could this album be any hotter? musically, maybe. culturally, no way. everyone is talking. the leadoff single 'crazy' is beyond ubiquitous. the level of cool that flows out of that track seems to have mesmerized everyone who has heard it. i mean. mtv movie awards. Cee-Lo the hard edged atlanta rapper, giving a stone cold straight faced performance of a pop gospel track in full darth vader regalia with a backing band of storm troopers, rebel pilots, and fucking CHEWBACCA ON THE DRUMS. dear god. how much more anti-cool cool can you get? go to youtube and watch that shit if you haven't seen it.
and that's the prevailing vibe on this album. enough weirdness to get people listening with enough effortless pop hook mastery to keep them listening. 'Crazy' is a perfect example. its slick and polished yet rough and retro. Cee-Lo's voice is soaring and captivating yet absolutely carelessly so. there is no strain or effort in that voice at all. its just what it is. i've seen at least three people hear this song the first time and say "what the hell is this?" Only to see them casually nodding their head on the second listen.
the cover of the Violent Femmes 'Gone Daddy Gone' is a little "nudge, nudge, wink, wink" but that doesn't make it any less sublime in its updated execution.
'Just a Thought' is another drop dead killer track. just as weird and amazing and addictive as 'crazy' it covers some dark yet instantly relatable material in an irressitably catchy way.
in truth there are only three or four tracks on this album that i didn't instantly love. there are a couple silly and self-indulgent moments that probably won't translate to the wider audience that the catchier tracks have already hooked. but that doesn't make them any less worthy of your attention.
DJ DangerMouse seems to be everywhere these days. look around this site for a just a few examples of this latest hot superproducer's work. with multiple projects still on the horizon it remains to be seen if he can avoid the curse of overexposure that killed some other very talented superproducers in recent years. for now, though, he has certainly hit his stride, and its important to get your hooks into this eminently current sound.
and that's the prevailing vibe on this album. enough weirdness to get people listening with enough effortless pop hook mastery to keep them listening. 'Crazy' is a perfect example. its slick and polished yet rough and retro. Cee-Lo's voice is soaring and captivating yet absolutely carelessly so. there is no strain or effort in that voice at all. its just what it is. i've seen at least three people hear this song the first time and say "what the hell is this?" Only to see them casually nodding their head on the second listen.
the cover of the Violent Femmes 'Gone Daddy Gone' is a little "nudge, nudge, wink, wink" but that doesn't make it any less sublime in its updated execution.
'Just a Thought' is another drop dead killer track. just as weird and amazing and addictive as 'crazy' it covers some dark yet instantly relatable material in an irressitably catchy way.
in truth there are only three or four tracks on this album that i didn't instantly love. there are a couple silly and self-indulgent moments that probably won't translate to the wider audience that the catchier tracks have already hooked. but that doesn't make them any less worthy of your attention.
DJ DangerMouse seems to be everywhere these days. look around this site for a just a few examples of this latest hot superproducer's work. with multiple projects still on the horizon it remains to be seen if he can avoid the curse of overexposure that killed some other very talented superproducers in recent years. for now, though, he has certainly hit his stride, and its important to get your hooks into this eminently current sound.