New Kid Cudi (Feat. MGMT & Ratatat) - "Pursuit Of Happiness"
Following "Day 'N' Nite" and the Kanye and Common-featuring "Make Her Say," "Pursuit Of Happiness" is Man On The Moon: The End Of Day's third single and the first to feature the production of Ratatat and vocals of MGMT. (The Ratatat guys also produce and appear on "Alive.") It's a mellow positive track that lets us know, more or less, that it's all good: "I'm on the pursuit of happiness / And I know everything that shines ain't always gonna be gold..." A reference to Andrew VanWyngarden's body paint, perhaps? Not really. The real inspiration for the I'll-be-fine can-do philosophizing appears with Mr. Cudi in the accompanying press photo: "Crush a bit / little bit / roll it up / take a hit / Feelin' lit." Yes, that's it.
The album art is pretty lit, too.
Man on the Moon: The End Of Day is out 9/15 via G.O.O.D./Universal Motown.
Posted at 9:41 AM by brandon in Album Art
Tags: Kid Cudi | MGMT | Ratatat
lame
Score = -2
Kanye's 808's and Heartbreak + Patrick Wolf + space = Cudi's Man On The Moon: The End Of Day.
Score = 2
Nah, needs more auto-tune. Tell you what, take that equation, slap it onto either Drake's debut album or his last mixtape, substract the "space" addend and I'd give you an A+
Score = 1
Hey I like smokin trees as much as the next guy but doing it in a press photo is kinda lame.
Score = 1
The song's an ode to "smoking trees" with the press photo as the "cherry on top". He's sounds stoned, ratatat and MGMT make psychadelic music, and Kudi's rambling at the end ABOUT being stoned. Tri-FECTA!
Score = 2
Ratatat is amazing (obviously)...but this is probably one of the lamest songs I have ever heard. If you kind of block out Kid Cudi's obnoxious voice and focus on Ratatat and MGMT it sound much better!
Score = 0
Cudi's new album is great. A Zone-out record with huge hooks! I like how he doesn't have many guest appearances, and pretty much just tells us his story. It's new, it's fresh, and some of the best ears in music are backing this guy, which means he must have something special. If your lookin to smoke out and put on something to open your eyes just throw on "Man on the Moon." I get the feeling of a New Age/Electronica/Bone Thugz-n-Harmony when I listen to it, but that's just me.
Score = 1
Please tell me someone payed you to give him praise. That album is awful. It makes me question if Day n Night was actually ever good. Also, I saw Cudi at Lolla, and he was really bad. So much for him being a refreshing voice in a stale genre.
Score = -3
"so much for him being a refreshing voice in a stale genre"
did you practice that line when Day 'n Nite took off so you could be right at the front of the backlash bandwagon?
this is definitely better than the last ten comments were crying about.
Score = 2
I don't really get the grammar of your third sentence. I wanted to like Kid Cudi, but the music is just not there. It's weak.
Score = 0
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/2008/05/12/99-grammar/
Score = 1
So I'm a huge fan of Ratatat and MGMT i feel like has the chance to be the most psychedelic band since Pink Floyd but this is absolutely awful.
Score = -2
"absolutely awful"?? little hyperbolic are we?
what is so offensive about this? nice little jam. nice little beat.
Score = -1
This is nice and chill
Score = 2
That was awful. I liked Day n Night for how basic and unpretentious the lyrics are. Plus the beat of course. But this is not basic lyrics. This is "I can't think of anything to fucking rhyme about cause i'm always getting so fucking high." Also, did I catch a reference to drunk driving in there? Awesome dude. On your next single, just throw out some lines about date rape or sodemy or some shit. Baller subject matters.
Score = -2
I like it. It's raw, relaxing....subtle.
Score = 0
Raw? More like half-baked.
Score = -1
This dude's the most over-rated up-and-comer in a while. Day N Nite was only good after Crookers touched off that blunted remix. I'll continue to get my dose of space jams from bands like Little Dragon (just noticed stereogum has them in the player on the right); mmm, now that's tasty
Score = -1
Oh how I loath that remix. Its one of those generic club-bangers that sound decent solely under the roof of a club if only because you're too drunk to realize how mediocre it truly is. I will say that it could have been at least half as irritating if not for that inane alarm thing. Honestly, was that supposed to be avant garde or something?
Frankly each and every up-and comer is labelled overrated at some point (shouts to Drake, you're next buddy) so I don't know what else to tell you.
Score = 0
i fucking hate you hipsters, i cant believe i wanted to be like you. this is pretty good though, as for this ill just listen to the music and forget all your bullshit...
Score = -1
I saw Cudi at Lolla and enjoyed him, but I think he complains far too much with not enough imagination. I think it's cool he worked with mgmt and ratatat, but I don't think this track knocks as much as it could, and I just don't like Cudi's overall woe-is-me mood. There's no imagination, no spark to it. It's like he found that gimmick ("lonely stoner" with an attitude) and is stretching it with no growth or real spark. I can listen to sad people's music about being sad, but there has to be nuance.
Sonically, the album is sort of diverse from what I've heard. I don't know, gloomy synth pop boombap. He's got some hooks in there that had me going during the show.But overall, I just am not impressed with this kid when it comes to straight delivering.
<3 day n nite and make her say though..
Score = 2
I pretty much agree, though I think "schtick" is a better word to describe the lonely stoner thing over "gimmick". And yes, that pic is quite suspect. But from what I seen/heard from him (live/record-wise), I think he has a lotta potential and will grow as time goes on. Dude's only on his first album after all.
Score = 1
cutting edge!
Score = 1
wow that was awful what a terrible waste of a collaboration
Score = -1
Yeah I like the other two Cudi singles and really like Ratatat and MGMT, but this kind of sucks (the textbook ratatat riff at the end is nice though). It's kind of a mess. I'm interested in his stuff though up to this point. That's why I listened and why I'm posting a comment.
Score = 1
I like Cudi. A lot of these "chill" rappers (cough, Ant and Slug) are pretty boring, but Cudi is fun. The song is terrible though -- bad lyrics, and yeah he can't sing. Meh, if "Make Her Say" and this joint are the worst two songs on the album it'll probably turn out adequate. Sure he's overrated but I really never heard anything quite like "Day 'N' Nite."
Score = -2
Ratatat needs to produce more songs. MGMT needs to release more songs. Kid Cudi needs to never use auto-tune. Then...we'll be fine.
Score = 1
Very chill. I'm digging this track. Esp. that weird reference to night terrors. My kid brother had them.
Score = 2
I can absolutely agree with the lyrics in this chorus. I like Cudi, MGMT, and Ratatat. I guess the thing to do on these blogs is to hate on everything you listen to. I don't get it, If I don't like a song, why would I even bother commenting on it. So people get off your high horse, and stop thinking that you know soo damn much about music that your opinions are the correct opinions. "Man on the Moon" might not be for everyone, but damn is it a great listen for me!
Score = 1
I REALLY want to like Kid Cudi's album but so far it's really bad. Five Acts?? Talk about giving an inexperienced artist WAY too much creative control of his album. He needs a Kanye-like mentor to guide him through the album-making process.
Production is terrible so far. Ratatat, normally impressive producers, are turning up surprisingly stale beats for Cudi. Moreover, how could you feature MGMT (!) and not give Andrew a verse? I thought this would be a top hip-hop album for 2009 but it is really letting me down.
Score = -1
I don't get how people consider him to be down to earth. Watch an interview where he talks about his album. Would a down to earth person really consider themselves the messiah of modern music?
Lot of good melodies, but the lyrics are pretty embarassing.
This is what opens his album:
Here in my dreams
I can have everything and anything
I ever wanted
Yeah
I can think of anything and everything I ever needed
Right in my dreams
Everything is ay-OK
I won't worry bout anything
Cus everyday everyday is sunny
On top of all this complaining, I still enjoy quite a bit of his stuff. I think shit just went to his head and he has to go through this immature concept/cinematic album/delusion of grandeur.
Score = -1
I LOVE IT!!!
Score = 1
Not a Kid Cudi fan. I wish people like Ratatat and Kid Cudi would work with the more talented (but sadly often less popular) hip hop artists. Also, (and maybe just because this is a YT clip) it doesn't smack you in the face like most Ratatat beats/remixes/songs. Really diggin the album art though.
Score = 1
Upon further listens I have warmed up to this song a bit.
Score = 1
find me an instrumental of this song and I'll dig it.
Score = 1
Wish Despot was rapping on this instead!
Score = -1
beat sounds fucking huge.
massive lift. unearth refreshing
Score = 1
WOW. EPIC. AMAZING! So chill. Man on the moon is going to be a classic.
Score = 1
That's fresh as fuck.
Score = 1
Yeah the comments above hit it right on.
But MGMT sounds great- the chorus is addicting.
Score = 1
The Album is GREAT, it goes far beyond smokin. Look deeper ppl, there's meaning behind the lyrics
Score = 1
Didnt like it at first. But this shit grows on you. I might actually buy the album now. The haters sure have quieted down.
QC stand UP
Score = 1
Honestly, this would work better without MGMT.
Score = 0
Just the fact that people are hating on this shit proves that Cudi isn't gonna just go away, as I see a lot of these other fucks that people actually like. Why hate on anyone who is sticking out their necks for everyone to take a swing at? These are the true artists and we'd all be lucky to be forced to hear real music rather than the horse shit that the general population is fed by money grubbing shit making machines. The only way I might eat my words is if G.O.O.D. turns to a desperate "make anything that makes money" label. They don't have their finger right on a specific demographic right at this point and thats why it's good, this is for "almost" everybody. I'm feeling Cudi and if anyone who likes Cudi's other songs are just gonna have to press skip on the ones they don't so we can enjoy more of those good song's that we can listen to ourselves. There's a thin line between what's commercial mainstream bullshit, and real music that can touch people at their core, it's hard to tell if it's a act or not, "is he really pouring is heart into this or is he telling you what he thinks you might want or what they told him to say". Listen to I think it's "Prayer" on maybe it's "A Kid Named Cudi" mixtape.... now maybe ..... maybe the only problem is he actually has to say "this is real shit" but maybe nobody can tell anymore..."I ask, cause I'm not sure do anybody make real shit anymore?" You Know Who
Score = 1
everybody here just hates hip hop...it's ok you can admit it
sidenote: his album is the most psychadelic hip hop iv'e heard since De La Soul. And it's Amazing
Score = 1
yknow you can vote me down but i actually thought this was great. i listened to it like about 6 times in a row. ive heard kid cudis other stuff and didnt really like it but this song, is awesome.
(its mostly because mgmt and ratatat, i love em)
Score = 1
I love how up in arms people are about the marijuana centered lyrics and themes on this album. What the fuck were you expecting? His biggest mixtape was called "Stoner Charm" and his break out single talked about the "lonely stoner". Cannabis culture in rap music has inspired some of the most seminal rap albums (Dr. Dre comes to mind). But you're probably all over the Chronic, enough time has passed that it's acceptable for stupid white kids from the suburbs to appreciate the "uninspired lyrics".
Score = 0
Great tune. Loving how the marriage of genre. New Black Keys album should be pretty interesting too. But Cudi seems like the real deal. I think this is a genuine effort at innovation and it sounds good. End of the day, that matters.
Score = 0
maybe im stoned too.. but i like it.
Score = 0
I usually hate hip hop but that song is soooooo addicting !
Score = 0
i've noticed with all my friends, including myself, that at first this song sounds terrible! but after listening to it 2 or 3 times i became obsessed with it!!! kid cudi's album is great!!! give all his songs a chance to grow on u before u decide if its good or not
Score = 0
fuck all yall this shit is the bomb listen to it only makes you feel good haha damn
Score = 0