Late Registration... Early

I got a chance to listen to the new Kanye West album Late Registration today. Here's the play by play, which I'll update as I listen to each song:

• 1 Wake Up Mr. West
- Welcome back Bernie.

• 2 Heard 'Em Say
- I love the drums and the piano. It gets even sicker at the end. The song isn't much lyrically.

• 3 Touch The Sky
- I've heard some good things about this Lupe Fiasco guy, but it's hard to show your skill next to:
I felt like Bad Boy's Street Team, I couldn't work the Lox, 'Ye is sick. Typical Kanye swagger with a undertow of serious.

• 4 Gold Digger
- I'd heard about song, but never heard it. That Ray Charles sample is sick, even if it's only Jamie Foxx. Playful and sick, as usual. This song is close to me, since I pay child support. My ex isn't like this, but it's funny. :)

• 5 Skit #1
- Broke Fi Broke, We Ain't Got It!

• 6 Drive Slow
- Paul Wall? Sweet. Those messy ass drums after the chorus are tight. GLC brings up the rear, making this track one of my favorites. Oh! He chops and screws it!
• 7 My Way Home
- Short little Common track, with an interesting sample from Gil Scott-Heron.
• 8 Crack Music
- GAME. Interesting. Merril-Lynched. Ouch.
• 9 Roses
- 'Ye's Granny in the hospital. Nice beat, and a sleeper song with a message. Reminds me a bit of Family Business, my favorite joint from College Dropout, but with more of a message.
• 10 Bring Me Down
- Brandy adds some class, but the song is a refined version of Kanye's verse from the mixtape fire Wack Niggas that featured Mos, Common, and Consequence. I'm a bit disappointed to hear such a prominent verse reused, even if it was a mixtape.
• 11 Addiction
- Pretty good, but didn't really do anything for me.
• 12 Skit #2
- I like these skits, they are catchy.
• 13 Diamonds From Sierra Leone (Remix)
I heard this a long time ago, and it always made me feel like Swizz Beatz had come over and worked on a track. The discussion of conflict diamonds is an interesting topic for a rap song. Jay comes in to let everyone know things are kosher with he and 'Ye.
• 14 We Major
If I remember correctly, Really Doe signed with Kanye's GOOD label. His line about having a daughter hits close to home. ;) The Nas verse was a bit of a surprise, as I never really thought to put them together. It's an excellent fit, since Nas and Kanye both seem to show a lot of self-conflict in their lyrics.
• 15 Skit #3
- Cereal with forks. Heh.
• 16 Hey Mama - Damn, again, I hear Family Business. I actually heard this song a few weeks and forgot. 'Ye always big ups his moms. ;) Hey, I love my mom too! Thanks mom!
• 17 Celebration
- This song feels a bit misplaced, like it should be at the end. His reference to his 'accidental' child is pretty funny.
• 18 Skit #4
Blah blah.
• 19 Gone
The way he recycles words over and over again, but puts new spin on them is tight. Cam makes an appearance. Come to think of it, that word thing is pretty common with Cam. I've never thought about pairing Cam and 'Ye, it's a good look. Cons shows up also, being hard to understand but a great rapper. Normal. ;)
• 20 Diamonds From Sierra Lone
Yeah.
• 21 Late (Hidden Track)
- Interesting track, but doesn't to much.

Overall, I think this album is better than College Dropout. It's certainly above and beyond most sophomore efforts.