Kid Cudi’s ‘WZRD’ Album: Review Revue

Robbie Daw | February 28, 2012 1:36 pm

With third release WZRD, Kid Cudi has plugged in his amp and paired up with Dot Da Genius for an album that has critics fairly divided. Some argue that Mr. Rager is bringing something new to the table as he attempts to distance himself from the hip hop crowd, while others point out that his stab at rock simply isn’t any good. Teleport below to read what the Internet at large has to say, then let us know your own thoughts on WZRD! :: Hip Hop DX praises Kid Cudi for trying something different: “Where PM Dawn’s soft spoken routine was shunned to no end in the early ’90s, recent times have given rise to a subculture allowing today’s generation to comfortably identify with artists straying from rap’s hyper-masculinity and chauvinism… While some could consider the gumption of Cudi’s aesthetic on this album a byproduct of self-absorbed pretense, he appears to organically gravitate to earnest experimentation.”

:: The Oracle is equally impressed: “It’s reassuring to see that this new musical direction isn’t altering what made Cudi a commodity to begin with — the fact that his music is in many ways an intimate representation of himself… Yet, listeners hoping for an entirely new side of Cudi will come away disappointed because WZRD isn’t too much of a departure from what he’s done on his own albums.”

:: The album has left This Beat Goes On feeling cold, however: “Unfortunately for Dot Da genius, Kid Cudi, and his fans, WZRD isn’t anywhere near what I’m sure many had hoped for. As a heavy Cudi listener myself, it pains me to say it, but based on the group’s first official project, this crossover attempt is going to be a failed one.”

:: The NJ Underground isn’t conjuring up good thoughts on the album either: “Apparently by ‘alternative rock’, the duo meant angsty, dated, Nickeback-esque post-grunge. While not without its moments, some of WZRD doesn’t even sound like it was made by professional musicians, it feels like something a couple of 15-year olds would put together.”

:: Having Said That… doesn’t really have much good to say: “There are so many songs on this alternative debut that had so much potential, but for a lot of reasons, they all didn’t come through. The guitar parts that Cudi plays are nothing that will blow any band out of the water, as they are used for mostly filler and never really change throughout the record.”

:: StupidDope finds some merit in the LP: “WZRD is definitely a piece of creative work… Cudi learned how to play the guitar on a whim and put it to good use for this album.”

:: Planet Ill is just feeling ill after listening: “Any artist should be commended for having the courage to step away from their comfort zone, but WZRD is just not good. The inherent issue is Cudi’s delivery in the world of full-on Rock & Roll. His laid back, rear-throat voice does not fit the tracks on this album. Heavy, muddy electric guitars, particularly on the slower tracks, rob him on the melody that serves as one of his biggest weapons. All but gone is the fluidity possessed on Mr. Rager.”

:: Finally, The Black Out gives a semi-enthusiastic review: “WZRD is, in general, a fun album to listen to. The enjoyment that Cudi himself gets out of making this album is evident in almost every track. It sets a different tone for what Kid Cudi fans are used to; not only is it comprised of a different sound, but the message behind the album is different.”

What do you think of Kid Cudi and Dot Da Genius’ left of center offering? Let us know below, or by following us on Facebook and Twitter.