Gnarls Barkley, the alternative Grammy Award winning rap duo consisting of producer Dangermouse and vocalist Cee-Lo, burst onto the music scene in 2006 with their didn't-see-it-coming debut hit single, "Crazy." The song helped propel the group's critically acclaimed LP, St. Elsewhere, to multi-platinum status. It's remarkable follow-up, the appropriately titled, The Odd Couple, is just a further extension of the funky sounds heard on their debut.
A leaked version of the set's proposed lead single, the frenetic "Run (I'm a Natural Disaster)," was a great way to re-introduce Gnarls to the masses, but it's the profoundly emotional, "Who's Gonna Save My Soul," which serves as a simple reminder as to why over 3.5 million people got fully behind the zany musical entity in the first place.
"Charity Case" is one of the many standout cuts on the album, and a strong contender for the second single. It's a danceable R&B joint with a strong electronica influence. Other favorable tracks include the hyper "Going On," "Would-Be Killer," a haunting song that creeps along a smooth and melodic beat, "Open Book" and "Surprise," which is an energetic ride along with a killer chorus. There's also the strange, but delightful "Whatever," "No Time Soon," an emotional lighters-in-the-air power ballad, and, finally, the perfect album ender, the heartfelt "A Little Better," which is undoubtedly the best record on the album.
Although not nearly as groundbreaking as St. Elsewhere, The Odd Couple is equally eclectic. It's quite obvious that Gnarls Barkley has proved to be more than a novelty, one-hit-wonder. Expect to hear their quirky, boundary-pushing tunes for years to come.
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