More audiophile reviews by Ted King

Graduation
—Kanye West
"Everything I'm not, made me everything I am," sings Kanye West as he again tries to define himself on this third album. From hard rap to sweet melody, he speaks of his fight to be respected in the hip-hop community, on the streets and in the media. In that journey there's tremendous bravado masking real pain and insecurity. Here he raps honestly about paparazzi, groupies, fame and, most interestingly, his own inability to handle success. The beats on the album are infectious, sampling everyone from Elton John, Steely Dan, Public Enemy and Daft Punk. A mesmerizing effort of real human arrogance mixed with self-doubt.

Magic
—Bruce Springsteen
What happened to the idealistic music of yesteryear? Well, the music is still out there, but the words have gained gravity and wisdom. Upon first listen, Magic sounds like an upbeat E Street Band record — the band's all here playing with inspired passion and professionalism, but this time, the tone is gravely serious. Mr. Springsteen is speaking his mind about the current state of everything from radio to religion. The songs tell tales of lost heroes, ugly politics, lonely paths and deep reflections. There's disappointment, heartache, frustration and brutal honesty in this recording. There's little sugarcoating and there’s no fear of consequences, just protest against blind optimism, or as expressed in the first song, "just searchin' for a world with some soul."

Classic Corner
In the Wee Small Hours
—Frank Sinatra

Magnificent, heart-wrenching, and exquisitely crafted, this is the place to start your Frank Sinatra collection, or at least reset the bar of your already existing one. The Nelson Riddle-produced arrangements are sparse, moody and set the tone for Mr. Sinatra to dig deep down into his soul to deliver gut-wrenching vocals. The songs are delicate, reflective, melancholy and delivered with truth. If you’re not feeling your heartache while listening to these recordings, then you've never known the journey of falling in and out of love.

This article originally appearred in the November 13, 2007 issue of Soap Opera Digest.