Six years have passed since Cee Lo Green released a solo album, and on "Lady Killer," the Gnarls Barkley vocalist and former Goodie Mobb member combines the boldness and grit of both musical ventures to deliver some unforgettable tracks.
From the gun blast at its opening, "Love Gun," featuring Lauren Bennett, the album is sonically arresting. Salaam Remi, who has worked with Amy Winehouse and Nas, joined Cee Lo to co-produce the song, which presents a genius mix of the James Bond theme music with a swaggering New Orleans jazz rhythm.
The grand funk of "Fool For You" is a perfect fit for Cee Lo's fiery rasp, and his voice soars on the luminous "Wildflower."
"They said that chivalry is dead, then why is her body in my bed? At sunrise the morning papers read, they found a body in my bed," Cee Lo sings on the ghoulish "Bodies," another of the album's gems.
The album features a generous number of sock-hop worthy tracks including "Old Fashioned" and "I Want You." Both are dreamy, but without the comedic zing of the Smeezingtons-produced "(Expletive) You," other retro-styled songs just don't stack up.
CHECK OUT THIS TRACK: The snare drum. The ghastly sound effects. A lyrically provocative Cee Lo. The three combine to make "Bodies" to die for.