Kid Cudi
Man On The Moon: The End Of Day
Release Date: Sep 15, 2009
Genre(s): Rap
Record label: Motown
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Album Review: Man On The Moon: The End Of Day by Kid Cudi
Very Good, Based on 7 Critics
Based on rating 9.5/10
Kid Cudi :: Man on the Moon: The End of DayDream On/GOOD/Universal MotownAuthor: John-Michael Bond"Long before we know ourselves, our paths are already set in stone, some may never figure out their purpose in life, and some will. There are a lot of us who are caught up in this hell we all live in, content with being blinded by rules and judgment. We live in a world where it's more okay to follow than to lead.
Based on rating A-
The protégé who helped Kanye West create the self-pitying singsong style of last fall’s uneven 808s & Heartbreak develops that sound to much greater effect on his own debut, Man on the Moon: The End of Day. The album surrounds his smash single ”Day ‘N’ Nite” with an arcane story line, but you won’t have to follow it to be impressed by Kid Cudi’s introspective persona, ear for melody, and eclectic taste in beats — including two excellent collabs with the electro duo Ratatat. Cudi turns out to be that rarest of rap phenomena: a hyped upstart who really does represent a promising new phase in the genre’s evolution.
Based on rating 8/10
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, and maybe debut albums aren't what they used to be. 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.
Based on rating 7/10
The first two tracks on Man on the Moon: The End of Day are a one-two introduction to Kid Cudi and what he’s up to. There’s a murky interior monologue about success, the lack of it, and his inner conflicts, where he welcomes us: “you’re in my dreams”. And then there’s a much spunkier, much more sparkly theme song where he shows off his rapping style, proclaiming, “This is the soundtrack to my life”.
Based on rating 3/5
Fans of Kid Cudi's breakthrough track, Day 'N' Nite, and its ubiquitous Crookers remix, take note: this debut studio effort is more ambitious song cycle than club bangers album. [rssbreak] It details one night in the life of the introspective Brooklyn-via-Cleveland stoner rapper, with spacey and futuristic beats to match. Oddly enough, its MGMT-assisted psychedelics, trippy cover art and mid-album poetry recall the Moody Blues' Days Of Future Passed more than anything else.
Based on rating 4.1/10
Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreak was undoubtedly a divisive record, but a rare one where it felt like both sides were essentially making the same argument: We care about it because it was made by Kanye West. It's a backhanded compliment, acknowledging that everything he does is a vital listen but also that it would be tougher to overlook the LP's glaring flaws had it come from someone who hadn't built up a decade of goodwill through his musical work and personal transparency. No wonder Kid Cudi threatened to retire before he even put out Man on the Moon: The End of Day-- his debut essentially exists because of a record that drew most of its power from a singular cult of personality, and that's a lot to live up to.
Opinion: Mediocre
NELLY FURTADO “Mi Plan”. (Universal Latino).
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