Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon: The End of Day (Limited, Gatefold) (2 LP)

Kid Cudi is a fascinating rapper, claimed by the backpackers for his work with Kanye West on 808s & HEARTBREAK but equally loved by the mash-up club kids who went ape for his "Day N Nite" single, especially in its nu-disco remix from Crookers. His debut album was deep in the category of "much anticipated" as soon as it was announced, but when the promised game changer finally arrived, it became obvious that Cudi had already changed the game. With its narration from Common and a track list broken into five "acts," MAN ON THE MOON: THE END OF DAY is almost as conceptual as its name implies, kicking off with a spaced-out slow roller coated in strings while Cudi states "Welcome, you're in my dream now." What follows is Pink Floyd-styled story where the real world pain of "Soundtrack 2 My Life" mutates into sci-fi fantasies from the dark side of the moon. Along the way, brilliant samples--like a bit of OMD's esoteric album DAZZLE SHIPS--and innovative sounds from Cudi and special guests Emile, Ratatat, and MGMT slowly shuffle the listener through the man's spliff-fueled exploration of space. This first official release is a soul searcher and may require more patience than your everyday debut. Still, the chilly, complicated MAN ON THE MOON perfects the futuristic bleak-beat hip-hop Kanye purposed a year earlier, and rewards the listener with every tripped-out return.

KID CUDI HAS BEEN MAKING WAVES RECENTLY with his spacey, left-field brand of introspective hip hop, and all the naval gazing has finally culminated in this debut LP, executive produced by Kanye West.  <i>Man On The Moon</i> is an album in the purest since of the word, a completely cohesive statement that barely wavers, despite the fact that multiple producers contributed content to the record.  Additionally, the album is divided into five acts, each containing a handful of tracks.  Many of the beats feature lush arrangements, featuring dense synth patches and orchestral string arrangements ("Soundtrack 2 My Life," and the OMD sampling "Simple As...," for example).  Indie/electronic duo Ratatat earn proper hip hop production credits here, contributing beats for "Alive" and "Pursuit Of Happiness," the latter of which also features indie pop stars MGMT on the hook.  Examples of Cudi's darker, spacier side show up on "Solo Dolo," "In My Dreams," and the little single that could, "Day N' Night."  The album isn't all doom and gloom though, with "Enter Galactic" and current single "Make Her Say" providing some upbeat moments.  The double LP comes packaged in a nice gatefold sleeve with artwork that was, according to the liner notes, painted by Kid Cudi himself.  While it might not be loaded up with club bangers, it's filled with some great new ideas that make for a refreshing listen.  Highly recommended.

Tracklist 

• Format: Vinyl
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