Indicud

The moment that all Cudder fans have been waiting for has arrived! The release of Kid Cudi's 3rd album (excluding his alt-rock side project WZRD). Much like his second album Man On The Moon II, I found it somewhat bizzare and difficult to listen to the first time, but after multiple listens it really starts to grow on you like moss grows on a rock in a moist jungle.

This time around it is evident that the Kid has been hanging with producers and bands like MGMT and Ratatat because he now produced the album himself. Although he is new to the production scheme of things, it doesnt really show, as he manages to make some quality beats. Fans would be delighted to hear that he is clearly back on drugs again, as can be heard in the experimentality of sounds and of course the multiple references to dropping acid and such in the lyrics. Other topics covered lyrically include how much the Wizard doesnt care about what the haters say, how out of his mind he is, how much he loves his fam, friends and fans, the struggles of fame, fortune and loneliness, and of course having a good time with the bitches (naturally).

The overall sound of the album is relatively dark and futuristic, but as I mentioned earlier he really has an interesting sonic style as a producer, an amalgamation of his influences from psychadellic alternative rock to classic hip hop, with some spacey samples and a selection of well chosen guest features, and a couple of instrumental beats thrown in too, really cool in the author's opinion. People always seem to complain that he will never be able to top his first hit album with it's more easily accessible sounds and catchy melodies and hooks, but you have to admire that the Cudder is always experimenting with new sounds and styles, always coming up with something new and unique. That is what makes Kid Cudi one of the freshest names in modern hip hop and that won't change.

My top tracks from the album include the King Chip collaboration Just What I Am (blogged about in Febuary), King Wizard, Brothers featuring King Chip & A$AP Rocky, New York City Rage Fest, Beez featuring RZA from Wu-Tang Clan, Immortal, Burn Baby Burn and finally Afterwards (Bring Yo Friends) featuring King Chip and (strangely) Michael Bolton. The latter song for me is something really special and strange, with a duration of 9 minutes, it is an outer space after party with an wicked beat that progresses and transports you to the strange planet that Mr Mescudi resides on. At first the Michael Bolton vocals seem really weird, I mean, it's friggin Michael Bolton, but when you forget who it is you realise that they sound perfect on the track.

Overall the Cudder has managed to impress once again with an impressive, innovative, experimental and (appropriately) dope album. Definitely worth a listen for any self-respecting Kid Cudi fan.

Kid Cudi - indicud (Full Album)

Shayne