2008 at 11:56 am

    I think Kanye West is one of the more talented hip hop artists out there. He is creative and he’s not always talkin’ about the same ol’ bling bling stuff. On the other hand, he is probably the most arrogant artist out there.

    In regards to his new music, I do agree that it’s changed quite a bit from his earlier albums. I think he jumped on the band wagon with that “talk box” sound. I believe Zap and Roger originated it back in the 70s-80s, and it recently came back when T-Pain started using it again. Now we see pretty much everyone using this it, including Lil Wayne and Kanye West. It’s a hot trend, and people will go to where the money is.

  41. Steve
    December 22, 2008 at 11:59 am

    I also liked his 3 first albums, but now he’s getting too crazy with his singing. He needs to stick to his rapping and nice beats.

  42. Ben Joven
    December 22, 2008 at 1:21 pm

    Kanye’s record sales in the UK are thin, he’s definitely trying to globalize his sound to appeal outside of the US and it’s a smart move.

    Kanye is a great Marketer, he’s great at leveraging any opportunity to get visibility and spread his brand to more people.

    4 x-mases kind of sucked..but I love Vince Vaughn and his whole “Swingers” persona never gets old!

  43. Frostfire Gifts
    December 22, 2008 at 3:04 pm

    I loved his 2nd album, 3rd was good also

  44. Free Xbox 360
    December 22, 2008 at 3:08 pm

    the new kanye west album is actually a JOKE.
    it is terrible, he can’t even sing, so why does he try?!

  45. Play Games Win Prizes
    December 22, 2008 at 4:06 pm

    I think you mean “listening” right? :D

    Kanye’s songs are great!

    -Mike

  46. myrtle beach condos
    December 22, 2008 at 4:53 pm

    I’m just going to throw this out there, I was listening to one of the new Kanye songs today on xm radio, the song was “Love Lockdown”

    i’m not sure but he says in the song

    I’m not lovin’ you Way I wanted to
    See I want to move But can’t escape from you
    So I keep it low Keep a secret code
    So everybody else don’t have to know

    hmmm….secret code, keep it low, not wanting others to know?…….. is Kanye telling us he is gay? Love lockdown immediatly made me think

    Lockdown = JAIL

    so is it Love jail or Jail Love? It seems like he may be revealing something to us here.

  47. Learn English Online
    December 22, 2008 at 7:36 pm

    Great album.

  48. massivewidget
    December 22, 2008 at 8:12 pm

    This album was not made for you is all I can think. I also have to wonder why you bought the whole thing on itunes. Seems like you would have heard about this gimmick album and the rotation on the radio…Did you actually like what was on the radio and decide to buy it only to find out that ALL of the other songs suucckkk!?

    • Jeremy Schoemaker
      December 22, 2008 at 8:32 pm

      I actually bought it because I am a fan of Kanye West and have always enjoyed his previous albums.

      • massivewidget
        December 22, 2008 at 9:14 pm

        We have it too. I like 2 or 3 of the songs ok. I still find it hard to believe that you didn’t know anything about the album before you bought it.

  49. Montreal Webmaster
    December 22, 2008 at 10:36 pm

    I watched Transporter 3 (it sucks) , The Traitor (good)

    PS) why did u remove the rate it plugin ?

  50. blackatlanta
    December 22, 2008 at 10:53 pm

    I love it… it is a little deeper than normal, but I really like it. Give it some time Shoe

  51. Paul
    December 23, 2008 at 11:53 am

    There is a link on Yahoo that says he may have been lip-synching on SNL the other night???

  52. Kenneth
    December 23, 2008 at 8:57 pm

    I don’t quite like Kanye’s latest effort even though some say it is a very good album.

  53. TYCP Entertainment Magazine
    December 24, 2008 at 4:39 am

    I’m with you. And another thing – Kanye needs to slow down with the album releases. I feel like he’s releasing two albums a year or something. He should give it a rest & maybe concentrate on coming out with something that will blow his previous albums away.

  54. getondaground
    December 25, 2008 at 6:22 pm

    Kanye’s Album is Pure Garbage, I think he’s lost his mind. But we’ll give him him a pass this time, outta respect for his mom. Kanye has too much skills to be putting out a Phil Collins album. Stick to Hip Hop Kanye.

  55. AJ Kumar
    January 3, 2009 at 5:14 am

    I agree that it is different, however, I’ve grown to it and totally dig this style now. It’s like the whole repetition is key concept.

    AJ Kumar

  56. Mr. School Fundraising ideas
    January 5, 2009 at 11:02 am

    Sorry Shoe I’m not a big Kanye listener, well besides any free radio. However I do agree with the 4 Christmases it looks really funny. Some other movies I’d like to see are StepBrothers, Watchmen, X-men Origins, Terminator Salvation, Marley and Me, Paul Bart Mall Cop, Role Models, Lost boys 2, and probably others that I can’t Remember. I should just work part-time in a movie rental place so I can watch them.

    Thanks
    Mr. School Fundraising Ideas

  57. OnlineHustler
    January 8, 2009 at 11:45 am

    The album is pretty hot, original to the hip hop community, I agree it is a bit depressing but what’s the guy gonna rap about, his mom passed away recently.

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