Graduation
by Kanye West

Album details

US: 11 September 2007 on Roc-A-Fella
UK: 10 September 2007 on Mercury

The rapper’s third album includes the Daft Punk-sampling single "Stronger." Mos Def and Coldplay’s Chris Martin guest.

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The critical consensus

How does Graduation compare to its two predecessors? Pitchfork notes, "Though it doesn’t quite match College Dropout or Late Registration in pleasure-center overload, West’s third album in four years is both his most consistent and most enterprising yet." "Graduation is neither as bold nor as scattered as The College Dropout, and it’s neither as extroverted nor as sonically rich as Late Registration," states All Music Guide. Now Magazine finds Graduation "more substantial" than West’s past work. The Guardian feels that the album is not a total success–especially compared with what came before–but is ambitious and "offers several instances of brilliant, questing pop." Treble calls it "by far his most streamlined album," while Prefix also hears a leaner album than in the past, and adds that "West’s writing and delivery has improved since The College Dropout, though they’re still marked by both a cleverness and a clumsiness." Stylus, too, finds the new disc much less bloated, and adds, "Musically, at least, it’s the most accomplished thing he’s ever done."

While many critics enjoyed the album, it certainly doesn’t seem to be a classic, and it may have more problems than past West efforts. The Washington Post calls it the best rap album of the year … in a very bad year for rap albums. Rolling Stone considers it a grower: "This is an album that you first like, then love." The LA Times and The Onion, among others, point out that the West’s imperfections paradoxically contribute to Graduation being a successful release (it’s an introspective album, and they contribute to its honesty), with the latter publication calling Graduation "fascinatingly flawed." PopMatters, too, finds West’s awkwardness winning (although Graduation is "simpler" than–and lacks the "larger-than-life presence" of–Late Registration).

However, for some critics, flaws are flaws, and there are some familiar complaints. The BBC, for one, notes that West’s production still far outshines his delivery, and, as a result, "too often the sample rules the roost." Entertainment Weekly declares that "West’s vocal mediocrity wouldn’t be so glaring if the production were more of a diversion." Sputnik warns, "Graduation is consistent, yes, but it’s consistently boring." Tiny Mix Tapes decides that "much of Graduation sounds great in theory but flounders in its execution," while NME opines, "In trying to branch out, diversify, rule the world, he’s left looking like a trend chaser." And Drowned In Sound notes the poorly-executed genre-hopping and nonsensical lyrics and concludes, "Kanye’s the new Beck and this is his Midnite Vultures." However much we may secretly like Midnite Vultures, we take it that’s not meant as a compliment.

Nearly every critic agrees that it’s best to skip the Chris Martin track ("Homecoming").

So much work has evidently gone into every note that the album is both colossal and claustrophobic.

- Dorian Lynskey, The Guardian

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. Good Morning
2. Champion
3. Stronger
   
   
4. I Wonder
5. Good Life
6. Can’t Tell Me Nothing
   
   
   (alternate video with Zach Galifianakis and Will Oldham:)
   
   
7. Barry Bonds
8. Drunk and Hot Girls
9. Flashing Lights
10. Everything I Am
11. Glory
12. Homecoming
13. Big Brother

Also on the web

• Official Artist Site
• Kanye West @ MySpace