Kanye West, JESUS IS KING, Album Review
Kanye West
JESUS IS KING
Album Review
The wait has been pain-staking. The ninth studio album by world-renowned musical genius Kanye West has been one that we had been waiting for for roughly 13 whole months.
After being announced as Yandhi way back in September 2018, I was one of the fans who'd thought it to be a little early to be releasing yet another album, considering Kanye had already released two existing projects; his eight solo album Ye, and his collaboration project with Kid Cudi in the form of KIDS SEE GHOSTS.
Despite this anxiety I felt towards what could've potentially be a very rushed album, I feel that the right decision was made in delaying it.
However, with more and more delays occurring, Yandhi eventually transitioned its title into JESUS IS KING, and essentially became the album equivalent to Brexit.
The main reason behind the title change, we would later find out, was more or less a significant change in Kanye's heart; taking a far more religious and sacred approach towards this newest project, and becoming somewhat of a more humbled Kanye in the process.
Despite the change in the new title being announced, it felt apparent that Kanye was aiming to clean his slate much earlier on this year, with his partnership with the Sunday Service Choir, which winds up being a focal point of this gospel-themed record.
There was a hell of a lot of pressure being pushed onto this album, with the album sharpening the expectations of fans with each delay, not to mention just how productive of a year 2018 was for Kanye. But while I did love a tonne of what Kanye put his work into that year, 2018 also gave birth to my least favourite Kanye album, which was Ye.
I appreciated the context of mental health on Ye, but I disliked much of the albums production, which was hollow and severely lacking in energy. But most notably, the album actually made me worry a little about the potential descent in Kanye's artistry.
I was thankful to find that KIDS SEE GHOSTS was far different. I much preferred how this album covered a similar topic to Ye, but also offered much more resolve and overall enjoyability.
Fast forward to JESUS IS KING, which follows suit in being another brief piece. This album has a runtime of just 27 minutes, despite having 11 songs. But with the way we listen to music in the modern day, briefer albums are usually better.
One thing that allows JIK to stand out from its year-old siblings, is that it has answered the prayers of many a fan. And what I mean by this, is that the soulful Kanye truly makes a triumphant return on this record. And if he had to turn to religion to do so, then I truly have no problem with it at-all.
I'd be the first to admit that I'm not really that religious at-all, but I do truly appreciate that we are seeing a religiously healed Kanye. Of course, this take on religion is definitely more tied into his own personal experience rather than a more widespread take on Christianity, but I feel that this ultimately makes it a worthy addition to Kanye's discography, and still feel like a Kanye album.
Furthermore, JIK is still an incredibly accessible album, despite being one of the most unique solo piece Kanye has ever made contextually. And I feel that this is primarily thanks to JESUS IS KING's production, which is certainly mu favourite element of the new album.
The beats and melodies behind JIK are some of the best I've heard on a Kanye album in a very, very long time, and also makes for a relieving departure from Kanye's frequent use of futuristic elements. As well as this, I disagree that the album in really lacking in Kanye's signature goofiness, simply because the album lacks explicit lyrics. In many tracks, Kanye still manages to sound like a bit of a goofball in my mind. But this time, it's almost unintentional, which makes it all the more humorous.
Onto the tracks now, and I love the sheer diversity of different moods that are found on this album. There are calm and almost meditative tracks like "Everything We Need", "Water", and "Hands On", but there are also far more upbeat numbers such as "On God", and my current favourite track; "Follow God", which carries one of the best lyrical flows that Kanye has had since The Life Of Pablo's "No More Parties in LA".
The only track I really disliked on the whole album was "Closed On Sunday", which lyrically, was just as unimaginative as the worst that Ye had to offer.
And while the final track, "Jesus Is Lord" confused me for being cut off so short, the triumphant trumpet melodies are gorgeously majestic, and truly a great way to reflect the title musically. If this track was even just another minute long, and had a subtle beat to go with it, It honestly could've been the best song on the album.
For being a gargantuan improvement upon Kanye's previous solo project, and offering fans a very triumphant tone with this new and unique album, I'd regard JIK as a fantastic project!
Thank you for reading
Booth Boy
Despite the change in the new title being announced, it felt apparent that Kanye was aiming to clean his slate much earlier on this year, with his partnership with the Sunday Service Choir, which winds up being a focal point of this gospel-themed record.
There was a hell of a lot of pressure being pushed onto this album, with the album sharpening the expectations of fans with each delay, not to mention just how productive of a year 2018 was for Kanye. But while I did love a tonne of what Kanye put his work into that year, 2018 also gave birth to my least favourite Kanye album, which was Ye.
I appreciated the context of mental health on Ye, but I disliked much of the albums production, which was hollow and severely lacking in energy. But most notably, the album actually made me worry a little about the potential descent in Kanye's artistry.
I was thankful to find that KIDS SEE GHOSTS was far different. I much preferred how this album covered a similar topic to Ye, but also offered much more resolve and overall enjoyability.
Fast forward to JESUS IS KING, which follows suit in being another brief piece. This album has a runtime of just 27 minutes, despite having 11 songs. But with the way we listen to music in the modern day, briefer albums are usually better.
One thing that allows JIK to stand out from its year-old siblings, is that it has answered the prayers of many a fan. And what I mean by this, is that the soulful Kanye truly makes a triumphant return on this record. And if he had to turn to religion to do so, then I truly have no problem with it at-all.
I'd be the first to admit that I'm not really that religious at-all, but I do truly appreciate that we are seeing a religiously healed Kanye. Of course, this take on religion is definitely more tied into his own personal experience rather than a more widespread take on Christianity, but I feel that this ultimately makes it a worthy addition to Kanye's discography, and still feel like a Kanye album.
Furthermore, JIK is still an incredibly accessible album, despite being one of the most unique solo piece Kanye has ever made contextually. And I feel that this is primarily thanks to JESUS IS KING's production, which is certainly mu favourite element of the new album.
The beats and melodies behind JIK are some of the best I've heard on a Kanye album in a very, very long time, and also makes for a relieving departure from Kanye's frequent use of futuristic elements. As well as this, I disagree that the album in really lacking in Kanye's signature goofiness, simply because the album lacks explicit lyrics. In many tracks, Kanye still manages to sound like a bit of a goofball in my mind. But this time, it's almost unintentional, which makes it all the more humorous.
Onto the tracks now, and I love the sheer diversity of different moods that are found on this album. There are calm and almost meditative tracks like "Everything We Need", "Water", and "Hands On", but there are also far more upbeat numbers such as "On God", and my current favourite track; "Follow God", which carries one of the best lyrical flows that Kanye has had since The Life Of Pablo's "No More Parties in LA".
The only track I really disliked on the whole album was "Closed On Sunday", which lyrically, was just as unimaginative as the worst that Ye had to offer.
And while the final track, "Jesus Is Lord" confused me for being cut off so short, the triumphant trumpet melodies are gorgeously majestic, and truly a great way to reflect the title musically. If this track was even just another minute long, and had a subtle beat to go with it, It honestly could've been the best song on the album.
For being a gargantuan improvement upon Kanye's previous solo project, and offering fans a very triumphant tone with this new and unique album, I'd regard JIK as a fantastic project!
Thank you for reading
Booth Boy
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