RELEASED
TOP 5
ROSE GARDEN
‘Rose Golden’ has some really good chemistry between Cudi and Willow Smith despite the huge age gap. While it takes some time to understand the vibe of it, once you get it, you will appreciate its approach.
This is one of those songs that has structure, but not really. Like I can see Cudi, Willow, and whoever helped produce this song get together and bounce ideas back in forth while making this.
ILLUSIONS
‘ILLusions’ is a very important song for this album, as it has this very numb vibe to it that allows listeners to see the mental battles that Kid Cudi is currently dealing with.
I’ve followed Cudi from day 1, and he has always been a troubled human being; on many songs he talks about the battles he fights within’ his own mind, giving adequate homework for any psychology major.
What impresses me most about songs like this is how Cudi is able to put his struggles into words: It’s like he could make this uplifting song content-wise that is able to garner energy from a dark/twisted feel.
BY DESIGN
Maybe I exaggerated earlier by comparing the sound to Enrique Iglesias….It doesn’t all the way have a salsa sound to it, but it definitely has a GOYA label on its front cover.
SURFIN’
I try not to be bias, I try not to rate my music based off of someone’s personal happenings, but I couldn’t help but do that for this song. ‘Surfin’ really makes me happy for Cudi, cause you get a very exuberant version of him on it. I hope this song is therapeutic to him, because it sounds like the ultimate ‘No one is going to ruin my mood’ track.
RELEASER
I don’t care what anybody says, I think ‘Releaser’ is absolutely brilliant! Even though Cudi sounds like a vampire that just captured an innocent civilian at an H&M dressing room.
This song is more of a score to me: I’m listening to it for its cinematic feel.
SONG BY SONG BREAKDOWN
2. SWIM IN THE LIGHT (4/5)
3. RELEASER (5/5)
4. BY DESIGN (5/5)
5. ALL IN (4.5/5)
6. ILLUSIONS (5/5)
7. ROSE GOLDEN (5/5)
8. BAPTIZED IN FIRE (4.6/5)
9. FLIGHT AT FIRST SIGHT/ADVANCED (3.8/5)
10. DOES IT (3.8/5)
OVERALL RATING

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.