Scary monsters and super creeps: Music Review
Music's "Odd Couple" release a darky and twisty sophomore album
Drew Choiniere
Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Living
If you're looking for a sophomore slump, you're not going to find it in "The Odd Couple," the disturbing and hypnotic second disc from critical darlings and avant-gard hip-hoppers, Gnarls Barkley. What you will find is a trip into a dark world of the slightly mentally unstable, complete with intense paranoia, boogie monsters, and of course, some deep-seed soul. Starting off with the hook-laden, chime-tinkling "Charity Case," the album moves like a zombie movie for the ears.
Singer/rapper Cee-Lo Green stretches his vocals to the limits, and envelopes intricate melodies and phrasing and turns them into bizarrely listenable hooks and lyrics. On tunes such as "Who's Gonna Save My Soul," he sounds like a desperate man at the end of his rope, and on "Would Be Killer," he's reminiscent of Frankenstein's monster trying not to lose control and kill everyone.
Producer Danger Mouse works his magic in the studio, layering Green's vocals with blips, samples, synths, and drums to give every track a symphonic quality hard to rival. Although the album is mostly a sobering effort, "The Odd Couple" also presents some light and satisfying alternatives to the heaviness of the other tracks.
The first single, "Run," is a frenetic, bullet-fast, dance track with some sing-along "Na, Na, Na's" to match the other rhythmic hooks. Others like "Surprise" and "A Little Better" are jaunty R&B gems with all the flounce and bounce of Motown's best with a little emotional unsteadiness thrown in for good measure.
At 39 minutes the album is a brisk listen, but no less enjoyable. The only disappointment is that there is a lack of a huge quintessential song like their breakthrough smash hit "Crazy." Then again, from a duo as unique and eclectic as Gnarls Barkley, it's going to be rather difficult to replicate anything. But, ultimately, that's why we keep listening.
Grade: B+
Download These: "Run," Who's Gonna Save My Soul," and "A Little Better"
Singer/rapper Cee-Lo Green stretches his vocals to the limits, and envelopes intricate melodies and phrasing and turns them into bizarrely listenable hooks and lyrics. On tunes such as "Who's Gonna Save My Soul," he sounds like a desperate man at the end of his rope, and on "Would Be Killer," he's reminiscent of Frankenstein's monster trying not to lose control and kill everyone.
Producer Danger Mouse works his magic in the studio, layering Green's vocals with blips, samples, synths, and drums to give every track a symphonic quality hard to rival. Although the album is mostly a sobering effort, "The Odd Couple" also presents some light and satisfying alternatives to the heaviness of the other tracks.
The first single, "Run," is a frenetic, bullet-fast, dance track with some sing-along "Na, Na, Na's" to match the other rhythmic hooks. Others like "Surprise" and "A Little Better" are jaunty R&B gems with all the flounce and bounce of Motown's best with a little emotional unsteadiness thrown in for good measure.
At 39 minutes the album is a brisk listen, but no less enjoyable. The only disappointment is that there is a lack of a huge quintessential song like their breakthrough smash hit "Crazy." Then again, from a duo as unique and eclectic as Gnarls Barkley, it's going to be rather difficult to replicate anything. But, ultimately, that's why we keep listening.
Grade: B+
Download These: "Run," Who's Gonna Save My Soul," and "A Little Better"
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