St. Elsewhere
by Gnarls Barkley
  • Record Label: Downtown
  • Release Date: May 9, 2006
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 111 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 95 out of 111
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 111
  3. Negative: 7 out of 111

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  1. grandpajoe6191
    Nov 14, 2011
    9
    The only reason I listened to the album "St. Elsewhere" is because of "Crazy".
  2. NathanG.
    May 6, 2006
    2
    Smart production. Bad music.
  3. BryantE
    Jun 1, 2006
    8
    It was on sale so I listened to it. Never heard them before... and I loved it. My teenage kids think it's cool too and I have gained some creds by bringing it home! Sounds like 70's motown mixed with hip hop. Smokey Robinson meets Outcast. Lyrically, I found it kinda weak, or maybe it's just beyond me, but it sounds like a bunch of drug induced yammerings. And I've It was on sale so I listened to it. Never heard them before... and I loved it. My teenage kids think it's cool too and I have gained some creds by bringing it home! Sounds like 70's motown mixed with hip hop. Smokey Robinson meets Outcast. Lyrically, I found it kinda weak, or maybe it's just beyond me, but it sounds like a bunch of drug induced yammerings. And I've been there... 3/4's of the release is just excelent.… Expand
  4. ChestyL
    May 30, 2006
    0
    Does hating this album make me craaaaaazy? Probably (not).
  5. ChrisW
    Jun 25, 2006
    3
    1) First off it is way too confusing to listen to. Like pick a style and go with it! Don
  6. ChristineD.
    May 30, 2006
    1
    Ear piercingly bad! I understand that Cee-Lo is quirky and adorable, but these songs are just terrible! Also, why is Danger Mouse wearing a "Vote for Pedro" shirt in the promo shots? I saw them selling that junk at Mervyns. If you think quoting Napolean Dynamite in your daily life is funny, then you'll like this record because you're an idiot.
  7. MikeK
    Jun 1, 2006
    9
    I agree, if you think this is a "0" or a "1" type of album, you ARE crazy. This feels like a breakthrough in r&b - yeah, it's supposedly hip hop, but the best cuts sound like a new kind of soul record, where the r&b vocals (not rapping) are married to a cool atmospheric production - DJ Danger Mouse sounds like the Brian Eno of r&b here. I don't think this is a start-to-finish I agree, if you think this is a "0" or a "1" type of album, you ARE crazy. This feels like a breakthrough in r&b - yeah, it's supposedly hip hop, but the best cuts sound like a new kind of soul record, where the r&b vocals (not rapping) are married to a cool atmospheric production - DJ Danger Mouse sounds like the Brian Eno of r&b here. I don't think this is a start-to-finish engaging record, but the best tracks are amazing ("Summer" sounds like neo-NEO-soul rather than straight up dance).… Expand
  8. SylvioM
    May 8, 2006
    4
    This album frustraded me. The track "Crazy" is pretty amazing, but the others of them isn't.
  9. GoodTimes
    May 30, 2006
    1
    This record is for people with eclectic taste, but who's eclectisism only covers bad music. People who say things like,"I'm into all kinds of stuff. Y'know like late Pink Floyd, Black Eyed Peas, and Raffi." People think this is avant garde pop, but it's just bad. I guess today's record industry churns out so much garbage that people are happy just to hear anything This record is for people with eclectic taste, but who's eclectisism only covers bad music. People who say things like,"I'm into all kinds of stuff. Y'know like late Pink Floyd, Black Eyed Peas, and Raffi." People think this is avant garde pop, but it's just bad. I guess today's record industry churns out so much garbage that people are happy just to hear anything that sounds remotely different. And for the record...Club DJs: "Crazy" is NOT a good dance song! It's got an awkward beat and a chorus that makes me want to shoot myself in the face.… Expand
  10. godonearth
    Jul 8, 2006
    3
    i give a 3 for 3 good songs
  11. NathanB
    Aug 8, 2006
    5
    One great song. Not much else
  12. ErikS
    May 15, 2006
    9
    this album rules. cee-lo does a good job with lyrics and danger mouse is quickly becoming one of my favorite producers. everything he touches turns to awesome. standout tracks- crazy, transformer, who cares,
  13. DerekE
    May 1, 2006
    8
    One of the best albums this year, for sure.
  14. cables
    May 8, 2006
    10
    umm. yeah.. this is pretty much excellent and genre bending.
  15. !?
    Jan 10, 2007
    9
    Great album, just short.
  16. AndersH
    Oct 11, 2006
    9
    A 9 just for the reviving new sound the two bring to the muddled pop industry.
  17. ReubenF
    Dec 19, 2006
    7
    A slick polished album from duo Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo. 'Crazy' is the highlight, sounding like an instant classic, though it wears a little thin after a few plays. Interesting to find a cover of a Violent Femmes song on the album, who happen to be the first band I ever saw live, back when I was just 13. The album does not really live up to the standard of the lead single, A slick polished album from duo Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo. 'Crazy' is the highlight, sounding like an instant classic, though it wears a little thin after a few plays. Interesting to find a cover of a Violent Femmes song on the album, who happen to be the first band I ever saw live, back when I was just 13. The album does not really live up to the standard of the lead single, which is a pity. I love the artwork though.… Expand
  18. ClayS
    May 1, 2006
    10
    Amazing, best record i've heard in years!!!!
  19. R.Skells
    May 1, 2006
    8
    i like this album alot. its innovative and cee-lo sounds great. danger mouse, a frustratingly inconsistent musician, has one of his better outings here. the song writing is surprisingly good and highly personal.
  20. samb
    May 1, 2006
    9
    despite some weak tracks, st. elsewhere still manages to awe. danger mouse is truly in his element on 'just a thought,' and the duo reaches a creative height that one rarely sees on 'crazy,' which is undoubtedly the best single so far this year, and wont be forgotten for quite a while.
  21. MF
    May 10, 2006
    9
    One of the best albums of the year so far. Excellent all around! Do yourself a favor and get this album now!!!
  22. dl
    May 10, 2006
    10
    If you are a person whose musical tastes are eclectic, this is the album for you. I can't even count the number of varying musical styles and influences I hear. With each new track I found myself surprised at what I was hearing. For me it boils down to this. Every album I buy I want to fall in love with, and literally, the only music I have listened to for the past 5 days is St. If you are a person whose musical tastes are eclectic, this is the album for you. I can't even count the number of varying musical styles and influences I hear. With each new track I found myself surprised at what I was hearing. For me it boils down to this. Every album I buy I want to fall in love with, and literally, the only music I have listened to for the past 5 days is St. Elsewhere. There is no truer test of an albums quality than that.… Expand
  23. Kristian
    May 1, 2006
    9
    Cee-Lo is a quarky fantasic match to Danger, they album is posed to be a great summer album with only a few tracks to skip over...
  24. Mick
    May 2, 2006
    6
    Some great tunes, but too many tunes that made me want to skip past them. This album has some amazing songs and some truely great moments. These tend to be the slower, more melodic numbers. However, some of the songs on this album hurt my head to listen too, and for me this isn't helped by the running order. Basically it has too many bad songs to be a great ablum.
  25. PaulC
    May 3, 2006
    10
    Been waiting a while for this one. It's a masterpiece of chaos and melody. very adventurous. don't know if everyone will understand it though. in my opinion- Album of the Year.
  26. KristianF
    May 5, 2006
    8
    Well, I think you're craaazy...!
  27. TWright
    May 6, 2006
    10
    An absolutely brilliant album that grabs you on the first listen and gets better every time it's played. An instant hit and a slow burner at the same time.
  28. GasparL
    May 7, 2006
    8
    Definitely an amazing piece of work from two artists more than capable of crafting it. What I don't understand is all the down-talk on the busier songs; "Transformer" seemed to get panned by every major review it came up in, and "Go Go Gadget Gospel" got its share of guff, but I think they're album highlights. Maybe I just have a weird thing for songs that make my brain have to Definitely an amazing piece of work from two artists more than capable of crafting it. What I don't understand is all the down-talk on the busier songs; "Transformer" seemed to get panned by every major review it came up in, and "Go Go Gadget Gospel" got its share of guff, but I think they're album highlights. Maybe I just have a weird thing for songs that make my brain have to work; that skittery, see-if-you-can-keep-up-with-this feel, trying to fit all the pieces in your mind and tracing along. And wasn't the whole dead metaphor on "Necromancing" a comparison to being drugged up? On the downside, the album is short; very short. So short I feel somewhat cheated, knowing that amazing songs like this could have been honed and built on into an opus. At 37 minutes, be sure you're paying for 37 minutes, no matter how high the quality. Whatever the case, I can tell this will be making year-end Top 50 lists by early May.There may be a few skip-worthy lows, but when it all comes together, every gripe I had simply went out the window. "St. Elsewhere" burns slow into a foggy wisp and etheral howls, "Smiley Face" bounces around while bearing its soul, "Feng Shui" sits as a keen little interlude of Cee-Lo in Rap Mode (always a treat), and "Who Cares" floats along its merry, warped way. If the fat were cut and the good stuff were given the time it deserved, this would be an instant ten and a classic for decades to come. But, as it is, it's a staggeringly fresh and vibrant debut, with promises of gleaming perfection if the two ever clear up their collaboration schedules for a sophomore stint.… Expand
  29. willh
    Jun 1, 2006
    10
    This album is deffinately a classic and will prove that as the summer continues on as we will see that no other album for the summer will compile such diversity and metaphoric translation.
  30. GreatBadrAlbum
    Jun 2, 2006
    10
    GREAT album, great music, etc... One of the best albums this year.
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Awards & Rankings

58
#58 Best Album of 2006
39
#39 Most Discussed Album of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Universal acclaim - based on 37 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
  1. Dot Music
    90
    Both artists have stepped outside their regular roles to make what feels like a genuinely instinctive, love-fuelled record that zings with an enthusiasm for all spectrums of music.
    Read full review
  2. musicOMH.com
    80
    Although this isn't a flawless album, it will undoubtedly be a huge hit and keep many people company through the long hot summer months ahead.
    Read full review
  3. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    You certainly won't hear much else at the moment as inventive as this.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »