Releasing two seven-track albums would lead you to think that every single one of the 14 tracks would be all killer – hit after hit with no filler. Together, they present a more whole representation of Kanye as both an artist and person. While ‘ye’ could be considered more as an airing of grievances, ‘Kids See Ghosts’ sees both Kanye and Cudi in more meditative moods. They are also both among Kanye’s most personal records, definitely his most inward-looking releases since ‘808s & Heartbreak’. Both address emotional turmoil, psychological struggles, family issues, self-grandiosity and the overcoming of strife. Still, this was a record that could “hardly help but feel slight” and that saw its creators “looking back over the vast distance they’ve travelled”, rather than pushing music forward, as we’ve come to expect.Īs previously mentioned, ‘ye’ and ‘Kids See Ghosts’ can be seen as companion albums in a multitude of ways. NME‘s Jordan Bassett called it “a brief glimpse into another world” and a “uniquely meditative, self-accepting album”. Its companion record of sorts, the also-seven tracks long Kid Cudi collaboration ‘Kids See Ghosts’, was more warmly received. NME‘s Douglas Greenwood noted how it lacked “the profundity of ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ and the audacity of ‘808s…’ or ‘Yeezus'” and that while “succinct and easy to swallow”, it left listeners “wish there was a little more to it.”

Seven tracks in length, it divided both critics and fans. ‘ye’, Kanye’s solo offering and the eagerly-anticipated ‘Life Of Pablo’ follow-up, the first of the divisive pair, was released on June 1. The past fortnight has seen Kanye West release two new albums – three if you count Pusha T‘s new record, which West returned to beat-making duties for, and there are two further Kanye-related LPs on the way from Nas and Teyana Taylor. Yeezy season indeed, but – unlike most of Yeezus’ previous offerings – neither ‘ye’ or ‘Kids See Ghosts’ has received universal acclaim from fans nor critics.

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