HEARTBREAK COVERED

I heard 808's and Heartbreak for the first time on Tuesday and while I didn't exactly enjoy the entire album, I must admit there are some captivating moments ("Welcome To Heartbreak", "Heartless", "Bad News). I know its almost cliche to say, but like many others I kept thinking, "If only the vocals were different".

Weez and I were discussing the opportunity that awaits any great up & coming vocalists when the instrumentals of 808's and Heartbreak surface online. Imagine if a young Musiq Soulchild or D'Angelo covered songs from the album, with alil more attention to detail and tightened vocal arrangements, how powerful the album could truly be.

I'm sure we're not the first to discuss this concept and there may well be hundreds or thousands of singers plotting to breakthrough by doing the above and if so, I can't wait to hear the ones that interpret the songs correctly.

Related: 808's and Heartbreak is on track for 450-500k first week, while Guns 'N Roses trail at 300k give or take and Luda & The Killers duke it out for 3rd both with around 200k. Wow wasn't I mis-guided in thinking Guns 'N Roses could sell 900k. Chinese Democracy sure ain't no Black Ice. Good luck re-couping that $10 mil fellas.

SOMETHING TO CHEW ON.

As I stupidly sit here and wait for a CDQ Retail rip of 808's & Heartbreak, not content with the shitty quality, tagged versions of a quarter of the tracks that I refuse to get, I again have to ask the music industry why I can't just go and buy this thing tommorrow? You know the leaks are happening, its been going on for a good while, why aren't you pouring the cash you have used to prosecute downloaders into complex stock delivery systems to capitalise on the only thing that makes music fans frenzy (and possibly fork over some moola) like its 1998 - the leak.

NOVEMBER 24: DEF JAM'S BIG DAY

Billboard reported today that Def Jam have decided to move their three big November 25th releases (Kanye West's 808's & Heartbreak, The Killers Day & Age & Ludacris' Theater of the Mind) to the off-cycle Monday 24th, to capitalize on the Thanksgiving shopping weekend. This puts all three releases up against Guns N' Rose's first album in 15 years, Chinese Democracy, which will be made available as a Best Buy exclusive on Sunday, 23rd.

So the big question is, which album will take the coveted #1 Billboard position?

Here's the official Fuego First Week Prediction:

#1. Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy (900-1 mil+)

Based on the almost year long buzz combined with good early reviews, a top #10 mainstream rock track and the fact CD will be their first album of original studio material since the simultaneous release of Use Your Illusion I & Use Your Illusion II in September 1991.

10 million dollars later, and the Shaquille O'Neal joint probably won't be on the album. They need to do AC/DC numbers just to recoup.

#2. Kanye West - 808's & Heartbreak (600-650)

I'm still unsure about numbers 2 & 3. I feel like 'Ye will ease out The Killers but only narrowly. Majority of the blog reviews from the album listening event painted a relatively uncommitted opinion of the music. There has been a lukewarm reception to the leaks "Robocop", "Coldest Winter" and "Anyway" and up until Ye premiered the Heartless video, it seemed like people had lost the initial excitement for the project.

#3. The Killers - Day & Age (450-500)

The Killers 2006 release, Sam's Town sold 315k in its first week and has sold over 4 million worldwide. If thats anything to go by, they should be able to reach higher this time around, especially since some reviewers are crowning the Stuart Price produced Day & Age as their best album to date and one of the best albums of 2008.

#4. Ludacris - Theater of the Mind (230-270)

Despite the Trackmasters produced, T-Pain assisted "One More Drink" quickly becoming a hit at Rhythmic radio, I don't see TOTM selling as well as any of his previous albums. His last album Release Therapy sold 309k first week off the back of a #1 Billboard single with "Money Maker". I feel like this is his last chance to put together a great album.

Interesting fact: when Kanye's Graduation went up against 50 Cent's Curtis last year, it was only the second time in history that two albums had sold in excess of 600k each in the first week of release. The first time was Guns N' Roses Use Your Illusion I & Use Your Illusion II in 1991.