Kid Cudi ‘Man on the Moon’ Album Review
The spaceship is less than a week away from landing, as the man on the moon prepares to greet the world and reveal who he is.
Kid Cudi’s 15-track debut album, ‘Man on the Moon: The End of Day’ will be released Sept. 15. It’s less of an album and more of an emotional journey of one man.
The idea behind the album is all the songs take place during a night of sleep for Kid Cudi. Along with the songs, Common also appears on the album as a narrator. The purpose of this is create a movie-like appearance to the album. Common serves as extra insight to what is happening.
Along with a narrator, the album is also divided into five “acts” to further pull off the movie atmosphere on the album. The first act is entitled: ‘The End Of The Day.’ Cudi is finally laying down for sleep. The first track on the album has been dubbed the “Cudder Anthem” where the listener learns the only place Cudi feels safe is his dreams. As the acts continue, Cudi faces the issues of nightmares, drugs, being stuck, and finding happiness.
At the end of it all, we come to the final act, “A New Beginning.” The closing track, “Up Up & Away,” Cudi has finally awoken from his slumber and is prepared to move on in the world. He realizes that people are going to judge anyway, no matter what he does.
People often refer to Kid Cudi as a rapper. With that label plenty people have slammed him for not being a good rapper, and doesn’t possess a good flow. Well, I think that’s unfair label to slap on him anyway, as this album proves he’s bringing a new movement to the genre. Bob Dylan was always slammed for being a poor singer, but I think he overcame that criticism anyway.
Another thing people criticize Cudi about is weak rhymes (sometimes he just bypasses rhyming all together) and just simple writing. Well, I can agree with that, but why is that a bad thing? I mean the writing on this album has the complexity of a 9th grade English class at best, but who doesn’t love reading “Catcher in the Rye” or “Lord of the Flies.” Simplicity isn’t a bad thing.
The important thing to take out of this album is the emotion. The second half of “Soundtrack 2 My Life,” Cudi changes the tone of his voice, and your ears can pick up the emotions which Cudi in the song states are pouring out of him.
Then there’s songs like “Heart of a Lion,” which possesses the inner battle that everyone must face sometime in their life. The interchangeable “No’s” and “Yeah’s” found in the hook are there not only for Cudi’s confusion, but the listener’s as well.
The most notable songs to take notice to are the RATATAT-produced tracks in ”Alive” and ”Pursuit of Happiness ” (which also features MGMT). These are the songs that back up the idea that Cudi is bringing a new wave of music into the hip-hop genre. The production on these tracks obliterates Kanye West’s production found in “Make Her Say,” and “Sky Might Fall.”
The album in full delievers what I was expecting. Lots of emotion, drug talk and martian-like symptoms. Despite the album being mind-blowingly good, there are some disappointments that must be touched on real quick. “Make Her Say” is fun little track, but it doesn’t belong on this album. It just makes no sense and interrupts the flow of what’s happening. The second is the Chip Tha Ripper featured track, “Hyyeer Up.” It’s just not a good song.
For a debut album, it’s beyond a solid effort. It’s really good, however, I know Kid Cudi can do even better. “The Man on the Moon: The End of Day,” is simply Kid Cudi getting his feet wet in the music business. I look forward to him working with RATATAT and MGMT more in the future (hopefully).
The album gets The Urbanian stamp of approval. It’s a very addicting listen. Make sure you purchase the album Sept. 15. I know I’m copping the Deluxe Edition with the DVD.
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