Cee-Lo - Cee-Lo Green Is The Soul Machine

Saturday, 03 April 2004 11:41

Ahhhhh, spring!

Just the thought of it brings a smile to my face. You know that time of the year when the snow has begun to melt, the days are finally becoming longer, the flowers are blooming, and the weather is generally more enjoyable than it's been for the past six months. That transition from cold, yucky winter to warm, blossoming spring is a marvelous sight to behold.

When I think of Cee-Lo Green I can't help but think of spring.

	Record Author(s): Cee-Lo
	Record Title: Cee-Lo Green Is The Soul Machine
	Record Producer(s): Traxx, The Neptunes, Thomas Calloway, Timbaland, Jazze Pha, Organized Noize, DJ Premier, Locksmif
	Executive Producer(s): Cee-Lo Green & Antonio "LA" Reid
	Release Date: March 2, 2004

Thomas Calloway made his name in hip-hop in the early 90's as a member of the southern group Goodie Mob, but you may recognize him as "the guy with the sick flow." As nice as fellow group members Khujo, T-Mo, and Big Gipp are, Cee-Lo has always been the group's stand-out character; his whole style was always more eccentric than the rest of the Goodie Mob. And it was only natural that he would be the first to branch off and record a solo album. Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections was a curious record where Cee-Lo sung just as much as he rapped. Many reviews for the album were lukewarm because critics were expecting a traditional hip-hop album. And that's definitely what they didn't get.

This time around Cee-Lo is back with the help of some of the biggest names in hip-hop - scratch that - in music. This is an improved endeavor that no hip-hop, soul, R&B, or pop fan should sleep on.

If you didn't enjoy Cee-Lo's high pitched gospel-influenced crooning on his debut album, you're not going to be pleased when you find out there's just as much singing on Cee-Lo Green Is The Soul Machine. But don't let that scare you. Cee-Lo is a talented singer, but maybe not in the conventional sense. His raspy delivery certainly is intriguing and unlike Andre 3000, who often sounded forced and contrived singing on The Love Below, Cee-Lo's music is very honest and, most importantly, natural. He doesn't have to pretend to be soul; he is soul.

Most of the album is very bright and energetic, The Neptunes handle the work behind the boards on The Art of Noise, and they do a marvelous job. I totally agree with anyone who says Chad Hugo and Pharrell Williams haven't done anything exciting in a while, but the irresistible piano chords and lively percussion elements really allow Cee-Lo's much improved song writing abilities to shine. Working with catchier melodies and funkier lyrics, the man is truly a capable songwriter; tracks like these will have you grooving like there's no tomorrow.

Timbaland produces the hit single I'll Be Around; it's full of brash horns, Southern-tinged electric guitar strings, and trademark Cee-Lo braggadocio. He might be bald, five-foot-nothing, and chubby, but he lacks no modesty when he rhymes. His flow is ridiculous, and Cee-Lo makes sure we damn well know that. The booming Scrap Metal and Glockapella are two booming, battle-oriented tracks where Cee-Lo annihilates any pretending competitor

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