#1
Gnarls Barkley
St. Elsewhere
Depression. Schizophrenia. Suicide. Not the first topics most think of when it comes to booty-shaking hip-hop-influenced neo-soul. But then again, Gnarls Barkley has seemingly defied all conventional wisdom with 2006’s finest release, St. Elsewhere. This unlikely duo, a casual collaboration between former Goodie Mob member Cee-Lo Green and cutting-edge mixmaster DJ Danger Mouse, broke big-time with the most memorable (and most overplayed) track of the year, “Crazy.” This song about says it all, an undeniably funky blend of vintage drum loops, murky choir and taut bass lines, paired with a remarkably soulful vocal from Green that recalls Marvin Gaye at his finest. In fact, St. Elsewhere shares more than a few similarities with Gaye’s masterpiece What’s Going On, from the sense of flow to the serious soul-searching lyrics to the dramatic orchestration (here, meticulously assembled from bits and pieces of old Italian prog albums by Danger Mouse). But lest you think Gnarls Barkley is just one big downer, there’s plenty of playfulness as well, with hints of George Clinton silliness sneaking in to tracks like “The Boogie Monster” and “Who Cares?” Still, it’s the deeper stuff that sticks with you, from the menacing title track to the steadily growing chaos of “Just a Thought.” Even a seemingly minor chunk of funk like “Online” invites deeper, darker thoughts with the line “I’m with everybody, but I’m still alone.” Quite an achievement in itself, and just one tiny example amid an album so packed with unique riches that’s it’s destined to go down as one of the all-time classics.
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