Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak

Not the kind of album you'd immediately expect from a rapper who most famously recorded songs like 'Stronger', '808s & Heartbreak' is a concept record with a unique twist (well, unique for Kanye West). Every track was created using AutoTune and the Roland TR-808 drum machine.

Now, the cynic in you may question the originality of this LP, having had AutoTune rammed down our throats extensively by T-Pain and even artists like Lil Wayne (who also appears here) making use of the vocal manipulation tool on his hit 'Lollipop'. So this is a big risk Kanye has taken, given that had the first single 'Love Lockdown' not connected with fans, he'd have difficulty trying to persuade listeners to buy an entire album of similar-sounding material.

Compared to his previous three albums, '808s & Heartbreak' is a radical change of heart for West - not just in the use of different recording tools - but for the main fact that Kanye doesn't rap on the LP, choosing instead to sing. But for the general theme and motivation (heartbreak, as the title hints at), rapping would not have had the same impact on songs born out of such strong emotion that naturally followed a turbulent year (that saw West separate from ex-fiancée Alexis Phifer, and the death of his mother Donda).

Given the bleak concept and even the title, things are about as "fun" as you'd expect. If anything, a song like 'Love Lockdown' is one of the most lively pieces on this 12-tracker, which should hint at how downbeat the majority of the record is. With such restricting instruments at work, it's the lyrics and vocals that are made the focal point, and it's interesting to hear Kanye in such a different situation than we'd normally associate him with.

If you're expecting a collection of club bangers, or if you want a rap record, then this isn't for you. But if it's an album of emotional fragility and pop experimentation (in terms of R&B and hip-hop), then '808s & Heartbreak' should be your next purchase. Hopefully this is just the beggining of Kanye pushing out the boat and trying new things in his music and if so, it's exciting to see where he'll go next.