Album Review: Cee Lo Green – The Lady Killer (2010 LP)


Cee Lo


Ladies and Gentlemen: Cee Lo Green has returned with his third solo record, and first in six years – The Lady Killer. 
In between drinks, Cee Lo has dabbled in a number of projects – most notably Gnarls Barkley alongside Dangermouse. Together, they produced two killer records, and Cee Lo became a household name. So, after all this exposure, it comes as no surprise that his return to the solo ampitheatre is also his most commercial solo project to date. But I daresay it’s also his best. Now that’s a statement I never thought I’d utter….






The album opens with the spoken track “The Lady Killer Theme (Intro)” which sets the scene for the album’s versatile landscape – and almost makes it feel like we’re about to set off on an OutKast affair. However, when the keyboards kick in for his upcoming single “Bright Lights Bigger City”, we know we’re in for something special – and we’re provided with a track that sets the album off with a real bang. Think the catchy “Living For The Weekend” by Hard-Fi and you have a pretty good idea of what to expect. And this is given a one-two punch with “Forget You” following right behind. It was an interesting choice to choose the censored version as the album track… only to have “Fuck You” appear as the reprise after the Batman-esque “Outro”. 

Following the one-two punch, the next track “Wildflower” proves slightly forgettable, before things kick up again with the military drum beat of “Bodies” – which is far from the most lyrically impressive piece I’ve heard in recent times. It’s essentially about girls in his bed. Throw in some beautiful old school orchestration and while an interesting contrast, it makes for a very likable song.

There is no better example of likability, however, than in the track that comes next – “Please (feat. Selah Sue)”. This is easily my favourite track of the album. A good bit of soul, coupled with a beautiful dark arrangement and a great duet. It’s the sort of track that does EVERYTHING right. Anyone that puts out music of this quality and sticks it into a commercial setting needs to be applauded. And when “Satisfied” comes on, with the trumpets and the sax, you can picture Cee Lo standing there in Big Band mode, truly blowing everyone away (pun definitely intended). A fun number, definitely the sort of music in which Cee Lo shines brightest.

“Cry Baby” is the sort of song that carries single potential with a beautiful payoff, and I can already see the teen girls singing this one in all the clubs. As we move towards the end of the album, “It’s OK” brings us a similiar vibe to “Fuck You” and album closer “Old Fashioned” is Cee Lo’s vocal standout, with a slower classic taste as the name would suggest. By the time the “Outro” rolls out, you’re actually pleased to hear the uncensored reprise of “Fuck You” provide you one last dance before hitting repeat on your record player (some of these tracks would sound amazing on vinyl, by the way…).

With The Lady Killer, Cee Lo has managed to bring together decades worth of music, mash it all together and come out with an album that is something truly impressive. While versitile, it never feels like a “mixed bag” – it’s strangely cohesive. And while not every song hits the mark, the tracks that do are quickly becoming some of my favourite of the year. It’s bold, it’s brash, it’s beautiful – welcome back to the stage Mr. Green, it’s a pleasure to have you here!


Review Score:

8/10


Larry Heath

Founding Editor and Publisher of the AU review. Currently based in Toronto, Canada. You can follow him on Twitter @larry_heath or on Instagram @larryheath.