Whether with Goodie Mob, Dungeon Family, Gnarls Barkley, or his limited solo work, there’s a good chance that Cee Lo Green the Soul Machine has graced your speakers, and – more likely than not – had you tapping your feet. It takes a special kind of artist to be a substantial contributor to so many different sounds; it’s truly a testament to Cee Lo’s always-fluid, but somehow still-recognizable style. Two years removed from Gnarls Barkley’s The Odd Couple, Cee Lo has decided to go for dolo once again, taking his ever-evolving musical sensibilities along for the ride.
The Lady Killer has an unmistakable gamut of influences. It sounds as though Cee Lo has thoroughly studied every classic James Bond title song, Michael Jackson’s Thriller, mixed with some early Rock & Roll and some ’60s schmaltz. The introductory “The Lady Killer Theme” is wonderfully corny, and sets the tone for the album. “Bright Lights Bigger City” has a bass lick that evokes memories of “Billie Jean,” with grand Disco synths flooding the track when Cee Lo isn’t singing. When the beat is in full effect, it’s extremely rich, but the real treat is when Cee Lo’s doing the heavy lifting, singing with little to back him but that bass.
Runaway contender for single of the year, “Fuck You” is so cheery and smooth that it could be featured in an Old Navy commercial and slip by the FCC. Cee Lo is at his animated his best here, and it would be fascinating to find out how much The Smeezingtons (a writing trio including the ultra-talented Bruno Mars) had to do with the track. It is, for all intents and purposes, flawless – and won’t grate on your nerves upon the 100th listen, unlike “Hey Ya!” Salaam Remi provides a chilling backdrop for “Bodies,” which displays Cee Lo with some more sinister things on his mind: “Can nonchalant be obvious? Of course / I leaned towards her and whispered, ‘The choice is yours’ / Need I remind you that I’ll have no remorse (I understand) / Here’s a kiss sweetheart this won’t hurt a bit / I can kill it with kindness or murder it Then I’ll face the time a murderer gets (Or get away with it).”
The trio of “Satisfied,” “I Want You,” and “Cry Baby” send Lady Killer into a bit of a lull; none of the tracks is of poor (or even middling) quality. Rather, they just don’t distinguish themselves in production or vocals in comparison to the remainder of the album. “Fool For You” rectifies this, as it contains some of Cee Lo’s finest singing on the record. “Old Fashioned” slows things down just in time for the annual sock hop, and the outro sends the listener out with as much style as it invited him or her in.
That The Lady Killer is an appealing musical cocktail is no surprise. Just as compelling a draw is Cee Lo’s story about the search for love. Fragmented, subtle, and occasionally disturbing, it adds a layer to the album that will make it enjoyable to listeners on several different levels. It’s not a flawless effort, but Cee Lo’s latest is a formidable addition to his eclectic catalogue.
straight fire
Agreed! Straight fire!! This album will stay in rotation in my ipod for months to come. Good job Cee Lo.
lot of70’s soul influenced stuff too.
‘Wildflower’ is one of my favs on there.
best cee-lo solo
Great album!!!
i think cee-lo should go platinum if we respect over good music and multitalented artist,cee-lo is a genius musically.cee-lo is going platinum according to myself and yet his fuck you” is the single of the year.good album.
A really amazing artist!
I Listen to hiphop; not pop!!!! Get it straight!
Been looking forward to this cd for a while now. His Mixtape was killer and the CD of awesome. Thank you Cee-Lo
Good job Lo!
i had to skip ova gnarles barkley segment but dis album take me back to the last cee lo album wit da blue background. great music augusta ga
I’m sorry but this Album deserves more than “FOUR STARS”…This Album is very very very SOLID!
Fuck You!
awesome album
Never really fucked with C-Lo like that, but this album was actually nice, i could play it from start to end and be in a trans all the way through.
I got this album and kanye’s on my ipod at the same time. This album is the shit and some of the songs remind me of some of the oldies I used to listen to back in the day. I would give this album a way better rating then kanye’s cause his album sucks.
Nothing short of a classic
Not just good songs, a good album!
Who the f*ck are these people that review albums?
Do you rhyme? You got some sh*t recorded AMANDA? I wanna hear your album. Where’s the credentials?
Diggin C’s album, straight up rea!
ya!
This is like an oldies type of sound
Great album cee lo dungeon family for life great song selection he’s always been underrated for so long he will never get his dues until he retires and thats wrong great job cee-lo
WTF hiphopdx.. A fuckin 4.. this shit is a fckin CLASSIC BITCH!!!! 4reall!!!
This album was a perfect 5. Great album from start to finish.
Album of the year nominee. Cee-Lo!
Cee-Lo 4 Life
Why was it so hard to give this album 5 stars? This album is better than Kanye’s in my opinion. Seems to me like you guys & gals are shook when it comes giving reviews…
cee lo dungeon family for life
5/5 Brilliant album!