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Drake is the Vampire Weekend of rap–he ticks all the wrong boxes, especially for a milieu that privileges poverty and strife. He's a handsome 23-year-old ex-actor from an affluent background who has effortlessly achieved even greater wealth via music that utterly refuses to flaunt its street-tough credentials. More heinous still, Thank Me Later is virtually a concept album about the loneliness and lovelessness of the successful celebrity, a sort of sequel to Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreak, only more audaciously dolorous because he's only just started. In fact, as morose meditations on the miseries of fame go, it comes across like a rap version of Woody Allen's Stardust Memories or Deconstructing Harry.
Aubrey Drake Graham doesn't mean much in the UK, managing only a miserable number 123 for his first single Best I Ever Had late last year, but in the States he's both cause celebre and bête noire. He's had several chart hits while Thank Me Later–which features Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Mary J Blige, Kanye, Timbaland and his mentor Lil Wayne–has polarised the critics to the extent that its release prompted the Village Voice to run an article entitled Why You Hate Drake, And Why You're Wrong About Hating Drake.
The reason for the extreme reactions is the relentless solipsism evidenced here –Pitchfork's reviewer counted a record number of first-person pronouns for a rap album–and the sustained mood of self-pity. "What am I afraid of? / This is supposed to be what dreams are made of," he asks on The Resistance, wondering, "Am I wrong for making light of my situation?" On Over he finds himself in a room with "way too many people... that I didn't know last year", while on Cece's Interlude he wishes he could go back to being a simple upper-middle-class undergrad: "I just want what I can't have," he sighs.
So much for the haters. Thank Me Later has been rapturously received for its edgily languid sonics. Kayne, Timbaland and Swizz Beatz contribute, but much comes courtesy of Canadians 40 and Boi-1da, who've created a striking dreamscape for Drake to wander with his nasal raps and saccharine croon. No wonder there are shout-outs to everyone from Sade to The xx and Neon Indian on the sleeve–the atmosphere of sumptuous somnolence is interrupted by unexpected drum detonations, guitar bursts and keyboard spikes. This is less chillwave than illwave; Karaoke and The Resistance are like the loveliest muzak, only tortured and twisted by Autechre.
And it never lets up. Credit to all concerned for maintaining it for a whole album, which, if you can buy into Drake's rich-boy blues, ranks with the year's best.
--Paul Lester
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Product Description
CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Mixed
Format:Audio CD
If you buy this album expecting a good Rap Album, then you'll be disappointed. But if you get it expecting an R&B album then you'll definitely enjoy it.
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As a hardcore Drake fan owning ALL of his mixtapes, I can safely say this is a sub-par album with only a few decent tracks. I can't help but feel disappointed and deflated over the over-hyped first studio album. Its true Drake did not want to go too commercial, that promise he has kept. He also said that he made this album for his fans; this is so far from the truth.
If anyone had Toronto III, what happened to the track Made? In my opinion, this is one of his better tracks! He obviously has the ability to produce an album full of amazing songs; why he hasn't done that on his first album is beyond me. I would of liked to have seen a fast, lyrically outstanding track like "Stay Late" (Ransom) on here as the whole album seems depressing. I must admit, my favourite song on the whole album is "Thank me Now" and "Light Up". It is the only song which I actually enjoy listening to; this is probably due to the lack of singing!! Also, Jay-Z kills it; he will always be my favourite!
Moreover on the overall tone of the album, it seems that Drake portrays a rather dark time in his career rather than his original aim of inferring its a successful time. As it was his first album, I suppose he was under some restraints as to what he was able to rap about; contrary to his mixtapes which I feel is the real Drake. "Fear", "Winner", "Killer", "Say Something", "Made", "Baby Come With Me"(although this was only a 1 minute snippet!)...these are the songs, I assume, Drake fans want to hear! What happened with "Put it Down feat Bun B"?? I feel this had the potential to be one of Drakes biggest tracks and I honestly believed the full version would have been included within Thank me Later.
As to whether I would recommend this album to someone else...I regret to say no. If, like me, you have been a fan of Drake for the last couple of years, Stick to his mixtapes as I feel listening to Thank me Later will significantly affect your opinion of his music; I listen to his mixtapes still whilst his CD is amongst my collection.
Thank me Later? Definitely! I will save my thanks until you bring out another mixtape which puts this album in the shadows. Come on Drake, we know you can do better than this!!
If anyone had Toronto III, what happened to the track Made? In my opinion, this is one of his better tracks! He obviously has the ability to produce an album full of amazing songs; why he hasn't done that on his first album is beyond me. I would of liked to have seen a fast, lyrically outstanding track like "Stay Late" (Ransom) on here as the whole album seems depressing. I must admit, my favourite song on the whole album is "Thank me Now" and "Light Up". It is the only song which I actually enjoy listening to; this is probably due to the lack of singing!! Also, Jay-Z kills it; he will always be my favourite!
Moreover on the overall tone of the album, it seems that Drake portrays a rather dark time in his career rather than his original aim of inferring its a successful time. As it was his first album, I suppose he was under some restraints as to what he was able to rap about; contrary to his mixtapes which I feel is the real Drake. "Fear", "Winner", "Killer", "Say Something", "Made", "Baby Come With Me"(although this was only a 1 minute snippet!)...these are the songs, I assume, Drake fans want to hear! What happened with "Put it Down feat Bun B"?? I feel this had the potential to be one of Drakes biggest tracks and I honestly believed the full version would have been included within Thank me Later.
As to whether I would recommend this album to someone else...I regret to say no. If, like me, you have been a fan of Drake for the last couple of years, Stick to his mixtapes as I feel listening to Thank me Later will significantly affect your opinion of his music; I listen to his mixtapes still whilst his CD is amongst my collection.
Thank me Later? Definitely! I will save my thanks until you bring out another mixtape which puts this album in the shadows. Come on Drake, we know you can do better than this!!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A good album, but weaker than expected. I've been listening to it for a good while now trying to find the talent that we know this man has and to be honest, aside from 4 tracks i couldn't find it.
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3.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
'Thank Me Later'
To be completely honest with you, in my first listen through of this album, I was a bit skeptical. Yeah, a few songs stood out, but I felt that the album was very average - nothing... Read more
Published 1 month ago by TheOutsider21
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thanks Me Later....
Really like this - love listening to it LOUD while getting ready for work!! I think its just as good as 'Take Care' but they're quite different - this one is more old skool RnB. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Nadine
5.0 out of 5 stars
I'll thank him now actually
I loved this album when it first came out, recently I wanted a disc version. Sound quality is very good and clear, a great present idea for hip-hop and rap fans.
Published 2 months ago by Theo_92
3.0 out of 5 stars
NOT BAD
Got this for 2 tracks really, the rest are bonus. WHat an earth is this amazan music downloader! Why cant you just let me download a zip file with the album or just a normal folder... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jonny
4.0 out of 5 stars
Drizzzzy
Loved so much his debut album and as well his sophomore one "Take Care"; and he's getting more and more good.
Published 4 months ago by Christian
3.0 out of 5 stars
Follows a blueprint for generic hip hop - Yawn.
The incredible and diverse genre of hip hop deserves more creativity in albums than Drake's "Thank Me Later". Read more
Published 17 months ago by Eric Blair
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thank me later
Amazing album! Drake puts both music and words together different to what others are doing at the moment. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Matthew
1.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty dull album
Very vocal. Quite slow. Not really my bag, but if you like slower albums which are more melodic rather than rap or hip hop you may like. Definitely pre-view listen though.
Published 19 months ago by Elizabeth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Drake - Thank Me Later
This is the best CD I own... Drake is sick. You would be stupid not to buy this for the price...
Published on 29 April 2011 by MRS MAUREEN ORGAN
5.0 out of 5 stars
One to buy
I love drake and this album is one of his best! all the tracks are really good and i couldnt pick a favourite track because i like them all!
Published on 27 Feb 2011 by Niks
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