Heart Blanche

Five years after the ridiculous, impeccably catchy “Fuck You,” CeeLo Green is trying on his funky-weirdo Prince shoes again. This time, they don’t quite fit. Heart Blanche‘s campy soul grooves come and go in spectacular waves, lifted by some of Green’s best-ever vocal work, but are drowned by the album’s pretentious tendencies – see “Robin Williams,” a ponderous requiem for dead celebrities. He’s far better on his most simple pop tunes, like the fun “Est. 1980s” and the sweet “Music to My Soul.” In an era where disco has found a second life all over the pop charts, Green’s throwback barely makes a thud.