Nov 4, 2015

Still haven't listened to it.

 

Nov 4, 2015

How can enjoy-ability be subjective when you're telling me you have an issue with my original post? It's pretty simple. Kendrick is great at making this kind of music.


He attempted to make a jazz/funk album and the only songs I enjoyed were King Kunta, Alright, Hood Politics, and Mortal Man. So 4/16 songs = not enjoyable.

 

Nov 4, 2015

well in this particular case it's a combination of a couple of factors.

first, the quick turnaround time--remember, kendrick's album had that goofy release gimmick, so critics literally had ~72 hours to write.

second, it's an album that incorporates a lot of disparate musical and political influences, many of which were unfamiliar to the (let's be honest) less-than-well-versed masses who churn out reviews for dj booth and illroots and whomever. kendrick was praised as an innovator for doing lots of s--- the roots did on Phrenology.

third, there's the inertia of popular artists that these big outlets succumb to, conscious or otherwise. let's be honest, that chance the rapper album from this year is not good. but was pitchfork going to mortgage their relationship with him, especially two weeks before he headlined their festival? will the fader ever criticize drake if they want him on the cover again? etc

fourth, and this is to some degree an expansion of the last point: the politics. people of all races who share progressive ideals were excited that kendrick had done something so defiant with his second album. and it was very admirable. but there was also a bit of hesitance to criticize that album, for fear of being on the wrong side of history.

 

Nov 4, 2015

These look like my thoughts when those high ratings came in.

 

Nov 4, 2015

Even more accurate!

 

Nov 4, 2015

Yes but one's opinion doesn't hold any merit in intelligent discussion unless they back it up with in depth analyses. You saying TPAB is unenjoyable is about as valid as me saying like green is the best color of all time. Just because people happen to d-ck ride the TPAB hate train (almost as much as the d-ck riding in support of the album) doesn't make it more true

 

Nov 4, 2015

I can easily see why people will dislike this album but I love it to death. Whether you like it or not, its probably going to go down as a classic. I appreciate that we have a very popular artist like Kendrick willing to experiment and try new things. There's barely any other albums that can compete with it this year (only one I can think of that comes close is Sufjan Stevens' Carrie & Lowell).

 

Nov 4, 2015

By those who do critique the album (because that's not what this piece itself is really about) he getts panned for rehashing old ideas in unimaginative ways -- the exact opposite of "trying new things"

 

Nov 4, 2015

In the mainstream at least, he was definitely trying new things, but you could make arguments that other more obscure/underappreciated artists were doing what he was doing better which I'll just agree to disagree about mostly based on not listening to those albums.

The article's okay and brings up some solid points but it just devalues people who actually really enjoyed TPAB.

 

Nov 4, 2015

Why Did Everyone Claim to Enjoy Kendrick Lamar's 'To p---- a Butterfly'?

Ultimate clickbait title. Lmao.

 

Nov 4, 2015

I thought it went out of its way to avoid just this..

 

Nov 4, 2015

"I’m saying that no one enjoys this album as much as we'd hoped we'd enjoy it in March."

d---. I guess Mr. Justin Charity surveyed every TPAB listener to come to this conclusion.

 

Nov 4, 2015

I don't understand why these reviewers somehow come to the conclusion that they represent everyone's viewpoint.

He could have easily just made this an opinion piece about what he thinks instead of speaking on everyone's behalf like he knows what everyone thinks about the album.

 

Nov 4, 2015

Just re-read the article again (skimmed through it the first time as I knew that clickbait title couldn't be legit), it's a mix of both (devaluing people who liked the album/the opposite). At times it just comes off as a bunch of critics whining that people disagree with them and send hate their way, however, I do agree that this is a critic-proof album because of it's message and general importance.

I'll just say I'm glad this article brings up the discussion, but I wish it was written by someone better.

 

Nov 4, 2015

Also, this part is f---ing dumb.

 

Nov 4, 2015

It certainly felt like an "important" album by its own design. and agreed... to me, the premeditating issue is a matter of context. if you spend your days reviewing whatever pop artist, or derivative rap act... and you aren't aware of phrenology/george clinton/whatever, something like tpab is just going to sound sooo refreshing. i often wonder that with film writers who lavish praise on modern filmmakers who imo feel trite compared to their predecessors. (but then, if this is a vacuum these albums/films live in, it's all relative to ones contemporaries anyhow... i may be muddling my own point here)

i think you touch on another good point regarding external issues, the "mood of the country" blinding a critics perception. to an extent, its both natural, and 100% valid. listening to whats going on, it's definitely worth considering this is a post vietnam record.... or some of the great punk records of the 80s being a repudiation of reagan. it gets into murky turf when you define a record's success solely on those factors tho

 

Nov 4, 2015

why is that dumb?

yeah, exactly. i'm not arguing that things should exist outside of a broader context. rap has often thrived when it engages with the broader world. but in the hyper-fast news cycle opinions of tpab became a litmus test for political views, which is lazy.

 

Nov 4, 2015

I found much of the album boring upon the first few listens, but once I gave it the attention it deserves, it opened up to me. Anyone expecting GKMC 2.0 would likely be turned off initially, but people who stuck with it should be satisfied.

There is obviously politics at play here, but that can be said about pretty much anything related to art, especially in the mainstream. To pretend that this album is the only thing hiphop media has bandwagoned is flat out false.

And as for the idea that because it's dealing with racial issues that are prevalent today, we must all bow in awe or be called racist is pretty scandalous. For starters, if you're calling someone racist for not liking the record, you're a ignorant a------, and should lose all credibility. Sadly, because of the left's obsession with identity politics, it has derailed honest criticism. But also, if you don't have the balls to write your honest opinion, then you're just a coward who should definitely give up their writing gig.

 

Nov 4, 2015

Agreed, I guess my only caveat/bird dropping here for you is whether tpab isn't an isolated incident or whether other artists are themselves being inadvertently overhyped by the tastemakers today. is future -- truly -- the future #hottake

 

Nov 4, 2015

Because it's implying that white people can't sympathize with the album. I won't truly understand the struggles a black person in America has to go through but I can at the very least sympathize and know the problems they face.