When “Fuck You” hit YouTube this August, it took the music world by storm. Now, with the long–awaited release of his third solo LP, The Lady Killer, Cee–Lo Green returns to the spotlight with a fresh batch of neo–soul goodies.
The album opens with “The Lady Killer Theme,” a seductive spoken–word prologue. “When it comes to the women,” says Cee–Lo, “I have a license to kill.” The former Gnarls Barkley frontman and Goodie Mob member sets out to reinvent his image by putting a fresh spin on the traditional sounds of Motown, leaving his retro blend of R&B/southern–tinged hip–hop behind.
“Bright Lights Bigger City” fuses space–rock guitar with snare–heavy disco, while the doo–wop gospel ballad “Old Fashioned” melds flourishing strings with a bluesy call–and–response choir section. Cee–Lo returns to his Atlanta roots on “No One’s Gonna Love You,” a Band of Horses cover that revitalizes the original. From the gliding tenor of Maroon 5’s Adam Levine in the “Fool for You” to the smooth, symphonic timbre of “Wildflower,” each track highlights a different shade of Cee–Lo’s stunning vocal palette.
While nothing on the album seems fully capable of igniting the craze generated by “Fuck You,” the album is excellent overall. With his shining contemporary soul stylings, Cee–Lo creates a nostalgic dance groove for everyone. Disco ball sold separately.
Kid Cudi
Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager
Sounds Like: Motown in the electronic age
99–Cent Download: “Bright Lights, Bigger City”
Good For: Dancing around your room when no one’s watching
4/5 Stars
