Cee-Lo Green is a man with many faces. If you were around in the 90’s, and you knew what hip-hop was, then you knew him as the high-pitched, chubby member of Goodie Mob. Most recently, you’ve probably known him as half of the dynamic duo that is Gnarls Barkley. However, Cee-Lo Green is a force to be reckoned with all on his own. His new album, “The Lady Killer” proves that.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, or on some deserted island with no Internet access for the past year then you’ve heard Green’s smash single, “F—k You!” It became an instant Internet sensation. The song’s upbeat, playful rhythm combined with harsh, no-holds barred lyrics is typical of Cee-Lo’s creativity. Although a lot of his music sounds celebratory and cheerful, the message usually reflects negative romantic experiences or tough life situations, which Cee-Lo, who experienced both of his parents’ deaths before he was an adult, is no stranger to.
Cee-Lo’s music is an anomaly. He plays with rhythms and sounds. The track “Bright Lights Bigger City” begins with an ’80s sounding synthesizer that is then meshed with a “Billy Jean”-sounding bass line, which is then accompanied by disco-sounding strings. Cee-Lo combines all of these sounds flawlessly. The track that follows, “F—k You!” sounds like something ripped right out of the page of 1960s Detroit Motown. You just never know where Cee-Lo is going to come from next — probably left field.
This unpredictability in sound works well and it makes “The Lady Killer” an album like no other. The next track “Wildflower” is even better than the previous tracks. It’s a delight to find an album that gets better and better as you listen, while still sounding fresh and original. “Wildflower,” which is romantic, soulful and sexy, displays Cee-Lo’s versatility. He can go from a song where he’s cursing (literally) at a woman he’s not good enough for, to a song that describes a woman as a beautiful wildflower. He is also able to do this while maintaining consistency in sound and never losing a beat.
Ultimately, Cee-Lo Green defies the kind of thinking that wishes to put him in a box. Yes, he’s a rapper, but when given the opportunity to explore, he shows that rapping is just one of many ways in which he expresses himself. “The Ladykiller” is a feel good, even inspirational album. When you read about Cee-Lo’s past and some of the hardships he’s endured, even the way he’s gotten back on track after veering into a dark path, makes his ability to create such joyful music all the more special.
This may just be the biggest surprise of the year. Songs like “Satisfied,” “I Want You” and “Cry Baby” reinforce an already strong album. Of all the releases this year, “The Lady Killer” may not be the biggest or the most popular, but it’s surely just as good as any other.
