G.O.O.D. Music: Cruel Summer

Kanye changes the format?

Kanye West is a name that in the music business has become a synonym to vast, pompous and wide-range activities. Whatever initiative this man takes he pushes it to the limits, engaging lots of talented people and, of course, having all mass media cover it. West’s new compilation, G.O.O.D. Music: Cruel Summer, was announced perhaps as the biggest even ever organized by Kanye, a collection of exclusively great hits executed by stars exclusively. In some sense, the product appeared to live up to this description because listeners do receive a set of truly fine songs prepared by a group of real celebrities. However, even the duration of the new release, which does not even reach the sixty-minute mark, alarms: that is not the way West goes. The moderate monotonous wrapping of the album is another exterior sign of deviating from the pattern. But when it comes to the music, what questions can you have if it was made by all those we know, Kanye’s old fellows who have helped him make far more than one album?

Enough hits and many good songs

The trouble with G.O.O.D. Music: Cruel Summer is only that all the album’s best tracks have already been posted online for everyone to enjoy them freely long before the album was out. Moreover, almost all of them are grouped in the opening sector of the record as if to leave listener breathless and happy right off the start. After the mind-blowing Clique, and Mercy follows the intriguing and aggressive New God Flow with Ghostface Killah. Several minutes later, another awesome track comes, Cold, where Kanye does greatly relying solely on his own vocal abilities. And here, as a matter of fact, the hit part of the record is over, giving way to the mandatory part, represented by simply good quality material where the guests take turns showing what they can. The one did his part best was John Legend whose real singing is put into an attractive contrast to rapping of his colleagues. John sings in Sin City, and Bliss. Another one worth mentioning is Kid Cudi whose performance in Creepers reminds of himself from the early period of his career.

Kanye’s special part

How can one appraise Kanye West’s work on G.O.O.D. Music: Cruel Summer if he was assisted by a large company of producers and performers, each, albeit to a different extent, has an established style or voice? Kanye’s main credit here is organizing this whole event, gathering these songs in one catchy and strong collection with several tracks fighting for the title of the year’s best rap song. As for the manager himself, he seems to have stepped back a little bit, giving the others an opportunity to catch more focus. Indeed, we could expect a more varied record, because we are talking here not about a studio solo effort, but a collection that is supposed to present a wide range of forms and styles. Yet here, the emphasis is put on heavy beats, mid tempo and flawless rapping, which, truth be told, rather helps to produce an instant effect, than to channel serious thoughts. And this is how you should take this whole album, G.O.O.D. Music: Cruel Summer, as an immediate effect bomb, explosive record to scatter light and noise all around. You can forget all the lyrics and switch to any activity you want right after listening to it, but while the music plays you will have a most pleasurable time.