popwreckoning

You can check out the new Gnarls Barkley video for “Going On.” In true Gnarls fashion, it’s awesome. Check out some sweet dance moves and a portal to another dimension:

You can see the real thing this summer as Gnarls Barkley is hitting the festival circuit hard. Anxious to get on the road, celebrate the summer, and perform songs from their new album The Odd Couple, Gnarls Barkley have announced a slew of upcoming festival performances. 20 dates have been confirmed thus far:

the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia
the Soco Music Experience
the Quart Festival in Norway
the Roskilde Festival in Denmark
Rock Werchter in Belgium
Eurockness in France
the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland
the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam
the Benicassim Festival in Spain
Lollapalooza in Chicago
Austin City Limits Festival in Austin

More will be announced as soon as the band is allowed to disclose.

“Summer is a time to get outside, meet new people, try new things, and dance, in whatever way you dance,” said a spokesperson for the band. “If anyone can coax the people outside, Gnarls can. Any excuse for a righteous throwdown.”

You know it’s gonna be good!

Gnarl Barkley: website | myspace | The Odd Couple review

The new Gnarls Barkley album The Odd Couple could not be more aptly titled: this duo is odd. You’ve probably seen them playing recently in MTV commercials as they are the “Artist of The Week,” seemingly unaware of the people in animal suits wrestling each other behind them. Maybe you caught their performance on the 2006 “MTV Music Awards” when they were decked out in Star Wars costumes, complete with Chewbacca on drums.

One thing is for sure, we can expect the unexpected from these two. They’ve created a style and sound that is all their own, proving to be impossible to define in the best way possible. According to their MySpace page, they describe their music as “alternative / soul / experimental” but after listening to The Odd Couple, genre labels can’t even compare to what comes out of the speakers. It’s a unique combination of whole-hearted sincerity and emotion mixed with technological brilliance that captures you through the entire album. They are definitely one of the most unique and original groups out right now – and incredibly talented in every aspect.

The first track, “Charity Case,” jumps right into the album without warning and I’m immediately hooked. Then “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul” comes on. As you can guess from the title, this track is soulful – old school blues but still very modern, something I didn’t expect to follow such an upbeat first song. This becomes a pattern of the album: you never know what’s next.

“Going On” gets back into that fast-paced sound and there’s definitely a lot going on in this song. The music changes constantly when you least expect it and the flow into every different sound fits perfectly together. The ability to experiment with various sounds and make each one enjoyable is one of their biggest strengths throughout the entire album.

Their single “Run (I’m a Natural Disaster)” is like the speed metal of their style. The video has been banned from MTV for causing seizures, but the song itself could probably do the same. Cee-lo gives fast talkers everywhere a run for their money. The following song “Would Be Killer” is considerably different. Despite the haunting lyrics, it’s very chill and downright sexy. The most attitude is in the shortest track, “Whatever.” There’s this snotty, “it’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to” outlook, but way more badass: “I don’t know what else to do / Said ‘fuck me,’ well fuck you, too!” The last song “A Little Better” is a little more optimistic. It really hits your heart when Cee-lo wails out his painful past into better times over more instrumental music rather than electronic-made beats. It was a perfect way to end such a great album.

Regardless of what kind of music you generally prefer to listen to, you will love this record, in stores now.

Gnarls Barkley: website | myspace

-Melissa

It’s just been announced by Atlanta Music Blog.com that Cee-Lo of Gnarls Barkley will be performing the #1 song, “Hey Jude,” at the this year’s 500 Songs for Kids event, which is in the middle of it’s 10-day residency at Smith’s Olde Bar right now.

In addition to Cee-Lo, confirmed performers for the final night include Shawn Mullins, Angie Aparo, Corey Smith, James Hall, and Arrested Development.

The event features 500 different performers counting down the 500 Greatest Sing-Along Songs, include “It’s My Party,” “Genie in a Bottle,” and “Georgia on my Mind.”

The event was born last year off of the work of Songs For Kids founder and president Josh Rifkind and featured Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Tickets are available at the door each night. If you are not able to attend, click here to donate.

Songs For Kids: website | myspace

*Molly

Welcome to your first look at Gnarls Barkley‘s new album, The Odd Couple. You can stream the albums first single, “Run” by clicking the links below.

Real Player
Windows Media Player

Should you like the single, it is currently for sale here, via iTunes. Look for the album to be released in full April 15th, and a review from PopWreck(oning) soon before. Meanwhile, check out the bands myspace for further information.