Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi's eagerly awaited debut, Man on the Moon: The End of Day, is a spacey, sometimes brooding, Common-narrated concept record that will bolster the hype. Man on the Moon stands to convert those that considered Cleveland, OH-born Cudi a one-hit wonder and deepen the smugness of his established fan base. Divided into five acts, the 15-track album is made up of futuristic, supremely-layered beats from Emile, Kanye West and electro rock producers Ratatat, with Cudi's brooding sing-song delivery traversing introspective terrain. Cudi, who's more singer than rapper, can be inconsistent; he's lifeless and slightly lacklustre on "Sky Might Fall" and the verses for "My World" but lively and emotionally-apt on "Heart of a Lion (Kid Cudi Theme Music)" and the MGMT-featuring "Pursuit of Happiness." Still, if there's one thing Cudi has it's an ear for beats. Man on the Moon is blissfully melodic, equally appropriate to bump on the way to a party or en route to nowhere.