xpost:
I... don't. DAMN is a great record and undoubtedly one of my favourite things released this year, but lyrically and sonically this is far superior, IMO.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 29 September 2017 20:13 (six years ago) link
I basically never listen to "For Free," "u" or "Mortal Man" tbh
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Friday, 29 September 2017 20:16 (six years ago) link
I fucking love 'Mortal Man', the production on that is total ear candy, IMO, sonically gorgeous.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 29 September 2017 20:20 (six years ago) link
How much a dollar cost
― the article don, Friday, 29 September 2017 20:22 (six years ago) link
p hard for me to consider any of these tracks in isolation tbh
― Οὖτις, Friday, 29 September 2017 20:27 (six years ago) link
"King Kunta" now and forever.
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 29 September 2017 20:28 (six years ago) link
Every track is great, probably gonna wind up picking Hood Politics or Momma or something else off the back half
― bodak horseman (voodoo chili), Friday, 29 September 2017 20:30 (six years ago) link
These Walls. Not even close
― flappy bird, Friday, 29 September 2017 21:37 (six years ago) link
Blacker the Berry. This album got a real track-record for being "experimental" but looking at this list it's actually filled with a lot of great pop moments (kunta, these walls, complexion, you ain't gotta lie)
How much do ppl wanna bet that this and my beautiful dark twisted fantasy are gonna be #2 and 1, respectively, on p4k and rs's end-of-decade lists?
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Saturday, 30 September 2017 03:42 (six years ago) link
The track that finally let me get Kendrick - "Alright". After that, pretty much everything I had tried to like before opened up
― Vinnie, Saturday, 30 September 2017 03:55 (six years ago) link
i skip tracks 1+2, everything else is insanely good. prolly voting for momma, but these walls, u, complexion, blacker the berry could all be picks.
wouldn't be able to pick a fav btwn this record, madd city, & section 80
― sleepingbag, Saturday, 30 September 2017 05:38 (six years ago) link
either wesley's theory or these walls
― the underground is pass-agg (Drugs A. Money), Saturday, 30 September 2017 05:49 (six years ago) link
Still a little annoyed that the album uses the live version of "I".
― Moodles, Saturday, 30 September 2017 06:21 (six years ago) link
It's perfect actually, in every context except this specific one
― the underground is pass-agg (Drugs A. Money), Saturday, 30 September 2017 13:50 (six years ago) link
this is King Kunta
― niels, Saturday, 30 September 2017 14:33 (six years ago) link
'King Kunta' is amazing, when I'm listening to the album I automatically anticipate "I GOT A BONE TO PICK!" during the ending to 'For Free?' ... I love its bass heavy G funk-like production.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Saturday, 30 September 2017 17:54 (six years ago) link
Voted for 'Mortal Man'
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Sunday, 1 October 2017 20:31 (six years ago) link
King Kunta
― kornrulez6969, Monday, 2 October 2017 00:50 (six years ago) link
I can only ever digest this album in like six song chunks. In awe just looking at that tracklist and realizing it's one single album. My first instinct is the blacker the berry but there are so many worthy options.
― Fetchboy, Monday, 2 October 2017 04:07 (six years ago) link
Tons of classics, but King Kunta is classic-est.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Monday, 2 October 2017 04:44 (six years ago) link
voted "u" for being capturing self-loathing and depression better than any song ive ever heard
― professor of postmalonial studies (m bison), Monday, 2 October 2017 04:55 (six years ago) link
It's a really fine album by a master of his craft but somehow King Kunta is the standout. The rest of the album kind of mulches along happily to me, but it feels like a listen-through experience rather than a bunch of individual tracks.
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Monday, 2 October 2017 07:35 (six years ago) link
^ Uh, wut?
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Monday, 2 October 2017 12:53 (six years ago) link
I got a bone to pick
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 2 October 2017 12:55 (six years ago) link
I do think that it's a great album with a few clear standouts - namely, King Kunta, These Walls, Momma and The Blacker The Berry...but I'll need to listen again to decide
― imago, Monday, 2 October 2017 12:57 (six years ago) link
Just relistened yesterday and I kinda agree w/ dl in the sense that it's a sum-greater-than-the-parts experience
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Monday, 2 October 2017 13:06 (six years ago) link
yeah, its glory is in how it doesn't relent from being at least very, very good, all the way through
― imago, Monday, 2 October 2017 13:10 (six years ago) link
a glory that DAMN. shares
I completely disagree - I think the material here is mostly as strong taken individually as well as collectively.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Monday, 2 October 2017 13:13 (six years ago) link
It's more how I find myself listening to it. It's not that the material isn't strong, just that his music has a collagey / cut-up vibe to it that makes me not really pay attention to individual songs so much
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Monday, 2 October 2017 13:15 (six years ago) link
Like, obviously it is best listened to from beginning to end, like a lot of albums are - but shuffle play doesn't ruin the LP either.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Monday, 2 October 2017 13:16 (six years ago) link
fine, you're right and i'm wrong
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Monday, 2 October 2017 13:19 (six years ago) link
I think I've played "u" more than any other song on this album aside from maybe "The Blacker the Berry"
― Marcus Hiles Remains Steadfast About Planting Trees.jpg (DJP), Monday, 2 October 2017 13:38 (six years ago) link
That's probably the same with me with 'Mortal Man', tbh.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Monday, 2 October 2017 15:16 (six years ago) link
The a cappella rap at the end of 'i' into 'Mortal Man' is a great bit of sequencing - really wouldn't want it any other way!
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Tuesday, 3 October 2017 16:59 (six years ago) link
"complexion" is the worst song on this record, though rapsody's verse is good. feels like a bad common track
― marcos, Tuesday, 3 October 2017 17:48 (six years ago) link
kunta is great obv but i feel like it loses momentum after the beginning
momma is probably my favorite. opener is dope too
― marcos, Tuesday, 3 October 2017 17:49 (six years ago) link
think im gonna go with hood politics, lyrics are a little on the nose, but my favorite example of his rappin-ass-rapping on the record, and the sufjan flip is genius
― bodak horseman (voodoo chili), Tuesday, 3 October 2017 17:56 (six years ago) link
Aw, I really like 'Complexion'!
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Tuesday, 3 October 2017 18:04 (six years ago) link
Yeah, Complexion is awesome
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Thursday, 5 October 2017 03:58 (six years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Wednesday, 11 October 2017 00:01 (six years ago) link
Sometimes it feels like every time I listen to this album I have a different favourite, right now 'The Blacker the Berry' is flooring me.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Wednesday, 11 October 2017 19:30 (six years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Thursday, 12 October 2017 00:01 (six years ago) link
Damn I did not expect a blow out
― flappy bird, Thursday, 12 October 2017 00:03 (six years ago) link
you got a bone to pick?
― morning wood truancy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 12 October 2017 00:03 (six years ago) link
Only 4 votes for These Walls?????????????
― flappy bird, Thursday, 12 October 2017 00:04 (six years ago) link
Life ain't nothing but dark smooth jazz
I think "The Blacker the Berry" is a more viscerally powerful song than "Alright," but I'm pretty in sync with these results. "u" is certainly one of the album's more distinct tracks, but it's not one that I ever listen to out of context.
― iCloudius (cryptosicko), Thursday, 12 October 2017 01:28 (six years ago) link
just glad For Free got a vote
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Thursday, 12 October 2017 01:53 (six years ago) link
I'm far more surprised at 'Momma' getting more votes than 'Wesley's Theory' than the amount of votes for 'King Kunta', which is indeed awesome.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 12 October 2017 17:21 (six years ago) link
I'm a little bummed that "For Sale?" didn't get a vote, such a beautiful (if a little meandering) track.
― bodak horseman (voodoo chili), Thursday, 12 October 2017 17:58 (six years ago) link
Yeah, both that and 'Complexion' both deserved a vote.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Thursday, 12 October 2017 18:30 (six years ago) link
I just listened to this in its entirety in the car today, at my son's behest (he loves DAMN but was too young when TPAB came out and hadn't actually heard it all), and these results basically mirror my mental ranking as we were going through the album. (I still wish the single version of i was on there -- it's a great track, and he the fake-live treatment with the negus lecture totally steps on it.)
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Friday, 13 October 2017 01:01 (six years ago) link
I'll never get why people are so down on the album version of 'i', which fits better conceptually than the single version would. The transition from that into 'Mortal Man' is one of my favourite moments on the record.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 13 October 2017 05:58 (six years ago) link
Damn, yall really like King Kunta
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Friday, 13 October 2017 06:23 (six years ago) link
― bodak horseman (voodoo chili), Thursday, October 12, 2017 1:58 PM (yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
yea that is a good one
― marcos, Friday, 13 October 2017 14:33 (six years ago) link
It's one of the most conventional tracks on the record and reminiscent of a certain type of '90s hip-hop style, so it's not really surprising!
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Friday, 13 October 2017 15:24 (six years ago) link
Because it works conceptually but the second half is a chore to listen to.
― a man often referred to in the news media as the Duke of Saxony (tipsy mothra), Saturday, 14 October 2017 13:10 (six years ago) link
"king kunta" is very conventional yes, but i thought people liked this album for being "difficult" and not conventional? bizarre pick for favorite track, i wouldn't call it a highlight on any of kendrick's albums
― dyl, Saturday, 14 October 2017 16:41 (six years ago) link
Conventional in what way? Because it's catchy? Or are there other songs you think it's ripping off?
― Moodles, Saturday, 14 October 2017 17:12 (six years ago) link
For me the appeal of this album is a combination of the lyrical content, the delivery of said content, the production throughout which is so OTM and the way everything is tied together conceptually. The whole package of this thing is incredible. One of the few "long" albums that doesn't feel overlong and keeps me completely engaged throughout. I don't think it's a difficult or even a challenging record - it's pure ear candy to me and exciting to listen to.
― more Allegro-like (Turrican), Saturday, 14 October 2017 17:37 (six years ago) link
catchy and adheres to conventional structure, don't think it's ripping anything off in particular xp
― dyl, Saturday, 14 October 2017 18:20 (six years ago) link
U is so good it's way too low here. Xpost up thread that U captures depression/self loathing perfectly OTM
― synonym toast crunch (Ross), Saturday, 2 June 2018 02:57 (six years ago) link
prefer DAMN tho overall, TPAB is conceptually solid but DAMN is more digestible to me overall as just a record to put on and roll
― synonym toast crunch (Ross), Saturday, 2 June 2018 03:00 (six years ago) link
Complexion and you ain't gotta lie are really great album tracks too
― josh az (2011nostalgia), Saturday, 2 June 2018 03:37 (six years ago) link
I love DAMN., but I'll never prefer it to this.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Saturday, 2 June 2018 09:06 (six years ago) link
U is one of the most haunting and true songs i've ever heard. starting to prefer this to DAMN, just needed time
― mind how you go (Ross), Tuesday, 26 June 2018 18:20 (six years ago) link
for sale is so good
― Ross, Monday, 30 July 2018 15:48 (six years ago) link
turrican otm throughout this thread
― Dreadnought of chicanery (Ross), Wednesday, 8 August 2018 15:50 (six years ago) link
Thanks Ross - this is still very much my album of the decade, although The 1975's I Like it When You Sleep... isn't too far behind.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Wednesday, 8 August 2018 15:53 (six years ago) link
i will probably have to hear that 1975 record. yeah i prefer TPAB to DAMN by a margin now, but i still feel DAMN is easier to listen to front to back, and also the reverse version is really cool. TPAB really needs to be absorbed as a whole statement and im not sure if im alone in feeling that kendricks speech to the crowd and subsequent interview with Tupac are almost tear inducing in their call to justice.
― Dreadnought of chicanery (Ross), Wednesday, 8 August 2018 16:01 (six years ago) link
There's a few people that don't really like stuff like the ending to the album version of 'i' and the long outro to 'Mortal Man', but I disagree - I couldn't think of a better ending to the album. I just think it's perfect.
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Wednesday, 8 August 2018 16:08 (six years ago) link
agreed!
― Dreadnought of chicanery (Ross), Wednesday, 8 August 2018 16:10 (six years ago) link
honestly i love the poem throughout and any time Kendrick just drops monologues, he is always engaging.
the only kendrick song i can think of disliking is the acoustic one on untitled
The jam session?
― Le Baton Rose (Turrican), Wednesday, 8 August 2018 16:13 (six years ago) link
yeah, the one with singing about the head or whatever - felt like one of those moments where an artist is surrounded by people telling them they can do anything, so they do without considering that it maybe sucks.
― Dreadnought of chicanery (Ross), Wednesday, 8 August 2018 16:14 (six years ago) link