Gnarls Barkley. consisting of singer/rapper Cee-Lo and producer Danger Mouse, formed a better album this second time they come around and growing from the only remembered song “Crazy” in their 2006 release of St. Elsewhere.
“The Odd Couple” brings a new mixture of funky beats, fashionable sounds, desperate gospel yet angry rap voice, mellow lyrics, and a fusion of Rock, Hip-hop, Funk, and Soul.
The music is so hard to explain that each song needs at least one paragraph to do so.
“Charity Chase” is a little smooth intro to the album with repetitive drumbeats, “Kill Bill” guitar strums, and an organ that harmonizes Cee-Lo as he sings, “Somebody’s a liar who ever set free what was free, Ahhh charity…”
“Who’s Gonna Save My Soul” is an emotional song that makes male listeners relate to Cee-Lo’s Soul lyrics of past love with the serine sound of Danger Mouse’ beats.
“Run” the first single from the cd, may be considered the generic imitation of “Crazy” but not at all.
Danger Mouse uses a 1960s-sounding groovy beat while Cee-Lo adds his frantic voice warning all to avoid needles.
“Would Be Killer” starts with a shotgun pumped, while the music is back-masked to satire the threats that imply the lyrics.
“Open Book” starts of in the jungle later to be mixed with techno beats and unusual beats that make this song really odd and that is not including the lyrics.
“Whatever” is literally how Cee-Lo makes people feel as he sings “It could be better…?I don’t care…?Whatever…” as Mouse puts a similar sound to complements the “bombs” that he drops.
“Surprise” starts with church bells to a pop-tone from a groovy chorus that talks about ignorance of several degrees that howls, “don’t be surpriiiiiiiiised!”
“No Time Soon” sounds like neo-blues with swinging tone and moody lyrics, “But I’m going on, And I’m prepared to go it alone…I’m going on, To a place in the sun that’s nice and warm,” which make me feel warm yet cold.
“Blind Mary” a comical song that can be confused to an Outkast song, having a mellow song that makes anyone feel as if they were in a carnival with a lovely lady called Mary.
“My Neighbor” brings a sour taste to the mind with a bongo beat that blend with technical harmonics that reveals the Odd Couples ability to blend irony of styles in music.
“A Little Better” describes Cee-Lo’s story, “Now I can sing you the storyline…And if you like my story fine…But ain’t none of the glory mine…See my life was a lonely one”
“Going On” is an up-beat song that connects with the lyrics in tempo, syllables, and rhyme scheme that make this song poetics yet pop.
“She Knows,” but does anyone else? This mysterious song leaves the listener curious of its true meaning unless it is another break-up song.
“The Odd Couple,” even though I have listened to more than 50 times, does not get borring to listen to since every song has its own gist.
If I was to name some bands that sound like the “The Odd Couple,” I say it is a combination of Radiohead, Outkast, Al Green, Danger Doom, Finley Quaye and a 60s TV theme.
