CD review: Man on the Moon: The End of Day - Kid Cudi
BY CHRIS SCHULZ
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Was Day N Nite a fluke? Judging by Kid Cudi's depressing, ocassionally torrid debut album, it seems the rapper is perilously close to being a one-hit wonder.
That debut single - a worldwide smash thanks to a dance remix by Crookers, both versions of which are included here - was fun and upbeat, and along with the excellent mixtape A Kid Called Cudi signalled the arrival of an exciting new talent.
None of those adjectives can be used to describe the dour Man on the Moon: The End of Day.
Yep, Kid Cudi's first album is a wasted opportunity. Split into five parts, and featuring guest spots from mentor Kanye West, MGMT, Ratatat and others, it bears all the hallmarks of an overconfident artist badly underperforming.
Cudi's got the swagger of West and the boasts of Jay-Z - "I wish I was Jigga man" is one of the album's opening lines - but they're hollow threats when his lack of microphone skills are so badly exposed.
His stilted flow on Solo Dolo is cringeworthy, Common lyrically slaughters him on the Lady Gaga-sampling Make Her Say, and Cudi Zone is only saved when the rapper starts singing the chorus.
Ratatat add a touch of psychedlia to two tracks, and MGMT one, but Cudi ruins them with his depressing lyrics.
Only Simple As comes close to matching the infectious enthusiasm of Day N Nite, giving those one-hit wonder claims more weight.
No wonder he's already talking about retiring - Kid Cudi has already fired his best shots.
* What do you think of Man on the Moon: The End of Day? Post your comments below.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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you have no idea what you are talking about mate. do you no the meaning behind the album? i guess not. go research before you write. the quality of your work is poor. Cudi is the new face of hip-hop/rap.
Terrible Review! This album is refreshing and is finally putting hip hop in the right direction. The songs on this album are deep and meaningful. You have to listen to the album a few times in order to truly grasp this. I concede some of the tracks were not up to scratch, however "Enter Galactic, Hyer, Up up and away, Cudi Zone are all inspiring in there different ways. I believe that the reviewers calls for Cudi being a "one-hit wonder" are definately premature. I recommend the reviewer looks at an album from more than a face-value perspective in his future reviews.
You really do not know what you are talking about. his lyrics are real and deep. They have actual meaning unlike other hip hop albums, there is something in there that most people can relate too. Just because it isn't fully mainstream like day n night doesn't mean this isn't a good album. You have no idea
your an ass, his cd isnt as bad as you make it out to be
Agree-ing with Ron. This Guy should be fired and sued for defamation. The album is brilliant, lyrics are real. Talking about things more profound then how he got some money and is now famous. He isn't following the trend of today's hip-hop/rap, he's mixin' it up. Furthermore you cant be disappointed that the songs on the album arent as jolly and upbeat as the Crookers remix of Day N Nite. its a dance remix. not the original with the word "crookers" slapped on the end. // my point is that the album is great. dont pay this failed attempt at a review any attention and buy the album, I also suggest you get hold of "A KiD named CuDi" and "Dat kid from Cleveland" asap. 10/10 overall.//
poor review... saying he has boasts of jay-z is quite opposite to the lyrics in the cd, the lyrics are predominantley unbraggadocio.with cudis intentions to reach out and let his audience feel him, man on the moon is the meanist song
Ridiculous review. Kid Cudi's album is solid, cut for cut. Each track flows together nicely.
I think that this album is brilliant. I agree with Anchorman, Pursuit of Happiness and Up, Up and Away are amazing and I felt the whole album wa very well put together. This review is a study in amateurism. 'Make Her Say' is another very good track and the rapore between Cudi, Yeezy and Common makes the song all the more enjoyable. What kind of novice reviewer finds fault in a hip hop album because the lyrics are "depressing"? Nightmares are rarely fun and this is what a number of the songs are about. Listen to the LP a few more times and write a review that is about the same album the rest of us are listening to.
I agree with this review. I recently said his career didn't seem too promising, but he may last. He's stylish and has star potential, and sometimes in the music industry thats all a person needs.
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Worst review I've ever read.. I'm not gonna go into why.. Like Kid Cudi says: "Real Recognize Real"