Gnarles Barkley's Odd Couple Review

Gnarls Barkley was a surprise hit in 2006 with the catchy genre-crossing "Crazy." They managed to create a song with mainstream potential that lies somewhere between funk, hip-hop, and alternative rock, while not singing about the typical themes of any genre. Now, they have released their second album, The Odd Couple. While it may not have another "Crazy" on its hands, it does appear to be a worthy continuation of the Gnarls Barkley legacy.

The Odd Couple is dark and introspective, but expressive. It lives in a state of self-aware unrest, rapidly transitioning from a song like the lively single "Run" to the grinding, eerie "Would-Be Killer." The "Run" side of the spectrum is the rarer, but more pleasant, side of this album. Danger Mouse's instrumentation functions best when the vocals are treated as an additional instrument and not as timed prose. This effect is achieved more frequently on this album when the songs are faster and more densely layered. Thus, the (arguably) worst song on the album is the simplistic and conversationally toned "Blind Mary."

Although it would be a fruitless exercise to try to pin down every influence on this album, it is worth noting that it often features a deeply retro sound. This is a double-edged sword that contributes to some of the successes and failures of the album. On the successful side, there are tracks like "Charity Case," which evokes a retro mood through chime sounds and the presence of an airy, yet well-enunciated feminine voice. The dark lyrics are euphemized by the light and flippant sound design with exciting results. However, on the flip side, songs like the more up-front "Whatever" may feel more worn out from the retro vibe. Some people may enjoy listening to the whiny selfish caricature, but the majority of people will probably tire of that track fairly quickly.

Overall, the unique instrumentation and beats are the consistently strong attributes of the album, while the vocals, lyrics, and track concepts range from somewhat tolerable to excellent. Even when the beats venture out on a limb with the oddly syncopated "Open Book," they still end up being quite entertaining; they leave the vocals to either make or break the song for the listener. Cee-Lo has a voice which can be utilized for both good and evil. Following the Gnarls Barkley journey up to this point, while this is a successful album, I feel their best may still be yet to come. Now, don't break up and make me look like a fool.