[rating=4.00]
When you have the fluke hit of the decade, the threat of running into the curse of the “sophomore slum” is an understatement, particularly if you’re the psychedelic soul duo of Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo Green. However, if you’re one that appreciate albums as song-cycles verse explosive pop nuggets, than Gnarls Barkley’s The Odd Couple has something going on.
Having shocked the world with 2006’s St. Elsewhere and the triumphant single “Crazy,” Gnarls Barkley got smacked with serious expectations or their follow-up – The Odd Couple. The result is a darker and more brooding effort, as this recording aims towards more literal surroundings than the jovial fumes of their debut. Despite their appetite for gaudy costumes, Gnarls distinguish themselves from their soulful/hip-hop peers where Cee-Lo plays “crazy” outcast roles that are more neurotic hipster cool than gangster pimpin’.
The 60’s and 70’s nostalgia runs against the electronica and hip-hop effortlessly courtesy of Danger Mouse on “Whatever” and the retro swing of “A Little Better.” The first single “Run” experiments with the up-tempo, while “Open Book” takes a turn for drums and bass. Like any great album, there is no obvious candidate for best song on The Odd Couple. It must be a nice change of pace for the duo, as the last time around, things just got a little bit crazy.
