I'll go ahead and say it: "A Kid Named Cudi" is one of the best mixtapes ever. Its spacey beats, out-there lyrics, and smart trade-offs between dark compositions and more lively stuff not only put Cudi on the map, it was all anyone listened to for months. Its song diversity is still nuts. "Down & Out" and "T.G.I.F." are perfect for long drives, with thudding beats that hit your stereo like a cannon. "Day n Night" and "Embrace the Martian" should be welcome at any party for the next decade. And "Maui Wowie" and "Heaven at Night" are just right for hazy nights spent rolling up... you know.

I miss the excitement of that record. That thrill was there on "Man on the Moon," but its album's best tracks were already on "A Kid Named Cudi." It wasn't there on "Man on the Moon II," an album from an artist so plagued down in self-questioning and moodiness that he never came up for air (i.e. creating a track that didn't make you want to slit your wrists).

And it certainly wasn't there on "WZRD" either, which made a strong case that some artists maybe shouldn't quit drugs.

But you should be REALLY pumped by what we've heard so far from "Indicud." We're looking at vintage Cudi here. 

This first track, "Just What Iam" was released way back in October. 

Then there was December's "King Wizard":

And today brought "Immortal," which is my favorite of the three.

Good, good signs from April 23's "Indicud." Get excited.

[H/T: Complex]