 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
St. Elsewhere
- By Gnarls Barkley
- Genre: Pop
Common Sense Media says
Quirky creativity with an edge on this hip-pop CD.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that there's one wincingly explicit song (apparently about necrophilia) nestled into this collection of very interesting and well-performed material. Depression, suicide, and cocaine are also mentioned. "S--t" comes up once.
What's the story?
The first thing you'll notice on ST. ELSEWHERE is the voice –- rich and expressive, suited to 1960s- and 70s-era soul crooning. Then there are the instrumental arrangements, blending strong musical hooks with the unconventional in delicious layers of sound that reveal influences as diverse as psychedelia, hip-hop, pop, rock, and soul. All of these elements combine to make this long-anticipated collaboration between producer Danger Mouse and singer-songwriter Cee-Lo a truly exciting musical adventure. The fact that every track is expertly performed doesn't hurt; neither do the song titles such as "Go-Go Gadget Gospel" or "Feng Shui." Even the background vocals and hand claps are perfectly executed. Lyrically, most of the songs are simple yet expressive, with an underlying assumption of audience intelligence.
Is it any good?
The brilliance of this CD lies in the way the artists mold a wide variety of influences into a new sound that's familiar enough to be comfortably accessible while stretching limits and redefining genre. However, most parents will have some trouble with a few of the messages. "Monster in My Closet" is a delightful exploration of that universally scary fantasy, but depression, suicide, and cocaine are mentioned here and there; "Necromancer" appears to be about necrophilia, in pretty graphic terms. Uncomfortable as these themes may be, this is one instance where the music is good enough to make listening and engaging in difficult conversations (separating reality from fantasy, dealing with self-destructive impulses) worth the trouble.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the difference between fantasy and reality, and the healing power of creative expression. They can also discuss the variety of musical influences here, and the creative way in which they're combined.
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AGE
FANTASTIC WEIRD ALBUM
THIS is why we listen to music! original, catchy, and very weird. Lot of deep meanings in songs, and NEcromancer is downright creepy, but its descroptions to give you those creepy feelings are amazing! Bravo, Gnarls Barkley, but i do not remember hearing s--t in any songs.
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AGE
Its pretty good
I only like the song "Crazy". n "gine daddy gone" is ok.but i agree this albums for teens.but not jus 15+,all.
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AGE
This cd is not 4 anyone under 14
although I'm a pretty mature 13 year old I must admit that althogh this cd had wonderful beat to it some of the songs have a very dark underlying message. But however if you skip the song Necromancer
(It is vey bad and has a terrible beat to match) your listening experience should be rather wonderful.
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AGE
OK Album, Not As Bad As It Sounds
Although 'Necromancer' has violent imagry, it talks about [liking you better off dead] death more than violence. There is no language. Cocaine is mentioned. Without the song 'Necromancer', this album is for everybody.
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| Artist: | Gnarls Barkley |
| Release date: | May 9, 2006 |
| Label: | Downtown |
| Genre: | Pop |
| Parental advisory: | No |
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