Having been unemployed for a few weeks now, I have had more than a little extra time on my hands. And with that extra time I've done my best to stay busy with a number of different tasks and activities. The most prominent of these being: sending out resumes & cover letters, experimenting with cooking, learning how to drum (aka, Rock Band), working on my writing, and, of course, the long held and endlessly enjoyable time waste of watching popular music videos on repeat. As in, over and over and over again.Most recently this has happened with Beyonce's mesmerizing how-do-her-hips-move-quite-like-that smash "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" and Animal Collective's infinitely trippy & primordial "My Girls". Both excellent videos and both videos that have squandered -- albeit happily -- hour upon hour of my life and of my time. Yet neither of those two examples compare to my current video obsession: the Kanye West rotoscoped romp of heartbreak that is, "Heartless"
Set up with music video director phenomena Hype Williams, Ralph Bakshi inspired cinematography, and a crack-team of 65 animators from Hong Kong, Kanye West has created a stimulating concoction of sound & vision worthy of his mantel as the only true Pop Star currently making music. In it a smart-looking West mopes his way through a splashy kaleidoscope of space and spotlights, bright neon cityscapes, and chic Warhol & Jetsons' adorned living quarters, all while stylish & well-dressed women play for his attention. It's over the top, sure, and overly self important, as usual, but for all the faults Mr. West has -- and there are a few -- his eye for style & ear for hooks has never been better.
This, of course, isn't a new development for the "Louis Vuitton Don." After all, he has been inserting style & design into his music for quite some time now, whether it be his Murakami designed Graduation album cover or his recent Patrick Bateman put-on video "Love Lockdown" or even his instantly iconic shudder shades. But, until now, it has never worked quite so well or looked quite so good.
So sit back, relax, and welcome in the parade of color & style that is Kanye West's "Heartless"
