Gnarls Barkley: St. Elsewhere

One of the best music releases of 2006 was Gnarls Barkley's "St. Elsewhere." Gnarls Barkley is actually a wild, creative, experimental, intelligent collaboration between Cee-Lo Green and Danger Mouse. Great lyrics ("Way over yonder there's a new frontier/would it be so hard for you to come and visit me here?") expressed through Green's raspy rapping are mixed with urban rhythms and beats run through Danger Mouse's experimental blender of innovations. The music is deep as the ocean, challenging to conformist notions and bland musical products, but it doesn't sink beneath the weight of its musical integrity, instead, it is bouyed by a underlying foundation of free-thought and fun-loving exuberence. It transgresses and it critiques, it escapes and returns, but most of all it boogies all night long!!! The lyrics can offend, but always there is this self-evaluation missing from most rap/rock. In reference to the monster that haunts his nights Green sings:

I used to wonder why he looked familiar
Then I realized it was a mirror
And now it is plain to see,
The whole time the monster was me

Listening tip, it sounds even better on the headset b/c you can pick up more of the musical effects.



"Crazy"

I remember when, I remember, I remember when I lost my mind
There was something so pleasant about that place.
Even your emotions had an echo
In so much space

And when you're out there
Without care,
Yeah, I was out of touch
But it wasn't because I didn't know enough
I just knew too much

Does that make me crazy
Does that make me crazy
Does that make me crazy
Possibly [video version]
Probably [CD version]

And I hope that you are having the time of your life
But think twice, that's my only advice

Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are,
Ha ha ha bless your soul
You really think you're in control

Well, I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
I think you're crazy
Just like me

My heroes had the heart to Lose their lives out on a limb
And all I remember is thinking, I want to be like them
Ever since I was little, ever since I was little it looked like fun
And it's no coincidence I've come
And I can die when I'm done

Maybe I'm crazy
Maybe you're crazy
Maybe we're crazy
Possibly