The Odd Couple
Gnarls Barkley is the pairing of producer Dangermouse (The Grey Album, DangerDOOM) and Singer/Emcee Cee-lo Green (Goodie Mob). They are mostly known for their smash-hit single Crazy and debut album St. Elsewhere. The duo has just released their sophomore album, The Odd Couple, and it picks up where the first left off and keeps on running.
Just like their first album, the single drew me in. Run is the lead-off single (check out the video, featuring Justin Timberlake).
[youtube]http://youtube.com/watch?v=2GA3a15xF0c[/youtube]
It is high energy, danceable, and fun, much like Crazy before it. Although it does lack that surprising and enticing sound and feel that Crazy had. Nonetheless it is a strong track, and an excellent single.
The rest of the album left me wanting something upon my first listen. And it took me a while to realize that what I wanted was another listen. This is the same experience I encountered with St. Elsewhere; the intricacies of the music cannot be fully appreciated upon first listen (or through tinny computer speakers). This album requires multiple listens to fully be appreciated. The album has a bizarre type of subtle energy, very different from the blatant energy on the first album. This creates an odd vibe, but it works very well, and parallels the odd collection of influences and sounds on the record.
Dangermouse’s sound seems to have matured and ripened a little for this second record. He has shed a lot of the signature Dangermouse cartoonish sound (although certainly not all of it) to create a more genuine sound. Big Dangermouse fans will also notice some elements of Pelican City, Dangermouse’s first couple of projects, in the new record. Some of the tracks on this record feel like they could actually have been recorded in the 60s or 70s. The drums carry an air of sophistication, and the music has a much more organic feel to it. Some fans could be disappointed by this slight departure, while others have already begun to embrace this evolved sound.
As on St. Elsewhere, Cee-Lo makes great use of his unusual, yet beautiful singing voice. Although, he seems to have left his rapping past entirely behind on this record. Any fan of Goodie Mob might be disappointed by this change. However his lyricism and talents as a writer have not been left behind by any means. If anything, the less frantic energy of The Odd Couple places more emphasis on Cee-Lo’s words, which, like the past record are introspective, dark, and sinister. In fact this album has a much darker vibe than does St. Elsewhere. Some of the nuance of St. Elsewhere’s lyrics have been cast aside in favour of more brutally self-honest lyrics (Would-be Killer).
That being said, part of what makes the album so interesting is that even though the subject matter can be dark and twisted, it is at times paired with music that seems upbeat. The track Blind Mary is a love song, where Cee-Lo confesses his love to Mary because she cannot judge him because “she has no idea [he’s] ugly.” This type of twisted perception of the way things are or appear to be is a common theme throughout the album.
The album has already gained attention on the web. Of particular interest, ?uestlove of The Roots leaked the track “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul,” a downtempo track driven by a guitar melody and Cee-Lo’s infectious vocals.
Other stand out tracks include Neighbours, a dynamic track with a choir crooning in the background to add an incredible depth and complexity and Going On, one of the more high-energy brighter sounding tracks that features a psychedelic, distorted guitar and an amazing breakdown towards the end of the track.
On the whole, the album is a little harder to dive into than St. Elsewhere. But the sound is a lot more grown up, and the lyrics are a bit more thought-provoking and enticing. Definitely an album worth giving a few listens to comprehend, and to eventually make the rounds in your music listening. But don’t expect any of the frantic energy that St. Elsewhere offered. Instead expect an album layered with complexities and subtleties that is a truly fulfilling experience.
