My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy [Explicit]

Kanye West | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: November 22, 2010
• Release Date: November 22, 2010
• Label: Roc-A-Fella Records
• Copyright: (C) 2010 Roc-A-Fella Records, LLC
• Record Company Required Metadata: Music file metadata contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
• Total Length: 1:08:42
• Genres:
  • Rap & Hip-Hop
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• ASIN: B004BSIJ9Q
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (316 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #654 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)
  • #46 in MP3 Downloads > MP3 Albums > Rap & Hip-Hop

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

229 of 262 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Haven't I heard this G.O.O.D. music somewhere before? November 22, 2010

By Akash VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Let's get it out of the way up front: If you even tangentially follow the hip hop blogosphere or Twitterverse, you've heard almost all of the substantive tracks on this album (two of the 13 tracks are an interlude and outro). Fully five of the 11 songs were part of Kanye's G.O.O.D. Fridays scheme, another three leaked months ahead of the album's release, and "Dark Fantasy" was included in Kanye's recent short film. But does it matter? Maybe Kanye's done the impossible and crafted an album so good that we'll pay for it even when he gives it away for free.

After listening to the record you'll appreciate how succinctly the album's title summarizes its themes. The record is framed as a fairy tale and the first few lines ("The watered down one, the one you know/ Was made up centuries ago...Twisted fiction, sick addiction/ Gather around children, zip it, listen) almost allude to the gradual censorship of the Brothers Grimm's dark fairytales over the centuries. On My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye seeks to dismantle the facade of fame and fortune to reveal the twisted debauchery underneath.

Kanye's trademark arrogance is in full force on this album. But this time it's an unapologetic arrogance that's a product of being treated like a god on earth. On "Devil in a New Dress" he rhymes "It's hard to be humble when you're stuntin' on a jumbotron" and on "POWER" "I embody every characteristic of the egotisic, he knows he's so gifted." The occult is another central theme, not only in track titles like "Devil in a New Dress," "Monster" and "Hell of a Life" but in the bars on each record. Kanye offers "We headed to hell, for heaven's sake huh?/ Well I'mma levitate and make the devil wait, yeah."

Perhaps the most personal theme on the album is a feeling of dissatisfaction in the face of so much commercial and critical success. We hear it on "Runaway" ("I always find something wrong/ You've been putting up with me just way too long/I'm so gifted at finding what I don't like the most"). And while Kanye keeps up the pretense of ego (see above) it's clear that the endless criticism has forced chinks in his armor. There are unveiled jabs at both Saturday Night Live and South Park, and bars including "It's not funny anymore, try different jokes," and "I was lookin' at my resume, feelin' real fresh today/ But they rewrite history, I don't believe in yesterday."

In short, the album is brilliant. The rhymes are clever, the music is rich, the emotions are raw and the themes are dark. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy will be an interesting experiment in an age of dwindling album sales ostensibly due to piracy. If Kanye can move 800,000 units in his first week despite having given the album away, the power of good music will be proven and artists will have no one to blame but themselves.

78 of 95 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Horrible Vinyl Transfer - Audiophiles Beware February 13, 2011

By alberto balsalm

Format:Vinyl

When mastering an album you do a totally different mix for digital (ie, CD, mp3) and vinyl. The reason for this is the different formats have different characteristics and matching your final mix to take advantage of them yields a superior listening experience. In this case, no effort was made to produce a different mix for vinyl - as far as I can tell this is the digital master pressed onto a record. Ironically, this has produced a release that sounds considerably WORSE than the CD. If your main concern is audio fidelity avoid this release. In fact, I can't even listen to it - after two plays it will never leave the package. My digital copy sounds superior (which is a massive disappointment because I was dying to hear 'All of the Lights' on warm, rich vinyl). I am incredibly disappointed considering this is one of the best albums I've heard in years and I'm frankly appalled that Kanye would sign off on this one after spending so much time crafting an amazing album.

As for the packaging, a lot of work went into the artwork, but no effort went into the materials. The cardboard is flimsy, the vinyl is not heavyweight and for some inexplicable reason the artwork is censored. It's just a painting and not even that suggestive - we better keep America's youth out of our many fine museums and art galleries as well lest they be exposed to anything thought provoking.

Album 5/5
Vinyl 0/5

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Easily Best CD of the Year November 24, 2010

By LuvMusic

Format:MP3 Music

I purchased this cd when it first came out and everytime I listen to it I hear something different. It's really a feel good album and Kanye does a great job of capturing the soul and moment in every song, by making you feel the emotion behind everything he's saying. I strongly suggest this cd to everyone.