The Greatest Albums of 2006
#5 - Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere
Oh dear readers, it is but by the grace of Gabe that this album is listed at number 5.
A short while back, when we were discussing placement for our albums of the year, I hastily put St. Elsewhere at the very bottom of the list, on the merits that it just wasn’t as artistically inclined as the other works. Gabe argued the album’s case however and managed to convince me that it should be higher on the list. I was still a bit hesitant over this decision. And then, in my effort to reconnect with the album before writing this list, I began to see why he fought to have it placed so high.
St. Elsewhere isn’t brimming with artistic merit or credibility, but it is perhaps the one album we’re talking about that actually made cultural waves in 2006.
Created by DJ Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo Green (the duo behind Gnarls Barkley), St. Elsewhere is a hip hop revelation in a year where faces like Kanye West and Common are absent. Driven by the eclectic sound of throbbing baseline and car-crash drums, St. Elsewhere is the closest thing 2006’s music got to fun for me.
Part of this can be attributed to the album’s hip hop revisionist sound, (present in smart tracks like “Crazy” and “Just a Thought”). These songs, which ruled the airwaves this year, seem fueled by true honesty, emotion and a unique perspective on the musical and cultural landscape (despite confusing, pointless lyrics that suggest otherwise). And in the album’s finer moments, St. Elsewhere ceased to feel like DJ Danger Mouse’s latest grab for a scene and more like an honest musical statement.
While this may be the result of Cee-Lo’s tremendous presence, the honest effort on the part of both musicians to create a work that elevates itself above a joke is intelligent.
I might also add in a quick aside that Cee-Lo establishes himself as front man of the year with this work. His buoyant charisma gave resonance to St. Elsewhere and made this album relevant. Danger Mouse’s production will always be praised in reference to this album, but the voice of Cee-Lo is what made such high-production human.
That being said, it is but by the grace of Gabe…and the accomplishment of Gnarls Barkley that you get number 5.
"By the grace of Gabe!" Oh man, that is hilarious.
The end result of teaming Cee-Lo Green and DJ Danger Mouse is reason alone to rank this album high. Not many people knew of Cee-Lo and Mouse in 2005. More Mouse than Cee-Lo, as the DJ had quite a bit of notoriety mixing Jay-Z's "Black Album" with the Beatle's "White Album," resulting in, of course, the "Grey Album." But put them together as Gnarls Barkley in 2006, and Bam! They're hitting the airwaves, bringing hip-hop/r&b delight to the homes of the radio/MTV-limited, young generation. And with that, hopefully it sparked a dead synapse or two, that will motivate them to expand their field of music.
I agree with Brock, in that Cee-Lo is the highlight of the duo on St. Elsewhere. He's unique for an R&B singer, in voice and personality. He has the charisma of James Brown and a great vocal range.
Songs on the album delve back-and-forth, and mix together hip-hop, R&B, and dance. It's a lively album that, although didn't make any major breakthroughs, was a breath of fresh air on the radio.
