LogFAQs > #952711192

3. All of the Lights (Interlude)/All of the Lights (Track #4/5)
Score: 150 (Average Rank: 4.06/11)
Biggest Fan(s): mcflubbin, Menji (#1)
Biggest Detractor(s): ChainLTTP (#11)

CasanovaZelos: The interlude serves as a nice transition from the energy of the previous tracks; would the main song hit as hard if we jumped straight into it from Power? All of the Lights is Kanye at his most excessive as a producer, the type of songs with too many features artists to list them all out. Kanye has always been a stronger producer than lyricist, and this is him absolutely flexing his abilities. This should be a mess (and parts of it might be), and the fact this is somehow one of the best tracks on the album proves his strength. In addition to the massive number of vocalists, the song goes through several minor movements that keep things moving. It takes a lot to take so many disparate parts and make it work.

Giggsalot: OUR ***** DEAD! perfect pop song, and the intro strings are gorgeous

ZaziGuado: This was my favorite track back when the album came out. It still ranks high, but I've grown a greater appreciation for others over time. I really enjoy the interlude. It's a good setup for the adrenaline to come. ALL OF THE LIGHTS. The chorus seems chaotic to me, but not in a bad way. It's a fun ride. I really dislike Fergie's part, though, which is a big of a drag. I love how he just inserts Alicia Keys and Elton John at the end. We're just doing that. Okay neat.

Blur: Undeniable classic that is only the second greatest Kanye song with "Lights" in the title. Not sorry. Some of the best production on the whole record and probably the catchiest song here.

Seginustemple: Super hooky and bombastic, crazy drums in the chorus. Just a hype high energy song and Elton John blows that shit up by the end.

2. Power (Track #3)
Score: 170 (Average Rank: 3.24/11)
Biggest Fan(s): Jesse_Custer, ZaziGuado (#1)
Biggest Detractor(s): ChainLTTP, Blur (#6)

CasanovaZelos: Now this is where the album really becomes a masterpiece. The production here is legendary; that King Crimson sample grinding everything to a halt is so powerful. He refers to the screams of his haters as his theme music, but this track could very well qualify as his actual theme; the combative lyrics, the propulsive production, the self-destruction at the end. Abomination of Obamas nation is such a mad line.

Giggsalot: straight up classic in every way, this beat is absolutely bananas

ZaziGuado: This song is fucking monolithic, which is impressive considering the album it is on. That beat will stand the test of time in stadiums and team introductions and any hype up music. The verses are incredibly fun to sing along to. I don't know anything about what it is sampling, so I don't know how much of it is an "original" beat, but it's become an iconic one now.

Blur: Always thought of this as perfect mid-tier for the record, which says a lot about how good this album is. What more is there to say except what a great, weird ass bridge to make this song the full package.

Seginustemple: Again the drums sound great, the dirty kick and the hit-hat really punch through. One of my favorite ridiculous Kanye lines is just "Colin Powell, Austin Powers" because he delivers it like it means something important. It's like he is able to totally buy into an operatic mode of expression no matter what he is saying and I think that's often what's so great about his music.

1. Runaway (Track #9)
Score: 186 (Average Rank: 3.06/11)
Biggest Fan(s): VeryInsane, TheArkOfTurus, KommunistKoala, Giggsalot, Blur, MoogleKupo141 (#1)
Biggest Detractor(s): Raetsel_Lapin, mcflubbin, kateee (#8)

CasanovaZelos: According to critics, this just might be the greatest song of Kanyes career. Excessive in a way completely distinct from All of the Lights; where the earlier track shoved as much as it could into a traditional track length, Runaway is a sprawling epic that largely keeps to the same idea through its nine minutes. This is Kanye at his most reflective; that chorus is excellent. This is another track where Kanye knows to let the music talk, this time almost literally. Taking a full minute to build into the vocals and starting with a single piano note is daring; ending it with three minutes of imperceptible auto-tuned mumbling is breaking all known rules of music and he somehow makes it work!

Giggsalot: one of the definitive songs of the decade, time will view this as an absolute unimpeachable kanye peak

ZaziGuado: I enjoy the build in this song, and surprisingly don't hate the vocaloid ending. The violins backing it and the borderline unintelligible but oddly meaningful/powerful singing just works. I also really appreciate Kanye's continuation after Pusha T's verse. It's a fun subversion from what I would normally expect. The anthemic nature also lends itself to singing along. A very surprising but wonderful track that I kind of wish wasn't followed by anything other than Lost In The World.

Blur: Giggs had it right - a masterpiece and one of Kanye's all-time finest. Even the music video is a classic. The first time I indulged this record was in video form, in that little movie version of the album Kanye released for free. When it got to Runaway, that's when I knew MBDTF was special. Simultaneously anthemic and personal, an impressive achievement.

Seginustemple: The jewel of the record, the album would be missing its heart without this oddly sentimental moment of self-reflection. On its own it can get redundant, the progression is a bit Pachelbel's canon in that way. In the context of the album it's a welcome slice of vulnerability. Love the little production choices like the stereo effect on the "who got ya" sample or how the detuned piano sample is affected once the beat comes in.

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