Kanye West is back, and seemingly everywhere.

Including at the Boston Public Library, where you can reserve five CD's of his latest album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. It's also available in rare vinyl at Newbury Comics, where sales have been brisk.

The rapper has become known as much for his controversial outbursts as his music: like his claim that former president George Bush didn't care about black people in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, or his infamous interruption of Taylor Swift at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards. After his self-imposed exile from the limelight following that incident, it seems the American people -- including those in Back Bay -- accept his music, and maybe even the man.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy opened on Nov. 22 to commercial triumph for West -- selling around 600,000 copies in its opening week -- and near universal critical acclaim, including album of the year status from innumerable publications. Personally I cannot say that I disagree with the praise. One is hard pressed to find a more complete album from 2010.

We may forgive, but not forget.

"I haven't heard the new album but I listened to (his 2008 album) 808s & Heartbreak, it was OK," said Boston Public Librarian Melissa Andrews. "I'm not super into Kanye, but I think it's easy to justify his comments and outburst about Katrina as passionate.  He was speaking out about a great injustice. But what's the injustice of Taylor Swift winning an MTV award? It's MTV. Its unimportant."

Entering the conversation

Kanye has done a superb job of inserting himself into the conversation. With his G.O.O.D. Fridays initiative he has released 15 free tracks since mid-August. 

Ramiro Torres from The Ramiro & Pebbles Morning show and The Weekend Top 30, on Jam'n 94.5 is a fan of Kanye. He describes Kanye's outbursts as a marriage of pure passion, and self-promotion.

"His image is that of a musical genius yet a personal wackjob," he said. "I'm sure in person he's not as crazy as his image, but that's not what gets our attention. Because of society's ADD, we're more inclined to enjoy what a person does despite of what type of person they are... Kanye, Chris Brown and Tiger Woods are examples of that. People are turned off by the character, or say they are, but still buy the albums or continue to watch them play." 

Why his new album works

On My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye has proven to everyone that he is a true student of music as a whole, not just hip-hop. The title of the album is as curious as its content, and a real dissension into the inner thoughts of a single solitary man.

What Kanye lacks in vocal range and affability in general, he has made up for in sheer originality and self-deprecation. The pairing of the music and its lyrics reveals a man who is braggadocio on the surface: "Too many Urkel's on your team that's why your wins low," yet utterly vulnerable at his core: "I'm so gifted at finding what I don't like the most."

This is a staggering, intentionally fragmented piece of music, rich with varied musical influences on each and every track. The juxtaposition of loud-and-proud instrumentation and introspective diary-like vocality plays out like a dream or a nightmare, depending on the moment. It's much more rewarding listening to in sequential order as opposed to one track at a time, as has become our custom in a digital age.

Kanye is showing us all through his work that he is a musical artist starving for inspiration and eager for influences new and old.

A little help from his friends

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is also heavy on collaboration. It's not surprising that Kanye would keep his friends close and enlist them to work on this album at this time in his life and career. He makes it clear that he hates being alone, that he is his own worst enemy, and that he could use the help.

The album features Justin Veron, of the folk band Bon Iver, on the single Monster, samples of Bon Iver's song The Woods, and the closing song, Lost in the World. Jay-Z also lends himself on Monster, and the track So Appalled. Also listen for Nicki Minaj, Pusha T, Rick Ross, Kid Cudi, John Legend, and Raekwon.