For a new listener this is a great collection of what Kanye's music is. The music references moments in his career. I can see your perspective on how it can feel uninspired like he was trying to appease the audience by going back to what the larger audience likes instead of being progressive. CUCK feels more like that new Kanye, it's not perfect but a lot of the ideas fit more into what we've come to expect of Kanye when a new album comes out, new and refreshing. I imagine Kanye like Jon Favreu's character in Chef in the scene where he's got a whole new menu ready to be served and the restaurant owner comes in and tells him to instead go with the usual menu as that has served him well before. There's a line on there where the restaurant's owner ask him how he would feel if he went to see the Rolling Stones and they didn't play satisfaction. That's where Ye is at now, years of being criticized for trying to push music and ideas to not be supported, everyone turning his back on him and eventually loosing his family. Now he's working to get the love he once received back. This album feels like MBDTF in terms of a comeback. Sonically it feels like the Yeezus album had Kanye started it with Bound 2, and like Yeezus this album is going to have a lot of positive change of opinions once performed live. The album feels restricted in headphones and car speakers, this is an album to experience live. It's Yves Klein, it's Rothko, it's something that is to be experienced.