I watched the video below yesterday and it got me thinking about Views and what makes it good and what it's negatives are.

If you can't watch the video, he basically says that you can categorize the production of Views roughly into 3 types:
1. Introspective, vocal sample heavy, winter inspired songs
2. Poppy, tropical/african style, summer-ish songs
3. Contemporary trap style songs

Drake himself wanted the album to showcase the seasons in Toronto, which you can find in category 1 and 2.
In my opinion the trap influenced songs (Hype, popstyle, grammys) feel added on, so that there was also something for the newer fans he got with IYRTITL and WATTBA. I think some of those clash a bit with the seasons theme. Also I think they are the worst songs on the album (not bad songs though).

So what would you think if Views was released with this tracklist

1. Keep The Family Close
2. 9
3. U With Me?
4. Feel No Ways
5. Weston Road Flows
6. Redemotion
7. With You
8. Faithful
9. Controlla
10. One Dance
11. Childs Play
12. Hotline Bling
13. Too Good
14. Summer's Over
15. Fire & Desire
16. Views

This way the seasons theme is coming through even better. It still flows very nicely. HLB, which counted as a single of the album as per the Views wikipedia post is a real part of the album.
Also the album is way less bloated and more cohesive.

Give it a try and listen to it like this and let me know what you think?
Do you think it would've been received better from the critics?

Classic album

Would have got an even worse reception initially. The album is really good and this tracklist is great, but I actually think songs like Hype and Still Here were more appreciated when the album first dropped. A lot of people wanted a rap album from Drake, and those were the standout "bangers" early. Those type of songs always get praised at first, then don't age as well. The RNB on Views is what makes it an arguable classic, and it's because it aged really well.

Weston road flows and redemption shouldve been moved down the tracklist, right after summers over

Think it wouldve balanced out the tracklist more n made the conclusion more satisfying

I actually been meaning to watch these put kept putting it off.

I think Views fell victim to the success of IYRTITL and WATTBA as the new fans expected similar music on Views.

Grammys and Pop Style are the 2 songs that stand out negatively the most for me.
Hype and Still Here are more a mixture of the Toronto sounds with trap elements

Would’ve been more cohesive but also lacking in bangers

Critics probably would’ve liked it more but the streets probably would’ve been even more disappointed

Views is a top 3 drake project for me, maybe the sentimental feelings I have to the album puts it ahead of a lot of his projects. Even tho people hated it when it came out

Views would’ve been fine without those “bangers.” The whole world was already playing One Dance and Controlla instead of those songs

imagine a world where the tracklist actually went

controlla
one dance
child’s play
hotline bling
too good

jesusss

The songs I would cut are definitely not bad, but I feel he has better versions of them on other projects.

I just enjoy albums more with a runtime of 45-60 minutes. When they are longer it just feels like a chore sometimes, when you want to listen to the whole thing.

I would scrap pop style and Grammys and keep hype and still here

I’ve listened to your proposed track list and I must say it’s definitely more of a consistent vibe and brings the songs to life more. I feel like it would’ve arguably been his magnum opus tbh.

Definitely would’ve been his most focused work to date and I think critics would’ve picked up on that. I think the general public would’ve still hated tho and the main criticisms would’ve been “it’s too boring” and it’s “not a rap album”. Would’ve been Drake 808s and looked upon as an influential classic by now. Positive critic reception probably would’ve encouraged him to continue to push himself creatively after Views instead of regressing.

Yes @op