LogFAQs > #952711097

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy Track Ranking

11. So Appalled (Track #7)
Score: 47 (Average Rank: 9.24/11)
Biggest Fan(s): kateee (#6)
Biggest Detractor(s): CasanovaZelos, mcflubbin, Menji, ZaziGuado (#11)

CasanovaZelos: This song has never clicked with me. Theres a unique, almost apocalyptic intensity to the production, but the repetition in the lyrics are almost headache inducing. Might be my least favorite track across my top 25 albums. At the same time, I can respect that its in a style that others like.

Giggsalot: i mean it's cool, but coming after monster it just kind of seems like a lesser version of the same idea. should've been ditched for christian dior denim flow. still, getting rza in just to bellow FUCKIN RIDIKILISS once is awesome

ZaziGuado: I appreciate this song for inspiring fun ways to say something is "fucking ridiculous" that I've carried for ten years now. The verses are whatever for me. It's fairly similar thematically to Monster while being longer and not as enjoyable minus the FUCKEN RIDIKILIS parts.

Blur: I had this ranked lower before a relisten, and I forgot just how much I enjoy the melancholia-tinged production. The beat is too good to not show this some appreciation. Other than that, here's a random and very dumb fact: I had a friend at work named Paul who, before he quit, I would always sing variants of the "I'm so appalled" line to, like "you're so a Paul." I don't know why I did this. He didn't even know the song.

Seginustemple: The beat is alright but damn for six-and-a-half minutes with standard braggadocio verses? Life can be sometimes ridiculous. It's not bad, it's below par for this album.

10. Hell of a Life (Track #10)
Score: 64 (Average Rank: 8.29/11)
Biggest Fan(s): ChainLTTP (#3)
Biggest Detractor(s): VeryInsane, Seanchan, Giggsalot (#11)

CasanovaZelos: Like Gorgeous, this is a pretty great track that gets overshadowed by everything which surrounds it. This has the dubious task of following up Runaway while also being a complete thematic reversal. After a few minutes of self-reflection, Kanye is back on his bullshit a perfect summation of his public life. The production here is absolutely top-notch.

Giggsalot: a bit stale compared to the rest here, could've been cut and i wouldn't miss it

ZaziGuado: It's fine, but it has the really difficult task of following Runaway. It seems disconnected from the album because of it. The distortion is a little distracting. I appreciate the sampling, however. Nothing else really stands out to me besides the "fuck with the lights on" moment. I don't hate it. It just falls a little flat for me.

Blur: Virtually tied with Devil near the bottom. Lyrically it's kinda eh but the chorus is perhaps getting too much hate. Yeah I don't care for the Iron Man sample, but the little section after the titular line is delivered is top notch.

Seginustemple: I think the album needs this after Runaway, the transition to a more aggressive sound after that moment of introspection gives the album of a lot of character. Like it doesn't want to reveal sensitivity for too long before putting up the wall of testosterone again. But it's kind of simple and after the four minute mark it's just spinning its wheels.

9. Blame Game (Track #11)
Score: 74 (Average Rank: 7.88/11)
Biggest Fan(s): Raetsel_Lapin, Blur (#2)
Biggest Detractor(s): TheArkOfTurus, Johnbobb, kateee (#11)

CasanovaZelos: I combined a few tracks for this week if only I could break this one into two. The first half of Blame Game is among Kanyes most emotionally devastating pieces. The Aphex Twin sample is beautiful. If Runaway is a narcissistic acknowledgment to outsiders, Blame Game explores how it harms his personal life. The transition to the back half is outstanding and then we get to the back half. Two and a half minutes of Chris Rock having a comedy bit. The surreal part is it almost works. But Ive never understood skits on hip hop albums, and this one is embedded into a track. Unlike so many others, this skit is actually funny, but I cant help but feel that it detracts from the overall experience.

Giggsalot: slightly gratuitous sample, exceptionally gratuitous skit, still excellent

ZaziGuado: Blame Game is a really good follow-up to Hell Of A Life. I think the verses are very well done and the second verse where lyrics are coming from all sides of the headphones, especially after the first verse was so short and simple and ended in a cry for help, is fantastic. The skit at the end is legitimately hilarious and gave me new appeciation for upholstery. I'MMA SHOOT A BOOTLEGGA!

Blur: Emotionally hits me as much as anything else here. Perhaps drags on too much, but I enjoy when Kanye gets excessive and let's a track breathe for longer than it has any right to. That and my affinity for emotional Kanye are why my top 2 are what they are! The Chris Rock bit was a constant reference in my group of friends back in the day.

Seginustemple: I like the idea of the the heavy effects on the second verse (as if there were three voices) but for some reason it just doesn't work here. I find it more distracting than anything. I love the idea of sampling Aphex Twin but that ends up just sounding...okay? And then it tacks an extra three minutes with this Chris Rock re-upholstered pussy skit and again on paper I should be into this but it doesn't work for me.

8. Devil in a New Dress (Track #8)
Score: 87 (Average Rank: 7.24/11)
Biggest Fan(s): Seginustemple (#1)
Biggest Detractor(s): Jesse_Custer (#11)

CasanovaZelos: This track took the longest to grow on me; it stands in massive contrast to the other tracks on a production level, feeling like it belongs to one of his earlier albums. But this is not a bad thing; its a breather between massive ideas, and thats sometimes necessary. Also, I just love the fact Kanye dares to let the music talk sometimes; that guitar solo is such a great moment. While it may not define MBDTFs sound as a whole, its one of Wests better tracks on its own.

Giggsalot: yeah ross is great here and the solo is a cool touch but i never bought the furore over the beat overall, it's just okay really

ZaziGuado: This track really doesn't click with me. I don't really enjoy whatever it is sampling. Some of the lyrics are fun. I enjoy "hard to be humble when you strutin' on a jumbotron" for instance. The mid-song breakdown and guitar solo is also a fun touch, but it makes me lower my guard before Rick Ross comes in which is always a little jarring but he does a pretty good job. The quick cutoff leading into the first note of Runaway is really neat.

Blur: The beat sounds like something ripped from The College Dropout, so that's a plus. A chill lead in to Runaway, but this is the beginning of my lowest tier rankings here.

Seginustemple: Yeah it's the slick beat that does it for me, and yeah it's just this Alicia Keys song straight up (Speechless) with a little bit of Smokey Robinson's voice in there to punch it up. It still sounds fresh to me! The Rick Ross verse is fun but really I just love the texture of the instrumental a whole bunch.

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My top 100 games (with write-ups): https://foolfantastic.com/top-100-video-games-project/