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In a world where it's the norm to have a one-off collaboration between a producer and a rapper, something special has to happen to prompt a sequel. Of course, "Crazy" was all the prompting needed for Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse to rejuvenate Gnarls Barkley, their collaboration by mail that sparked the brightest and catchiest single since OutKast's "Hey Ya." But fans and critics have to understand that these two were exactly the types to walk away from a follow-up simply for the purpose of a cash-in, which makes that follow-up, The Odd Couple, such a strange proposition -- it's exactly like St. Elsewhere, and fails to reveal a single new thing. All the hallmarks of a follow-up record are here -- similar sounds and themes, for sure, but also a clear lack of innovation, lyrical and production touches that have since become clichés, and more than just a few passages that will prompt a severe case of listener déjà vu. (Of course, many listeners may enjoy that sense of déjà vu.) As before, Danger Mouse's productions are miniature, modernist spaghetti Westerns, very closely detailed whether their major voice is an acoustic guitar or a choir of unholy voices. These are then chained to amped-up beats and beefed-up basslines to create something that sounds both vintage and up to date, all at the same time. Cee-Lo's lyrics and vocals again reveal a lunatic (or seer) who's occasionally more lucid than the sane, an enlightened psychopath wrestling with his demons and revealing the thin line between being crazy and sensible. At times, The Odd Couple is a more beautiful record than its predecessor -- the duo has never put out anything more moving on a musical and emotional level than "Who's Going to Save My Soul," and Danger Mouse's production work outshines St. Elsewhere on one track ("Open Book"). But all too often Cee-Lo relies on the same sort of lyrical cipher as on St. Elsewhere, although none of them are as effective. "I don't understand how I'm so understanding"; "I'm goin' on, and I think they'll have a place for you too"; "I could be a would-be killer" -- these are the ramblings of a madman; they may sound deep and profound late at night, but they're revealed as nonsense with the light of day. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
more albums by this artist
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- St. Elsewhere
- Released 2006
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- Run (Single)
- Released 2008
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- Who's Gonna Save My Soul EP
- Released 2008
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- Gone Daddy Gone
- Released 2006
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listener reviews
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He knows
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- By irvingvince
- 7/15/2009 04:09:12
- cee-lo knows what tribe he comes from, too.
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Touche..................above
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- By the13thangle
- 5/30/2008 21:56:55
- I read this and said hmmmmm? ppl discredit on downplay not only artistic freedom but spiritual freedom. everybody is so fat and happy no one questions anything anymore, exscuse me im ranting.............. I mean the constructs of what is called good music( what is GOOD music) ya know. this album is the best ive heard this year hands down. I catch a glimps of his spiritual journey, which anyone that can turn things we feel or see through our own eyes into something we can take in through music is great.......................p<br/>oint blank...............not a fanatic just a believer in something more.
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I Actually Brought this one.
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- By HarlemS
- 5/21/2008 23:01:36
- I'm sorry but the person who wrote the review for this album over to the left of the screen is a complete idiot. When your music is good and your beats are hot you don't need to have writers why the he** would you need to innovate? This CD blows St. Elsewhere out of the water and thats all there is to it. True if you want pop bands and Brittney Spears you should look somewhere else, but then ou should remember that this isn't yesterdays pop its creativity for the sake of creativity and i loved it so much i brought the album and its worth it.
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