St. Elsewhere

Gnarls Barkley | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 9, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Downtown
• ASIN: B000F3AAUW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (235 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,496 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #61 in Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Experimental Rap

Track Listings

1. Go-Go Gadeget Gospel

2. Crazy

3. St. Elsewhere

4. Gone Daddy Gone

5. Smiley Faces

6. The Boogie Monster

7. Feng Shui

8. Just a Thought

9. Transformer

10. Who Cares?

11. On-Line

12. Necromancing

13. Storm Coming

14. The Last Time

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In 2006, Danger Mouse is King Midas of the music world. He has an uncanny knack for creating jagged, dense, frenzied beats and odd, eerie, vivid soundscapes that never compromise the music's natural flow. Meanwhile, rapper and singer Cee-Lo, a veteran of Atlanta's Dirty South scene, has never been one to be constrained by hip-hop conventions, and is a willing partner in adventure. The result is an intrepid psychedelic blend of pop, hip-hop, soul, and rock that consistently challenges and delights. It's no wonder that "Crazy," with its modest riff, irresistible hook, and disarming opening line ("I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind") became a worldwide Internet sensation a full six months before the official release of St. Elsewhere. But that relatively simple soul-pop gem is the tamest track on this wide-ranging, often dark and introspective collaboration. (In fact, the duo considers Gnarls Barkley to be a wholly new creation, as opposed to a collaboration of existing artists.) "Everybody is somebody, but nobody wants to be themselves," Cee-Lo croons on "Who Cares?" He and Danger Mouse try very hard not to be their old selves as they creatively and confidently break down boundaries, but the brilliant cores of their musical personae--Cee-Lo's eccentric spiritual soul man and Danger's bold sonic explorer--remain. --Marc Greilsamer

Product Description

Gnarls Barkley is the highly anticipated collaboration from Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo. Danger Mouse is one of the most important artist/producers in music today. "Demon Days" sold over 5 million worldwide and Dangerdoom's "The Mouse And The Mask" sold over 100,000 units. Accolades include GQ's "Men Of The Year" honor; Spin's "Eccentric Genius Of The Year", NME's "Hottest Hip-Hop Producer In The World", Entertainment Weekly's "Album Of The Year", Grammy nomination for Producer Of The Year, and more. Cee-Lo is a Grammy-nominated, founding member of Goodie Mob. He wrote and produced the Pussycat Dolls #1 smash hit "Don't Cha", and his two solo albums for Arista scanned over 500,000 units combined. He also wrote hit singles for Ludacris, Common, P Diddy, Trick Daddy, and others. "Goodie Mob" has sold over two million albums worldwide. "Crazy", from this release, is all over UK's Radio One.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

153 of 163 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse's album puts a smile on your face and keeps it there May 9, 2006

By ctrx VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse's album is an album that I have been looking forward to for a while, and it was definitely worth the wait. While it is not the style that I expected, it is every bit as good in quality as I could have hoped for. I have been a fan of Cee-Lo's entire career, from his days as a street poet in the Goodie Mob to his soulful solo albums, and I have thoroughly enjoyed Danger Mouse's production on the Danger Doom collaboration with MF Doom and his other works with Gorillaz. In a collaboration between the two, I expected solid and original hip hop production and Cee-Lo's signature fusion of rap and soul. As soon as I popped "St. Elsewhere" into the player, I was blown away. No song is ever worth skipping, and the production fits the singing perfectly. It is hard to nail a genre to Gnarls Barkley. Cee-Lo's happy and silly singing is close to soul spanning over many generations, and Danger Mouse's intricate and many layered beats are reminiscent of soul, funk, jazz, rap, and rock at various times. He serves as an entire band for the singer. Cee-Lo fans expecting his street-conscious rap lyrics of the past will not find them here, but will instead be fulfilled with very funny, soulful, deep, and great lyrics sung in his high yet raspy voice. "St. Elsewhere" is an album that will appeal to many different types of listeners, and I'm sure both Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse will increase their audience here. Both of their huge efforts are evident. "St. Elsewhere" is also great because every song is the right length, averaging two and a half minutes, so that nothing is too much, yet every idea is explored sufficiently. It is the first album of its kind and really shines.

The album opens with the beautiful trumpet line on "Go Go Gadget Gospel", a spinning, joyful song that Cee-Lo puts everything he has into. "Crazy", the album's single, has flutes, violins, and drumkits in the instrumental, and Cee-Lo's heartfelt verses about love and relationships are worth your ear over and over again. "St. Elsewhere" has a wonderful slow trumpet line, sad and encouraging lyrics, and is great overall. My favorite track is "Gone Daddy Gone", a very catchy rock song. The electric guitar and drum instrumentals keep my head bobbing, and the bullhorned verses complement it well. "Smiley Faces" is a very reminiscent track with excellent background voices and music and lyrics that keep you listening. "Boogie Monster" is a completely fun and silly track, with creepy music but hilarious lyrics with a twist ending. "Feng Shui"'s silly and random lyrics fit Danger Mouse's blissful yet simple production. "Just A Thought" is the deepest track lyrically, where Cee-Lo admits "I've tried everything but suicide...but it's crossed my mind." The drum and guitar paint as gloomy a picture as the lyrics do. "Transformer" has organ and horns, and a chorus that you'll try to sing along to and find yourself unable. "Who Cares" sounds like a song by the Beatles, seriously. "On-Line" has whispery, seductive singing and a soulful back. "Necromancing" begins with the Marvin Gaye-styled introduction ("Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up") and turns into a story of sexual indulgence. The album ends strong with "Storm Coming", a cool bluesy track, and "The Last Time", with a beautiful chorus and beat.

"St. Elsewhere" bends the music landscape and creates something like we've never been exposed to before. It takes experimental to the next level (think Andre 3000's "The Love Below" to the tenth power), yet is not too indulgent either, leaving the listener completely satisfied at all times. Anyone would love this, you could play it for the kids in the car, and I'm planning on giving copies to my rock-loving father, jazz and blues-loving grandfather, and R&B-loving sister. Gnarls Barkley has created a masterpiece in "St. Elsewhere" that I highly recommend to any type of music listener.

88 of 107 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars a CRAZY-good collaboration!! May 9, 2006

By Kevin J. Loria VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

The album's first single, "CRAZY", was THE FIRST SONG TO BECOME A UK NUMBER ONE SINGLE BASES SOLELY ON DOWNLOAD SALES (on April 2)!! It has an amazing cross-genre sound worth the time of any musicfan of hip-hop, rap, R&B, soul or funk. How did such a mix come to be? Read on...

First some back story....Brian Burton was born in New York & lived in Georgia for a long time where his electronica work under the name Pelican City was released. He re-mixed work by local artists. From 1998 to 2003 Burton also created a series of remix CDs under the stagename D.J.Danger Mouse (inspired by the British cartoon series Dangermouse, see my review) including the album Ghetto Pop Life (`03), he created The Grey Album, mixing an a cappella version of Jay Z's The Black Album over beats crafted from samples of The Beatles' White Album. The remix album, originally created just for his friends, spread over the internet and Entertainment Weekly ranking it the best record of the year, also earning him a Grammy nom. (best producer). Danger Mouse was also named among the Men of the Year by GQ mag in 2004 and won the 2005 "WIRED Rave Award." Damon Albarn, who tracked him down to produce the Gorillaz' "DEMON DAYS". Followed by "The Mouse and the Mask" and "MF DOOM" for Cartoon Network's ADULT SWIM.

Now here Danger Mouse releases ST. ELSEWHERE, another TV reference and collaboration with CEE-LO as GNARLS BARKLEY, the debut album of Gnarls Barkley, released on April 24, 2006 in the United Kingdom, where it debuted at number one on the ALBUM CHART and is set to be released on May 9 in the States, although it can be purchased this week as a digital download in the U.S. iTunes music store.

CEE-LO, born in Thomas Calloway, is an American hip-hop, funk, soul and R&B singer, songwriter / producer (Goodie Mob). CEE-LO's solo hits are the singles "Closet Freak" and "I'll Be Around." Born in Georgia, he is one of a number of artists to successfully record as both a rapper and singer. He has appeared as a featured singing vocalist on songs by artists such as Santana, Twista, OutKast and Black Eyed Peas (Like That), and sings background vocals on TLC's hit single "Waterfalls". His songwriter / producer his include the 2005 hit singles recorded by The Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes..Cee-Lo received a Grammy nom for his song "Getting' Grown"

Given the background of the two artists involved and the hip soulfulness of CEE-LO's voice in the single "CRAzy" charged with the style that keeps a hit in for the long haul the album, ST. ELSEWHERE should be a hit in the States as well.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm not a hip-hop person, but I really like this CD!! February 9, 2007

By G. Stewart VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

I heard "Crazy" on the radio and I thought that someone had remixed a Marvin Gaye song that I had never heard. The song sounds like old-school mo-town with a new-spin backtrack.

I immediately went online and found out what I could about this song and the CD. Amazingly, I loved it. I say amazing because I do not like pop music; as a matter of fact, I don't like most current music.

This CD has a few songs that are a bit too much for me, but over all I love the CD.

Here is how I would break down the album.

Fantastic Songs; those which make the album great - Crazy, St. Elsewhere, Smiley Faces, Just A Thought, Who Cares?

Good Songs; those which fill out the album without destroying it - Go-Go Gadget Gospel, Gone Daddy Gone (a remake of a Violent Femmes song which I didn't care for, but this version is OK), Feng Shui, Transformer, Necromancing, Storm Coming, The Last Time

OK Songs; the 2 that I don't care for - The Boogie Monster, On-line

All-in-all, this is a great CD in a sea of releases by clones and copycats who are unimaginative and/or untalented. Most music today sounds like every other song from it's genre. Music has not felt inspired in a long time but this CD has broken the mold for me, an old-school music lover. The music, even sampled which I usually hate, takes on a life of it's own. Listen to the lyrics too because they are pretty deep. These guys have proven that music can still be original, lyrics can be something other than contrived and ambiguous.

My wife says I am closed-minded when it comes to music. She is right. With very few exceptions, I only like music from before 1980; classic rock, mo-town, jazz, blues, swing, classical; to me, everything else seems like regurgitated, processed crap. I have found very few albums that were released after 1980 that I liked. Thankfully, this duo has proven that creativity is still alive in an industry that capitalizes on the popular without any desire for original art.

This album is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stale and stagnant musical landscape.