Kanye WestLate Registration

A film score crossed with a hip-hop record. Jon Brion's orchestral arrangements pile on strings, horns, woodwinds, celesta, harpsichord, and Chinese bells, giving Kanye's soul-flipping a scale rap had never tried. "Gold Digger" with Jamie Foxx channeling Ray Charles is irresistible, all stomp and shout-along. "Touch the Sky" with Lupe Fiasco struts with a pinch of disco brass. "Gone" is the most gorgeous thing here, Kanye dreaming of escape over lush, layered strings. He pictured each song as a scene in a film. Maximalist, warm, and bursting. His best top to bottom.