gnarls barkley

Oliver's Army · Post by **Oliver's Army** » Thu May 18, 2006 11:30 am

Lets just cut to the chase here.

One man's trash is another man's treasure and never the two shall meet.

Oh, wait....

Never mind.

david sumner · Post by **david sumner** » Thu May 18, 2006 12:04 pm

nevermind

now theres a bad album

jewlee138 · Post by **jewlee138** » Thu May 18, 2006 2:10 pm

david sumner wrote:nevermind

now theres a bad album

i knew you'd go there

jewlee138 · Post by **jewlee138** » Wed Jun 07, 2006 1:44 pm

Article out of today's Journal Gazette-

Posted on Wed, Jun. 07, 2006
Stripped souls
Unlikely gospel duet cranks out thumping fun
By Solvej Schou
Associated Press

Courtesy photo
Brian Burton, left, and Thomas Calloway, of the hip-hop gospel troupe Gnarls Barkley (pictured “A Clockwork Orange”-style) promise “just good, clean fun.”

INDIO, Calif. – Sweating in the desert sun at the recent Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, singer Cee-Lo Green points to a word tattooed on the side of his shiny, bald head.

“ ‘TRILL,’ ” he says, grinning. “ ‘True and real.’ ”

It’s an appropriate catch phrase for hip-hop gospel troupe Gnarls Barkley: the unlikely pairing of DJ and producer Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) and Green (real name Thomas Calloway).

While the two perform in various costumes (they also prefer being photographed in “character”), their hit debut album, “St. Elsewhere,” reeks of pure stripped-back soul.

Like fellow genre-benders Outkast, Gnarls Barkley’s combo of psychedelic rumblings, earnest lyrics and poppy funk has cemented its spring-to-summer success. In April, the band’s bass-heavy single, “Crazy,” topped the British singles chart as the first track to reach No. 1 based on computer download sales alone.

Since its U.S. release May 9, “St. Elsewhere” has shot up into the top 20 of the Billboard charts.

“None of this was really preplanned. It just happened,” Burton says. “It’s taken a couple of years to make the record, and it’s all organic.”

Calloway, a member of Atlanta hip-hop’s Goodie Mob and rap collective Dungeon Family, had forayed into his own brand of scratchy-voiced soul – somewhere between Screamin’ Jay Hawkins and Al Green.

Burton – who gained fame for the “Grey Album,” a mash-up of Jay-Z and the Beatles, and later worked with Gorillaz – enlisted Calloway in 2003 for a remix for his “Ghetto Pop Life” album with rapper Jemini.

A musical merger was born.

“We were just trying to impress each other,” Burton says of their ensuing correspondence, which involved the two working in an Atlanta studio and also sending snippets of tracks back and forth. The final result turned out happily chaotic, from fun, thumping tunes such as “Go-Go Gadget Gospel,” with its squealing horns, to darkly witty “Necromancer,” and frank odes like “Just a Thought,” in which Calloway moans: “And I’ve tried/Everything but suicide/But it’s crossed my mind.”

A snappy cover of 1983’s “Gone Daddy Gone” by rockers the Violent Femmes completed the eclectic picture.

In person, Burton and Calloway couldn’t look and act less alike – yet their odd coupling works as a magnet, drawing the other in. Burton is slender and matter-of-fact. Calloway is heavyset and philosophical.

When asked about his influences, Calloway pauses and says “no one in particular, and everyone at the same time,” before naming Al Green and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, for two.

Onstage and in photo spreads, however, the pair eschew casual clothes for costumes as part of their “Gnarls Barkley” identity. They’ve appeared as the hoodlums of Stanley Kubrick’s thriller “A Clockwork Orange,” as the metalheads of “Wayne’s World” and the nerds from “Napoleon Dynamite.”

At Coachella, the band’s first scheduled U.S. appearance, theme dominates, with Calloway sporting a red curly mane and sweeping yellow, white and red robe as the Lion.

Burton, tucked away behind a turntable, gleams silvery as the Tin Man.

“I promise, it’s just good, clean fun,” he says. “It’s an extension of our personal taste, a way of showing humility. Don’t take yourself or us too seriously. Don’t take anything too seriously. Have fun, open up your mind.”

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:23 pm

I've come to a conclusion.

Listening to these guys is the musical equivalent to laying on your back and pissing straight into the air.

The_Dude · Post by **The_Dude** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 3:26 pm

* NOTE *

I'm basing this opinion on the fact that I'm sooooo sick of hearing that f'ing "Crazy" song. I can't avoid it.

Al Quandt · Post by **Al Quandt** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 9:49 pm

The CD hasnt left my car stereo in a week.

I think it's awesome and a step in the right direction for music of all tastes. Its new and very original. That is increasingly hard to find.

Like what Levon said, Ce Lo has been half way singing in his sh*t for years. Do check out still standing, his style is what molds that group.

I see this as a great evolution of a great artist not a sell out. I agree that watching rock bands sell out (ie metallica doing "the 4 Horsemen" in there acoustic pow wow last time i saw them).

But I think this is the rare example of a step up.

Sankofa · Post by **Sankofa** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 1:19 am

CeeLo was originally going to be Big Boi's partner in Outkast. Andre ended up being the sidekick. It's good to see someone who can sing (read: not Andre) getting props and commercial success when reaching beyond rap. Having said that, I'd really dig an album of CeeLo rapping-he's ridiculously good.

rezin · Post by **rezin** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 4:39 am

i love gnarls...

MrSpall · Post by **MrSpall** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 8:19 am

Am loving Gnarls. First, I love the diversity of tracks, each song sounds different so the CD never gets boring. Second, it's clean. I help run a workshop for mentally handicapped adults, and we're pretty strictly regulated on what can and can't be played on the radio. Gnarls' CD has rocked our player for the last week, and everyone - including my clients - dig it.

Ca$hdollar · Post by **Ca$hdollar** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:18 pm

Since I never get a chance anymore to listen to radio and don't get MTV, I have been relying strictly on internet buzz and a few random trips to CD stores to get new music. I stumbled across Gnarls about a month ago and I REALLY Dig it! I can see how some of the tracks have limited appeal across the board, but that's what I like about it. Though the group has a knack for writing a catchy song, they aren't trying to have a CD full of singles

Plus...TO ANYONE SAYING CEE LO SOLD OUT BECAUSE HE SINGS SHOULD BE TORTURED VIA PARIS HILTON...if you listened to Cee lo's debut album "Cee lo Green and all his perfect imperfections," he directly shoots down the criticism and sings his ass off. Do your homework before you bash someone's talent and willingness to express themselves in other mediums in music.

Would love to see Gnarls live...since i know they are playing around the area currently...has anyone seen them or is planning on seeing them live? From what I've heard, it's a killer show. Christ, I hear they even tour with a live string section!!!!

Sankofa · Post by **Sankofa** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 12:20 pm

Ca$hdollar wrote:Plus...TO ANYONE SAYING CEE LO SOLD OUT BECAUSE HE SINGS SHOULD BE TORTURED VIA PARIS HILTON

Ironic you should say that, due to Paris delaying her album release because she wanted to cover "Crazy."

tony2tone · Post by **tony2tone** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:05 pm

his raps were 100x doper.

Oliver's Army · Post by **Oliver's Army** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 5:08 pm

I picked this up this weekend and I LOVE his cover of the V. Femmes.

stunning.

eds · Post by **eds** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:09 pm

haven't heard much of the album, only a couple songs, but the "crazy" video about made me blow a wad when i first saw it...

from a visual artist's standpoint, fornicatin DOPE concept whether you like the song or not (which i don't)