Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple
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Free Music Notes for The Odd Couple
Free Music Review: Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple
Hit: 4 Stars
The Odd Couple (2008, Warner Bros.) Gnarls Barkley's second studio album. ***1/2
In 2006, Gnarls Barkley released St. Elsewhere, an album so fresh and so needed that everyone held their breath for a follow-up album, hoping that the collaboration between singer Cee-Lo and producer "Danger Mouse" Burton was not a one-off affair. Thankfully, 2008 delivered the goods. The Odd Couple is not as pleasing as St. Elsewhere, with one too many songs that don't quite live up to what is expected of these two. However, it is not without its share of masterpieces.
"Run," the obvious first single, is without a doubt the best song on either of their albums, with its vintage sounds of the 50's and 60's rock and soul. Cee-Lo belts like he never has before, again proving he is probably the most soulful singer of the twenty-first century. His voice, as powerful as Little Richard's and just as similar to the 80's singer Sylvester (Not the cartoon cat, the "Do You Wanna Funk?" guy) is integral to the feel of every song. In fact, that whole feel carries on throughout the album, showing up again in stars on the also-amazing track "Surprise," complete with "baapbaa" chorus from God knows where. And it's this difference, the production that makes it feel like Little Richard music in the digital age, that is the profound mark of change between St. Elsewhere and The Odd Couple. Beyond that, there isn't much that has changed. This, however, is not a problem in the slightest, as the sound is still so fresh that as long as the music is good, the style can go on forever. (Run, Surprise)
Free Music Review: The "Odd-ness" Grows on You
Hit: 4 Stars
"Odd Couple" has the eclectic sound that St. Elsewhere had, but it lacks that fresh quality that the duo brought in 2006, when the world was blown away by "Crazy". I'm not one of those fans who is looking for another "Crazy", but rather I'm listening for the "new sound" that Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo (Gnarls Barkley) experimented with in St. Elsewhere. The mix between rock-funk infused (produced) Neo-Soul and dark vocals and lyrics surprised masses then.
This sophomore effort is well produced, but doesn't stand out like its predecessor. The formula is pretty much the same: rock-funk infused Neo-Soul, however for some reason I was left waiting for something new or bored with the same sound I heard last album. Unlike "St. Elsewhere", "The Odd Couple" lacks a certain punch that would've had 2 years ago. It sounds odd to the ears. Like I said, it's either you are waiting for something "new" or bored with the sound you already heard in "Elsewhere". It took a couple of listens for the album to take effect and I was able to grove with it. It grew on me. Stand outs for me include Going On and Run (I'm a Disaster). The other tracks are growing on me too. To all Buyers, the stronger tracks are at the beginning of the album.
Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo's experiment was hot then, but I wonder if the sophomore effort was even necessary. I hope they don't over kill this.
Free Music Review: Melancholic and beautiful
Hit: 4 Stars
I was really disappointed when I first got this album right around the time it came out, because I was such a huge fan of the first album, and really wanted more of the same. If that's what you're expecting, I'm not going to tell you not to get the cd, because I think it's really good, but I would warn you that you might be surprised. What really made me take a step back was how sad a lot of this album is. I admit that I haven't read through all of the lyrics, but from the tone, and what I've picked up from my many listens, this album seems to come out of a deep underlying sadness that the musicians want to come to terms with. It's not about getting happy or anything, but it is about looking for some meaning or beauty in the sadness. My favorite is "Who's Gonna Save My Soul", but "Blind Mary" and "A Little Better" are amazing as well. There are a couple of tracks that are weaker than the rest ("Would Be Killer"), but on the whole, it's a haunting, melancholy album that I highly recommend. In some ways is closer in tone to what you might expect from an Eliot Smith type, but with Danger Mouse producing, you know you're going to get something quality to listen to.Free Music Review: Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple 7/10
Hit: 4 Stars
The Odd Couple is an appropriate name for Gnarls Barkley's latest album; the collaboration between mash-up extraordinaire Danger Mouse and eccentric rapper Cee-Lo Green is anything but normal. The Odd Couple continues St. Elsewhere's Grammy-winning formula of horror-cinema beats and off-the-wall rhymes, but not much else.
Gnarls Barkley has never been a duo that shied away from taking chances, and The Odd Couple is no exception. Cee-Lo sounds like a fiery gospel singer on "Run (I'm A Natural Disaster)" and the beats sound like nothing else on rap radio, such as the slow jam, 9-mm-reloading sounds of "Would Be Killer."
Nevertheless, despite the two's ambitious innovations, one could listen to St. Elsewhere and The Odd Couple and consider the two records interchangeable. If you hated "Crazy," chances are you'll hate this album, too, but don't think that will stop Gnarls from continuing to freak out mainstream hip-hop.
Free Music Review: Shockingly Good!
Hit: 4 Stars
Their first LP seemed half baked, but this is an entirely different and better affair. Picking up where "Crazy" and "The Boogie Monster" left off, but moving boldly forward, Danger Mouse has fully blossomed into a really dope producer and Cee-lo's pipes have matured, resulting in a funky urban diary latered with grimy retro influenced hooks and samples. This record truly surprised me and is a masterpiece of sorts. Check out the 60's shag of "whatever" and the awesome futu-retro soul of "A little Better" with Cee-Lo's awesome vocal stylings.