Kanye West’s episode of Storytellers, VH1’s answer to MTV Unplugged, originally aired in February 2008, immediately following an embarrassing time in Kanye West’s career. 2008’s Glow In The Dark Tour was a success, but the critical reception of 808s & Heartbreak was tepid, to say the least. If anything, the television event and newly released album of the same name are opportunities for Kanye to show his fans that he is still capable of bringing energy into his live performances and rock crowds with songs off 808s.
One would expect that Storytellers would be a “greatest hits” of West’s career, but there are plenty of gaps in the set list. Where is “Paranoid”, arguably the best song on 808s? And only nine tracks? Where are the extended performances? Kanye recorded three hours of footage for the VH1 broadcast, so Storytellers could have been pumped up with plenty of songs.
Kanye fails worst with Storyteller’s spoken word tracks. Kanye doesn’t tell us anything specific, only vague statements borne out of his big ego and his tendency to yell into microphones. He tells the crowd that he’s not going to tell the story behind songs, because “certain things are too serious.” Yet, his ego shows no sign of deflation. “You could’ve been anywhere in the world this evening, but you wouldn’t be as happy as you are right now.” Thanks for reminding us, Kanye.
All considered, some tracks—most notably “Touch the Sky” and “Flashing Lights”—are reminders that Kanye is a great performer when he turns off the auto-tune. And let’s not forget, $12 for both a CD and a DVD is a bargain price for what would have been more than $20 just a few years ago.
Storytellers may only be memorable because its release captures Kanye at a low-point in his much-acclaimed career. Storytellers is nothing new from an artist who thrives on being new. Instead of being an essential album in Kanye’s discography, like the Glow In The Dark Tour live album could have been, Storytellers leaves fans asking “What if?” What if Storytellers had an expanded track list? What if Kanye included liner notes? What if he just starts rapping again?
Voice’s Choices: “Touch the Sky,” “Flashing Lights”
