Arachnophonia: Kids See Ghosts

Editor’s note: Arachnophonia (“Arachno” = spider / “-phonia” = sound) is a regular feature on our blog where members of the UR community can share their thoughts about resources from the Parsons Music Library‘s collection.

All links included in these posts will take you to either the library catalog record for the item in question or to additional relevant information from around the web.

Today’s installment of Arachnophonia is by student manager Ibrahim (class of 2028) and features Kids See Ghosts, a 2018 collaboration between Kanye West and Kid Cudi on vinyl. Thanks, Ibrahim!

Kids See Ghosts

Kids See Ghosts album cover (2018)

KIDS SEE GHOSTS is the first and only collaborative studio album by Kanye West and Kid Cudi, released in 2018. It marked a bold change for both artists, blending hip-hop with rock, psychedelia, and experimental sounds. This album includes some of their most acclaimed tracks, such as “Reborn,” “Fire,” and “Cudi Montage.” KIDS SEE GHOSTS deals with themes of mental health, healing, and resilience, making it a powerful and personal favorite among fans.

What makes KIDS SEE GHOSTS unique is its raw honesty and creative production. Songs like “Reborn” repeat a mantra of moving forward, offering listeners a message of growth and renewal. “Cudi Montage” layers Kid Cudi’s reflective lyrics over a haunting guitar sample, showing how music can carry both pain and hope at the same time. Whether you’ve followed Kanye West and Kid Cudi for years or are just discovering their work, this album offers a moving and unforgettable listening experience.

The Parsons Music Library has KIDS SEE GHOSTS available on vinyl, so you can immerse yourself in its striking sound. Whether you want to reflect on its messages, enjoy its bold style, or simply let it play in the background, fans agree that KIDS SEE GHOSTS is a transformative listen.

Parsons Playlist: The boy geniuses

Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today’s playlist is curated by Music Library student manager Amy (class of 2025) featuring solo songs by members of the American indie supergroup boygenius.

The boy geniuses

boygenius - Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus & Phoebe Bridgers

Boygenius, a band comprised of three singer-songwriters (Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus), grew enormously popular over the summer, but the majority of listeners are only familiar with the solo music of Bridgers. As a regular listener of both boygenius and the three artists’ solo works, I wanted to shed some light on some of my favorite songs from each of them.

Julien Baker – “Faith Healer”

Julien Baker – “Appointments”

Julien Baker – “Favor”

Julien Baker – “Turn Out The Lights”

Julien Baker – “Relative Fiction”

Julien Baker – “Something”

Julien Baker – “Ringside”

Lucy Dacus – “Night Shift”

Lucy Dacus – “Hot & Heavy”

Lucy Dacus – “Please Stay”

Lucy Dacus – “Brando”

Lucy Dacus – “Thumbs Again”

Lucy Dacus – “VBS”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Garden Song”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Moon Song”

Phoebe Bridgers – “ICU”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Killer”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Smoke Signals”

Phoebe Bridgers – “Graceland Too”

Here is a link to the whole playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSwAwMtTLDwjQfLqRwk-OVrKObDRJ_pbA&si=5hgSJoVLWAQVpaou

And here it is on Spotify: