The Odd Couple

It's impossible to follow up a hit as huge as 'Crazy'. So Gnarls Barkley haven't bothered. Despite reprising their retro soul sound, nothing on the unlikely duo's second album overtly tries to recreate the huge melodies and even huger chorus of their signature song. In fact, with a few exceptions, 'The Odd Couple' sounds like a willful move away from the mass-appeal tunes that previously disguised rapper Cee Lo Green's tortured lyrics.

Or, perhaps, their return has simply come too soon, the work of a band short of ideas, hoping to hide their incomplete songs behind Danger Mouse's distinctive production techniques — without realising that his overexposure as a sought-after collaborator has made their once original sound anything but unique.

Either way, the follow-up to 'St. Elsewhere' sounds a little tired and short on inspiration. The listless 'Who's Gonna Save My Soul' drags its feet for three long minutes, funeral march 'No Time Soon' gets nowhere soon, the discordant 'Would Be Killer' tries to shake things up with an off-kilter drum 'n bass rhythm, simple lament 'Neighbours' can't withstand Green's anguished voice, and the forlorn 'A Little Better' just isn't good enough.

Even the more instant songs fail to match the freshness and ingenuity of Gnarls' debut. 'Run (I'm A Natural Disaster)' is soon out of breath, 'Charity Case' could be an Outkast B-side from 2001, 'Whatever' has nothing on 'Smiley Faces', the sunny playground call 'Blind Mary' gets trapped in an endless loop of "I love Mary", and, despite the Beach Boys "pa pa pa pa" backing vocals, 'Surprise' is anything but.

In fact, the only surprise is that the sublime Gnarls Barkley are willing (and able) to make such an average album.