Man On the Moon: The End of Day (Expanded Version)

Kid Cudi’s full-length debut is a vast, ambitious concept album divided into five acts, each exploring a different aspect of Cudi’s psyche. Sonically, the album takes its cues from new wave and New Romantic bands, techno, and ambient music. The contributions of Ratatat and MGMT further dissolve the boundaries between electronica, modern rock and hip-hop. Restlessness and desolation are the subject of “Solo Dolo,” “My World,” and “Sky Might Fall,” but it\'s the brooding, minor-key chants of “Soundtrack 2 My Life,” “Day ‘n’ Nite,” and “Pursuit of Happiness” that really set the tone for the album.