Review

Cee Lo Green: The Lady Killer (Warner Bros)

Thomas DeCarlo Callaway (aka Cee Lo Green) makes his presence well and truly known on this his third time lucky solo album, that's already become a smash before all the reviews got out! 'The Lady Killer' lays down the rules on the intro and let's you know whose da boss and the James Bond pastiche made me burst out with merriment, nice touch Thom!

However 'Bright Lights Bigger City' doesn't work for me as the opener. The big synth intro just ruins a pretty decent track a heavy bassline like a cross between 'Beat It' and 'Aint No Love In The Heart Of The City' still the string arrangement and funky guitar make up for it.

'Fk You', is probably the most gorgeous slice of pop since Tamla, everyone on the planet knows this little '60s inspired soul vignette, 2 million hits on youtube and rising it's as catchy as a cold, so don't be surprised if your 4 year old daughter goes round the house singing it... you have been warned!

Production wise the album mixes House type euphoric tricks (thankfully without the beats!) mostly live sounding drums, phat, phat horns and Cee Lo's imperious tonsils knocking out 24 carat melodies. 'Wildflower' soars like an eagle a beautiful slice of blessedness and again a stonking, bonking string arrangement.

'Bodies' sees a departure from his pop sensibilities and a more serious side emerges. The groove is totally mad, timpani mixed in with broken beat bashiness a jerky piece of hot buttered soul done Greeny's style, sexy, chic and seriously seductive which pretty much covers the next track 'Love Gun' feat: Lauren Bennett a kind of surf meets R&B with a dash of dubstep, dirty and moody!

'Satisfied' is in the 'Fk You' vein but not in it's league and ends up sounding like a naff X Factor song, the girlie vocals kill it for me like the saturdays have gatecrashed it or something. Still you can't expect every song to be a classic but sanity is restored with 'I Want You' resplendent with magisterial melodies, stabby '60s horns and the lush strings swirling around the track. 'It's Ok' follows suit too and sounds like a single and it's magic Motownish splendour will leave a sweet taste. So to sum this album up it's like a big box of chocolates lots of nice flavour to savour! Cee Lo Green not bad old bean!
Words Emrys Baird