By Malice Intended

Blazing a new trail in a popular medium can be a lonely endeavor.  It takes an artist who is not only brave and imaginative, but has an ear for what appeals to the masses.  Such ambitions often yield product that feels like an unfinished experiment, and pop music leaves little to no room for error.  You either soar above the clouds or you crash and burn.  It’s no wonder that labels and artists often opt to simply appease the masses rather than break new ground. 

Enter Kid Cudi.  His debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day seeks to be that rare disc among mainstream rap albums that sparks change.  It is both conceptual and cinematic in how it is organized.  It is split into five “acts” and unfolds like a journey through the mind of the main character.  Instead of focusing on the usual topics, Cudi offers you a glimpse into his weaknesses and fears.  The songs build to a logical progression as the mood of the album slowly evolves.

 The album opens with “In My Dreams (Cudder Anthem)” which starts things off on a drowsy and soothing note.  Cudi croons softly over violins and spacey keyboards.  It ends with narration by Common that sets the mood for what’s to come.  The narrative doesn’t come off as forced or pretentious and gives you the sense that you are indeed about to be taken on a journey through Cudi’s world.

The first act reaches it’s apex with “Soundtrack 2 My Life,” produced by Emile.  The musical landscape of the track suits the title perfectly, with drums that sound like a beating heart and sound effects that resemble vital signs beeping away.  The subject matter is somber and heartfelt as Cudi laments on how none of his loved ones can see or understand the sadness he feels.

Another stand out is the dream like “Mr. Solo Dolo(nightmare),” which opens the second act.  Over plucked harp strings and violins, Cudi immerses the listener in the landscape of his dreams.  “Heart of a Lion (Kid Cudi Theme Music)” changes the pace a bit, with lyrics that are more combative and aggressive as Cudi refuses to give in to the demons that chase him incessantly.  The track itself paints a perfect backdrop, with inspirational keyboard riffs and sparse 808 kicks. 

Act III opens with the top ten hit “Day ‘n’ Nite (nightmare).”  Even after hearing it countless times, this song remains effective and catchy.  The track plays like a lesson in the economy of production techniques.  Sparse drums and keys make up the meat of the track.  It keeps your head nodding but never distracts from the lyrics themselves, delivered in a sing-songy cadence by Cudi. 

“Make Her Say” featuring Kanye West and Common is the closest thing to a “traditional” Rap song that one can expect on this album.  It contains solid verses from all three participants.  The sample and break beat driven production will prove a welcome change of pace for Hip-Hop traditionalists, but the track does admittedly stick out like a sore thumb.  It breaks up the consistency of the album.

As a whole, the album is entertaining but it’s not without its flaws.  Songs such as “Simple as” and “Enter Galactic (Love Connection Part I)” come off as contrived filler and interrupt the dark and brooding mood of the album.  The acoustic guitar assisted “Up, Up & Away (The Wake & Bake Song)” closes things on a hopeful note that rings hollow.  One senses that Cudi and his producers didn’t want the album to be a total downer, but the key to any good concept album is consistency of vision.  It’s possible to add layers and change the mood without disrupting the flow.     

While not flawless or classic, Man on the Moon: The End of Day is a cohesive and colorful introduction to the world of Kid Cudi.  This is surely an artist that will grow and mature over time, perfecting his vision along the way.  He’s not quite there yet, but his evolution will be exciting to watch, and his debut provides him with a solid foundation.

   Out of 5

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