Man On The Moon: The End Of Day

This review is on one of my favorite albums.. ever. KiD CuDi is one my favorite artist of all time, so brace your self this one will take a long time. Unlike his last album which I talked about at the start of this blog (see down the page) this has a story. The way that I interpret this is their is this man (Mr.Cudi) who feels so alone, that at this points its like he is on the moon alone. Starting with the first song on the album " In My Dreams." this song is inspirational, and its just how everyone imagines our dreams, talking about having everything he wants and needs. This is calmest song on the album, but a very good start. I also like how he decided to have the rapper Common talking through the story, speaking wise words of wisdom. The next song is one of my favorite songs on the album, and one of the most negative, "Soundtrack To My Life." This is one thing I like about Cudi, he choses to have positive words going out, and by doing this one negative song getting his issues, and letting us in on his life, it helps explain his situation, and lets the listeners understand the album better. "Simple As..." Is one of the songs I have been listening to the most recently. It took time for me to like it, but it grew on me too becoming one of my favorite songs, not only on the album but in general. The start is slow saying "ABC ABC ABC ABC 123 123 ABC ABC" I pick up this reference to the jackson 5 song "ABC" saying "its simple as ABC 123" This song has energy and is a nice start after "Soundtrack To My Life" and "In My Dreams." If you don't like this song at first keep listening and it will get good. Like "Simple As..." the next song "Solo Dolo" It starts out slow and gets energy. This song reflects the story unlike the last two, he is the solo man, alone. "Soaring through paradise when I'm closing my eyes..I'm mister solo dolo." This line reflects back to "In My Dreams" talking about when you rest your head you go to that Utopian reality. I am skipping the song "Heart Of the Lion" because it's one of few songs I don't like, well I like it just I don't really want to talk about it, so onto the next song; "My World" this song starts off talking in the 3rd perspective about his "little homie" But quickly it transitions to him self. I take back what I said about "Soundtrack To My Life" being the only negative song on the album, this one is in between and falls into the story. He says he's on the moon, meaning he's alone, but eventually he will get back to earth, to his world making peace with being the lonely loner. "Day N' Nite" his most famous song, this was dropped on his last album "A Kid Named CuDi." Though it makes sense to his Man On The Moon story. He's referring to him self being the lonely loner, left alone, how deep his pain is. A silent man, can't get his girl. And now finally a more positive song. Well actually its not really, "Sky Might Fall." The concept of the Sky Falling is not a happy idea, but saying he's happy where he is in life, that maybe he doesn't have to be lonely any more is what makes it a more joyful song, He doesn't care if it falls, he's ready and has made peace. "Enter Galactic (Love Connection pt 1.)" Next phase in the story, he's back from being alone on the moon, he's found a woman, a motivation. He just wants to spend time with this woman. This song is on the higher energy, happier side of the album. "Alive" like "Simple As..." This song has energy. KiD CuDi is the moon mad, though this doesn't have anything to do with the story I like it, and recommend hearing it. "Cudi Zone" this is probably my favorite song on the album. Full of energy, he's talking about what he wants to do and encounters he's had, somewhat relating to the story. What I like about this song is it's about the big picture "Doesn't matter where your from, it's about where your going." This is so true for all musicians and artist, and people coming from the ghetto, or a bad family, or house. They CAN escape. Saying he's alright in his zone, his personal space, forgetting about everything that he doesn't want to remember. "Make Her Say" at first I hated this song. The reason for that was because Lady Gaga's in it. She is one of my least favorite musicians, but I had to see past the fact her voice was in it, KiD CuDi, Kanye West, and Common team up for this song and kill it. One of the most skillful raps on this album. "Pursuit Of Happiness" this song along with "Day N' Nite" was a really big hit, a calm song, talking about him catching happiness. Not caring about anything in the world, the problems, "looking ahead no turning back, if I fall if I die, know I lived the fullest." If he dies now, he doesn't care, like in "Sky Might Fall" He's at peace and happy where he is. In this he teams of with MGMT for their vocals, and Ratatat, for their beats and electrifying guitar, they have been good friends for a while, and I do recommend you check them out. Instrumental, hiphop/rock. "Hyyer" Probably the chillest song on the album, talking about his home town, Cleavland, Ohio, just talking about life and having no problems, what goes on in the world from his chilled perspective, freeing his mind. The last song, and a great way to end it "Up Up And Away." I love this song, its so happy. Just after he's woken up, seeing the day for the first time, no bad thoughts In his mind, remembering where he's from. "They gonna judge me any way so what ever." Realizing in this society you get judged wether you like it or not, he's fine with it "I never let a mother f***er bring me down who gives a f**k if a n***a don't like" he doesn't care what people think, starting off depressed alone, now not caring, having this confidence with him self. This is a great way to end the album, this positive message, love your self and you'll be fine, its your opinion that truly matters. This album is amazing, I can't wait till his next album "Cudder" comes out. Till then their will be one more post on KiD CuDi, on his bio and music in general, this relating to "Favorite Mcs blog post" Thanks for reading.

-Sebastian Drake

808's And Heartbreaks

Hello, and good evening. Tonight I will be talking about the album "808's And Heartbreaks" By Kanye West. A lot of people have a problem with Kanye's arrogance, and his attitude. This album seems to not have that much skill put into it because instead of rapping straight up he decided to sing with the help of auto tune. But with this album it's not about proving who he is and the fact that he can rap, because we all know he can. This is one thing I love about art he's taking his feelings and put it on paper and written it out. It takes skill to write lyrics and melodies, so people have no right saying he is a terrible musician. This album was based on his ex- fiances calling the marriage off, and his mother dying. Which indeed did lead to the cause of his disruption at the VMAS ceremony. I hadn't really heard this album besides "Heartless" and "Lovelock Down." One of my favorite songs on this album is "Street Lights" it's deeper then just his break up and his mother dying, but you can't tell what it's about. I personally think that it was intentional. "All the street lights glowing to be just like moments passing in front of me so I i hopped in the cab and I paid my fare See, I know my destination but I'm just not there." This quote really got me. Unlike other songs on the album saying he could never love anyone else he is saying I know I'm going some where, I don't know where yet but I'm ready to part and leave behind the past. "Coldest Winter" another one I like, if you have heard the lyrics you can tell its obviously about his ex-fiance. "On lonely nights I start to fade, Her loves a thousand miles away. Memories made in the coldest winter goodbye my friend will I ever love again?" You can tell he's been hurt and I'm sick of hearing that this album is bad, and that people hate Kanye. Even though he's a bit to main stream for my taste, I like his stuff and I felt like this album needed to be recognized as a good thing, not a bad thing.

Thanks for reading, more posts to follow.

-Sebastian Drake

Immortal Technique

Felipe Andres Coronel better known as Immortal Technique is a underground rapper, and one of my personal favorites. He is as much of a rapper as a revolutionist, but instead of using violence to get his point across he uses beats. He has written three albums so far; Revolutionary Volume 1, Revolutionary Volume 2, and the 3rd world. As said in a interesting interview (I do suggest you watch it, one of the most eye opening interviews I have seen, link at the end.) he is working on a new album the middle passage, and a movie about his travels around the world. I first wanted to give the reader(s) (you) a background of this man. I picked him because on my last blog post I talked about choosing musicians that I think changed a influence on some part of my life, and even though this man is very violent and harsh with his words, and some times offensive, he is interesting human being. Each song he talks about different issues in the world, I am asking for readers out there if I even have any, to check him out, I will eventually come back to this and talk about his albums but right now I am talking about favorite musicians. Right now my favorite is Immortal Technique and tomorrow read up to see my second favorite. Here is the link to the interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJuxb7HddOM

Peace Sebastian Drake.

(Oh I am on twitter @musicreviwer follow me for updates and other insights, and Happy New years 2010)