New Album 'Odd Couple' Is Fitting for Gnarls Barkley

March 26, 2008— -- Gnarls Barkley never worried about coming up with another "Crazy" -- the runaway hit single that introduced the quirky duo two years ago -- while prepping their just-out album," The Odd Couple." Producer Danger Mouse and soul crooner Cee-Lo Green were intent on taking the sonic and psychological explorations of their acclaimed debut, "St.Elsewhere," a step further.

Curiosity and Internet leaks pushed up "Odd Couple's" release by three weeks. It's already No. 1 on iTunes' download chart.

"We make music for people who really love music, and I don't think those people are sitting around waiting for us to make one song that they like," says Danger Mouse (Brian Burton). "That's not what we do."

What they do is mesh sounds and concepts that are an alternative to just about anything else on the market. Danger Mouse's psychedelic blend of retro soul, pop and punk playfully underpins Cee-Lo's cryptic musings.

On "Run (I'm a Natural Disaster)," the frenetic, foreboding first single, Cee-Lo (Thomas Callaway) squalls, "Run, children, run for your life." The video, which features a barely recognizable Justin Timberlake, raised concerns that its trippy, strobe effects could cause seizures; editing fixed the problem.

Next single "Who's Gonna Save MySoul" is a bluesy lament, and other tracks deal with psychosis ("Would Be Killer"), jealousy ("Neighbors"), depression ("A LittleBetter") and deceit ("She Knows").

"People may associate the album with darkness, but it's the same dynamic as night and day," says Cee-Lo. "It's not so dark that people can't see themselves in it or see their way through it.

"But," he adds, "there is a full moon out."

That twinkle of humor extends to the pair's fondness for outlandish attire. They're known for suiting up in costumes from "The Wizard of Oz" or as astronauts. "Our only criteria is that it looks cool on stage, and people can tell what it is," Danger Mouse says.

The two are putting together a tour schedule, though both also have individual projects going. Danger Mouse produced the Black Keys' upcoming "Attack & Release" disc and is currently working on Beck's new album. Cee-Lo is working on his third solo album and also recording with the reunited rappers Goodie Mob.

He doesn't rap in Gnarls Barkley to distinguish the music from his previous work.

"We don't agree with the association with hip-hop," Cee-Lo says. "It ought to be obvious that it's not. It's in a class of its own."