Album Reviews

Kanye West

`808s and Heartbreak’

(Universal)

Hip-hop star Kanye West has channeled the pain of losing his beloved mother and a broken engagement into his fourth and perhaps most melancholic album to date. West has headed towards a new musical direction, moving away from his trademark rap and upbeat hip-hip sound.

``808s and Heartbreak’’ shows West singing, although there has been much ado over the use of audio processor Auto-Tune to enhance his voice. West mouths depressing lyrics to the monotonous electronica beats of ``Love Lockdown.’’ He should be given credit for experimenting with a much more darker sound, as shown in songs like ``Say You Will,’’ ``Bad News’’ and ``See You in My Nightmares,’’ a collaboration with Lil’ Wayne. For an album about pain and misery, there’s a lot to love about it.

-Cathy Rose A. Garcia