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Gnarles Barkley - The Odd Couple
5x**** Compared to St. Elsewhere, this one seems uneven, a sophomore slump if you will. "Charity Case" exemplifies one of the problems, songs that are filled with cool sounds but weak, dead-end melodies. "Going On" is a similar case, songs with a couple cool parts that never evolve or go beyond oscillating between two points. This time there are hooks and cool atmospheric instrumentation, but the writing is lacking. "Surprise" is another example of this, a chorus that successfully emulates late 60's pop but doesn't have much else. Meanwhile snotty "Whatever" and corny/obvious "Blind Mary" are just embarrassing. That being said..... the dark night of the soul(ful) "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"**** may be as good as best of St. Elsewhere, as is the dramatic "Open Book"****, which sounds inspired by Bjork's Homogenic album. "Run"**** goes further retro to 60's R&B, as the tongue is placed further into cheek. After a disappointing middle, penultimate "Neighbors"**** has the right sound to go with the subject of envy and consumption, and has far more than its share of hooks. "A Little Better"****, which closes the album on a high note, though based on only a couple ideas, both are fantastic hooks that should belong in a major single.
5x**** Compared to St. Elsewhere, this one seems uneven, a sophomore slump if you will. "Charity Case" exemplifies one of the problems, songs that are filled with cool sounds but weak, dead-end melodies. "Going On" is a similar case, songs with a couple cool parts that never evolve or go beyond oscillating between two points. This time there are hooks and cool atmospheric instrumentation, but the writing is lacking. "Surprise" is another example of this, a chorus that successfully emulates late 60's pop but doesn't have much else. Meanwhile snotty "Whatever" and corny/obvious "Blind Mary" are just embarrassing. That being said..... the dark night of the soul(ful) "Who's Gonna Save My Soul"**** may be as good as best of St. Elsewhere, as is the dramatic "Open Book"****, which sounds inspired by Bjork's Homogenic album. "Run"**** goes further retro to 60's R&B, as the tongue is placed further into cheek. After a disappointing middle, penultimate "Neighbors"**** has the right sound to go with the subject of envy and consumption, and has far more than its share of hooks. "A Little Better"****, which closes the album on a high note, though based on only a couple ideas, both are fantastic hooks that should belong in a major single.
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