Once again donning their eclectic medley, producer Danger Mouse and rapper Cee-Lo joined forces once again to form their latest creation as Gnarls Barkley, The Odd Couple. Though their debut album St. Elsewhere surged with dynamism and liveliness, this time the soul-experimental project faintly backfired.

The album liberates a diverse combination of essence, funky hip-hop, and electronic-emphasized melodies, with a mishmash of jingled chimes and timid beats. The album opens with "A Little Better," an even-tempered track of throbbing adversity that frees an uplifting spirit, with lyrics like "and even a little is still better / oh have mercy on me."

Though the majority of tracks linger in a sluggish duration, "Going On" and "Charity Case" are two standout tracks with their bouncy drive, fast-paced rhythms and clap- your-hands-happy beats. Cee-Lo's lyrics and vocals are those of a disturbed man in "Open Book," brawling with the devil while illuminating senseless yet well-spoken thoughts: "When I sing a song of peace / It soothes a savage beast."

The album is not exactly what I had anticipated. Nonetheless, The Odd Couple contains a few impressive surprises, a few well-brought-up offerings, and a few letdowns.