Now that they are fully established, it would be easy for the pair to release an album more reserved and formulaic than its wacky predecessor, acting to capitalize on the success of “Crazy.” But never content to play by the rules, Barkley crashes out of the gate with “The Odd Couple,” which is twice as dense and cohesive as the debut. While the first disc relied upon interpretations of the duo’s favorite genres — gospel, soul, rock, hip-hop and sketches of dozens more — this disc constructs a wholly unified tone.
Perhaps the brilliance is bridged by Cee-Lo’s nasal spin on “Curtis Mayfield.” Fuller and more ambitious than on previous work, his throwback pipes steal the show. He chews out tracks such as “Surprise” and “Neighbors,” dripping emotion even in the most understated lines. Lyrically, Cee-Lo is as on point as he has ever been during his career, unleashing paranoia-fueled jams such as “Would-Be Killer,” in which he admits a need to “Hurt people, hurt people / This is always how / Oh, I’ve been entered by evil.”
This emotion is made all the more salient with Danger Mouse’s thrilling production work, which has grown by leaps and bounds since his humble underground beginnings. “Going On” blends the passion of a baptist choir with the soul of a funk band, all fronted by a rock guitarist. The dizzying sample of “Open Book” blends anxious drums with swelling strings, and while it could fly off the tracks with a lesser DJ, Danger Mouse is able to squeeze beauty out of the instrumentation.
“The Odd Couple” is a great album — plain and simple. Maturity fits these two like a glove, and from album to album, project to project, they only become more comfortable experimenting with strong ideas. For a partnership this dynamic, the best is always yet to come, but their newest effort is a great way to whet your appetite.