2008 Woodie Awards
Gnarls Barkley record is enticing
By: Mike Fuksman
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: Lifeline
Does anyone else miss Jill Scott?
How about Erykah Badu - does that ring a bell? The whole "neo soul" thing was pretty awesome, even if it did have a stupid name. Leave it to music journalists to condemn a whole genre to obscurity.
Shame, shame!
But obscure doesn't mean extinct or obsolete. Big ups to Gnarls Barkley for proving this once again on his latest, "The Odd Couple."
Where they got the name from, I'll never know.
Rapper/vocalist Cee-Lo Green and multi-instrumentalist/producer Danger Mouse sound like they were making beats together in the womb.
The duo has refined their electro-soul on slinky, soulful tracks like "Charity Case" and "Little Better."
Though the basic ideas were hashed out long ago by their Motown elders, Gnarls Barkley put enough of a twist on them to keep them fresh and interesting.
Their "neo soul" peers were never afraid to experiment either, and it's a shame they're gone. But at least Gnarls Barkley is carrying the torch forward.
"Going On" marries driving drum 'n bass grooves with dreary fugue organ; it might sound terrible on paper, but they make it work, and well at that.
The track "Would Be Killer" goes on a strange and dreamy trip, with echoing vocals and backwards-tape sound effects.
Danger Mouse never ceases to amaze with innovative production.
For those not in the know: this is the same guy that mashed up the vocals from Jay-Z's "Black Album" and the instrumentation from The Beatles' "White Album", to produce his own "Grey Album." And it is as ridiculous and awesome as it sounds.
Unfortunately, a duo this wildly experimental is guaranteed to run into some duds.
"Open Book" is a skittering mess of disjointed beats. Where did this even come from? Those with an ear for experimental electronic music might find something to appreciate here, but it is an entirely alien element compared to the rest of the record.
And the tracks "Whatever" and "Blind Mary" just sound so bland and limp compared to the rest of the record.
This is why I'm a proponent of smaller recordings; just trim the fat and make a truly solid record, do everyone a favor!
Where have all the EP's gone?
But the rest of "The Odd Couple" wins out, despite its eccentricity. Or maybe because of it?
Four out of five stars.
lifeline@cm-life.com
How about Erykah Badu - does that ring a bell? The whole "neo soul" thing was pretty awesome, even if it did have a stupid name. Leave it to music journalists to condemn a whole genre to obscurity.
Shame, shame!
But obscure doesn't mean extinct or obsolete. Big ups to Gnarls Barkley for proving this once again on his latest, "The Odd Couple."
Where they got the name from, I'll never know.
Rapper/vocalist Cee-Lo Green and multi-instrumentalist/producer Danger Mouse sound like they were making beats together in the womb.
The duo has refined their electro-soul on slinky, soulful tracks like "Charity Case" and "Little Better."
Though the basic ideas were hashed out long ago by their Motown elders, Gnarls Barkley put enough of a twist on them to keep them fresh and interesting.
Their "neo soul" peers were never afraid to experiment either, and it's a shame they're gone. But at least Gnarls Barkley is carrying the torch forward.
"Going On" marries driving drum 'n bass grooves with dreary fugue organ; it might sound terrible on paper, but they make it work, and well at that.
The track "Would Be Killer" goes on a strange and dreamy trip, with echoing vocals and backwards-tape sound effects.
Danger Mouse never ceases to amaze with innovative production.
For those not in the know: this is the same guy that mashed up the vocals from Jay-Z's "Black Album" and the instrumentation from The Beatles' "White Album", to produce his own "Grey Album." And it is as ridiculous and awesome as it sounds.
Unfortunately, a duo this wildly experimental is guaranteed to run into some duds.
"Open Book" is a skittering mess of disjointed beats. Where did this even come from? Those with an ear for experimental electronic music might find something to appreciate here, but it is an entirely alien element compared to the rest of the record.
And the tracks "Whatever" and "Blind Mary" just sound so bland and limp compared to the rest of the record.
This is why I'm a proponent of smaller recordings; just trim the fat and make a truly solid record, do everyone a favor!
Where have all the EP's gone?
But the rest of "The Odd Couple" wins out, despite its eccentricity. Or maybe because of it?
Four out of five stars.
lifeline@cm-life.com
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