Have you ever wondered how an album can be both a cohesive journey and a collection of standalone tracks? Kanye West's "The Life of Pablo" raises this very question. With its unique structure and ever-evolving nature, the album feels like a mood board rather than a traditional album. Each song is meticulously crafted, yet they often feel interchangeable, leading listeners to ponder the significance of their order. This article dives deep into the album, ranking each track from least favorite to most beloved after numerous listens, emphasizing the fluidity of Kanye's artistic vision.
The journey through "The Life of Pablo" is a complex one. As Kanye West navigates through various themes and sounds, he challenges the conventional understanding of music albums. Instead of a linear progression, it flows like a stream of consciousness, prompting listeners to engage with the music on different levels. In this ranking, I’ll explore the standout tracks, the ones that resonate deeply, and those that provide moments of levity or introspection.
With that said, let’s dive into the rankings and see how these tracks hold up against each other, noting that my opinions may shift as I continue to immerse myself in this dynamic work!
Table of Contents
- 18. Silver Surfer Intermission
- 17. I Love Kanye
- 16. Facts
- 15. Famous
- 14. Fade
- 13. Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1
- 12. High Lights
- 11. Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 2
- 10. Feedback
- 9. 30 Hours
- 8. Wolves
- 6. Waves
- 5. FML
- 4. Low Lights
- 3. Ultra Light Beam
- 2. Freestyle 4
- 1. Real Friends
18. Silver Surfer Intermission
This track serves as a brief intermission, almost a palate cleanser amidst the more intense songs of the album. It’s a playful response to various critiques and serves as a reminder of Kanye's quirky personality.
17. I Love Kanye
Let’s get the skits out of the way. The former is just a retort to Wiz Khalifa, and he should have left all that stuff on Twitter. The latter, however, is a much-needed dose of self-awareness and self-deprecation amid all the self-aggrandizement; it still tickles me on repeat listens.
16. Facts
How the hell did this not get cut? It co-opts the flow of Drake’s Jumpman but to lesser effect, and the beat sounds like a sample you get with new production software. This is a mixtape track/Soundcloud GOOD Fridays treat at best. Rapping about Nike? Lines including ’Couches, couches, couches, couches, which one should I pick?’ I think few would disagree this is the weakest track on the album.
15. Famous
Kanye goes hard in the verses, but the Rihanna hook just jars with them and sounds all fairground-y. Probably intentional but still it doesn’t work for me. It actually works better at the end with the original Nina Simone vocal, but ultimately goes nowhere.
14. Fade
Absolutely no denying the tasty house beat, but the track just feels like it was written to accompany a catwalk show, and probably was. A strange, tangential end to the album.
13. Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 1
Now we’re getting into the tracks I do like. I mark out for that truncated Metro Boomin producer tag every time, and the beat has such a pleasant roll to it. Sadly, there’s no forgiving that ‘And if I fuck this model / And she just bleached her asshole / And I get bleach on my t-shirt / I’m a feel like an asshole’ line, though. Predictable, sophomoric and kind of nonsensical, it comes across like a poor version of that ‘Gorgeous’ lyric: ‘She told the director she tryna get into school / He said "take them glasses off and get in the pool”.
12. High Lights
Was really excited for this track, but Young Thug was used too sparingly. The ‘I need every bad bitch up in Equinox’ section flows nicely and brings to mind 'The New Workout Plan,' but it ain’t quite as good. This song could comfortably sit on Graduation, which I don’t think is a good thing.
11. Father Stretch My Hands Pt. 2
Lyrics way more focused than 'Pt. 1', and the song has such bounce. Desiigner doesn’t add much here, though I’m completely obsessed with that Caroline Shaw multi-harmony ending.
10. Feedback
That distorted dial-up tone-esque beat! The ‘y’all sleeping’ on me huh, had a good snoooooooze?’ line is just insanely singalong-ready from the very first listen. Also a big fan of the ‘Name one genius that ain’t crazy’ line and the brilliantly dumb ’ghetto Oprah’ outro.
9. 30 Hours
I could see this end up being my favourite track at some point. It might be the best beat on the album, although sadly kind of wasted. I love a rough, ad-lib, freestyle ‘bonus track’ too Kanye, but one that does more than give shout-outs to the “design team”. ‘Last Call’ it ain’t.
8. Wolves
This is such a beautiful song and the off-kilter drums in the background throw it off balance in a good way. You could argue Kanye is outshined by his guests here (Sia is angelic, Frank Ocean’s wounding final chorus renews our prayers for his next album) but it’s still so cavernous and crystalline and cathedral-like it transports me every time it comes on.
6. Waves
Just insanely beautiful production. That wavering, glitchy gospel vocal sample is like a microcosm of the sound of the whole album. Breezy hook also really strong.
5. FML
This feels a bit like the ‘Runaway’ of the album. A real personal and The Weeknd is stellar as ever. My absolute favourite thing about this track, and the album as a whole, is that coda though - the wooziest, most hypnotic vocal I’ve heard in a long time. ‘Throw them / Throw them away’ she sings, like the mollied up utterances of someone who doesn’t really know what it is they’re throwing away.
4. Low Lights
I’m not a religious or spiritual person, but this song makes me feel both. I love how simple the arrangement is, just that prayer and the simple bass synth and piano chords. Reminiscent of that ‘A touch of God. Reigns. Out’ verse in ‘Never Let Me Down’, it’s just so passionate and earnest.
3. Ultra Light Beam
Kanye absolutely taking it to church and the Chance the Rapper verse is sensational. The way he switches up the flow on “I’m just having fun with it / You know that a n*gga was lost!” Probably the best guest verse on the album.
2. Freestyle 4
This might seem a weird choice for second best track, but I just love how hype it is. It has that Yeezus anger on ‘CAN EVERYBODY START FUCKIN’!’ Just a manic, operatic, dirty song and a recipe for a crash if played in a car. Tyler, the Creator has my back on this
