With the media circus surrounding Kanye West — his cameo role in President's Bush's memoir tour, a flipout at Matt Lauer, and a string of seemingly unhinged Twitter musings — the rapper's creative output has taken a backseat to his unpredictable antics. But the Monday release of West's fifth album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, should remind listeners of West's prodigious musical skills. The album has garnered ecstatic reviews (including a buzzed-about perfect 10.0 from the indie tastemakers at Pitchfork), prompted many critics to label it the best of the year, and even earned West comparisons to Michael Jackson. Just how good is this Fantasy?
It's a synthesis of his greatest achievements: In this "maximalist" work, West has woven in some of the best elements from his first three albums, says Ryan Dombal at Pitchfork, so it functions as both a culmination of his achievements and as "an instant greatest hits."
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