Gnarls Barkley’s New Album: Funky Soul, Psych Rock and a Dark Ballad

1/23/08, 12:29 pm EST

The new Gnarls Barkley disc won’t be released until April, but we got the chance to hear a few new cuts early. The verdict: Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse have produced another album of super-catchy tunes that veer between retro-soul shakedowns, tricked-out psychedelic rock and trunk-rattling hip-hop. While nothing sounds as indelible as “Crazy,” the first two tracks that the pair are considering for a lead single are pretty ace: one is a funked-up organ groove complemented by French horns, a chorus of “la la la”s and Cee-Lo crooning in his throaty rasp, “Here it comes/Say it loud!” The other track, which we’re told is the duo’s favorite, is drastically different: a sinister ballad featuring intricately strummed acoustic guitar chords. Cee-Lo’s mood turns dark as he repeats over and over, “Who’s gonna save my soul?/I know I’m out of control.” It’s a stylish, spooky take on Robert Johnson’s delta blues—and even that suits them just fine.

[Photo: Getty]

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Comments

Adamantios | 4/9/2008, 5:35 pm EST

Cool site!

emqvayz eudyfcmv | 2/5/2008, 7:50 pm EST

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keith R | 1/26/2008, 3:52 pm EST

The Phantom Of The Paradise is one of the best RnR movies ever. Carburetors man, that’s what life’s about.

JimbobProductions | 1/25/2008, 9:32 pm EST

response to: The Phantom Of The Paradise. I’m Pretty sure your name is fuckin’ stupid.

a | 1/25/2008, 4:56 pm EST

You know, Gnarls Barkley is a duo..

Looking forward to the next album

The Phantom Of The Paradise | 1/24/2008, 11:16 pm EST

Whatever. His name is still stupid!!!

SON OF GARVEY | 1/24/2008, 6:30 pm EST

YOU AIN’T GOT TO TELL ME BROTHER I KNOW YOU THE TRUTH… I’M JUST WAITING TIL THE WORLD CATCH ON.. I THINK, SING OR HUMM ONE OF YOUR SONGS EVERYDAY….

Joey Rec | 1/23/2008, 11:07 pm EST

Any negative comments on Gnarls is straight ignorance of music.

As said Danger Mouse is definately the top producer out right now, and Cee Lo is a one of a kind talent.

If you would consider them “pop” St. Elsewhere was one of the best pop albums in years.

Cant wait for this one.

MusicJunkie | 1/23/2008, 9:44 pm EST

amidst the crap on the airwaves this will be a pleasure for my ears…..these guys put out a great record with st. elsewhere….i can’t wait for the follow-up

some suggestions for the above complainers:

To avoid audio over exposure…change the station or find another media to listen to music…something fairly simple in this day and age….why wait for mtv or the airwaves to introduce you to something fresh

and to criticize a band name is a waste of time….a band name doesn’t describe talent….there are a slew of talented bands with not so great band names

rockstarr26 | 1/23/2008, 5:58 pm EST

i need a couple more years before i hear more gnarls barkley…classic overexposure

The Phantom Of The Paradise | 1/23/2008, 3:07 pm EST

Gnarls Barkley? What a fuckin’ stupid name!!!

I wouldn’t wouldn’t mind seeing CHARLES BARKLEY throw him through a plate-glass window at a sports bar!!!

you know | 1/23/2008, 12:53 pm EST

looking forward to this album; pretty much every release associated with Danger mouse’s name is fantastic:

The Grey Album
The mouse and the Mask
Demon Dayz
the Good, The Bad, & The Queen
St. Elsewhere

Best producer in the world right now…fuck timbaland. His trippy pychadelic rock samples are great…no wonder the RZA is following suite; he knows what’s up.

On an off-topic note; I was stoked when I saw that Rolling sTone was finally doing a cover story on a band deserving of the attention: Radiohead. However, when I read the exerpt I was incredibly disappointed. Does this article actually say anything new about the band, or just talk about a trip to the museum and where some lines from some songs came from?

My guess is it was just a terrible choice for the excerpt. Even though I’m interested in the article, I will now not buy the magazine because the excerpt is so bad. Why should I believe the rest of the article is any better? I buy anything with Radiohead’s name on it; but not this one. Way to shoot yourself in the foot RS!

Rolling Stone, even when you guys do something right you do it wrong. It’s a sad state of affairs down at Rolling Stone’s headquarters. Please, stop this non-sense.

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