To say that the release of Kid Cudi’s newest album “Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven” was heavily anticipated would be a generous overstatement.
With the expected release of the third installment of Cudi’s “Man on the Moon” album series set sometime next year, the three albums that Cudi has released since “Man on the Moon, Vol. II” have fallen flat. Despite releasing several good tracks mixed within these albums, none have risen to be a part of his most popular.
“Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven” is overall a disappointing addition to his collection. The album lacks a unifying theme, as its tracks range from repetitive and sleepy to chaotic and sporadic. Despite its underwhelming sound, however, this album does have hidden value.
It is the first deliberate glimpse into Cudi’s struggle with mental illness. Cudi has even gone as far as to publicly dedicate the album as a ballad for anyone who has ever struggled with mental illness.
The first track, “Edge of the Earth / Post Mortem Boredom,” gives a slower intro that later picks up a bit with track two, “Confused!,” that seems to reference his original sound with more of a guitar-based rhythm.
Only later on is it discovered that “Confused!” is one of the only redeeming tracks on the two-disk release. The next several tracks all seem to resemble each other and are linked by Cudi’s chant-like lyrics. You get the sense that the album was created in part from Cudi’s own repeated mumblings and reassurances.
“Fade 2 Red” is clearly a taste of when Cudi’s emotions turn from sad and dreary to confused and overwhelming as he confronts his demons.
“Return of the rage, return of the rage / A warriors’s curse, a warrior’s pain / I got the rage forcing through my veins,” he screams.
“Adventures,” the sixth track, seems promising at the intro of the song, with a more low-key guitar presence. Cudi raps softer and more soothingly, “Only crazy makes sense, its starting to make sense.”
Another confusing and sleepy track quickly follows this one. “The Nothing” is a track that seems to be just that.
“Handle with Care” is less painful to bear, as it is less aggressive and seems to carry a little more of a melody. However, all hope is lost when Cudi decided to end the track with a Muppet-like dialogue about hallucinogens that seems to be straight out of a “Sesame Street” episode, narration and all.
By the time the 12th track rolls around, I’m beginning to wonder if Cudi himself knew he only had produced a few successful tracks, and decided to disperse them evenly throughout the album. It’s a pattern of one mediocre track followed by three to four unbearable ones.
“Wedding Tux” and “Angered Kids” are unimpressionable, and “Red Sabbath” follows, leaving listeners depressed.
“I need to escape forever, forever,” he says.
“Fuchsia Butterflies” starts off decent, with a more upbeat tempo and catchy chorus. However, it all ends too quickly.
Things slightly change pace in the album’s title track “Speedin’ Bullet 2 Heaven,” as Cudi seems to reassure himself that everything will be okay: “When I crash, when I crash / Or if I land, no matter the case / I’m all smiles.”
“Embers” starts out slightly slower, with a more negative tone. “I realize there are no answers to rid me of this cancer,” he says. Despite the depressing message, it would fall under the album’s collection of bearable tracks.
And just when it doesn’t seem like it could get any worse, “The Return of Chip Douglas (Demo)” turns the tables and halfway through the track turns into Cudi purely grunting and growling aggressively to a beat.
If you’ve somehow found the willpower to make it through the entire album, as I barely could, the only lasting impression you will have is confusion. What happened to the Kid Cudi of 2010? What happened to Mr. Rager?