Cee Lo Green is old school on 'Lady Killer'

By GLENN GAMBOAglenn.gamboa@newsday.comNovember 5, 2010

With "The Lady Killer" (Elektra), Cee Lo Green has secured his place among R&B's greatest singers - in part by taking their strengths and twisting them into his broader plan.

So far, all the talk has centered around "-- You," his expletive-filled rant set to an innocent slice of Motown soul crooned as sweetly as Smokey Robinson. The combination is compelling enough to be a song of the year candidate, but "The Lady Killer" thrills don't stop there.

"Bright Lights, Bigger City" feels like an homage to Michael Jackson, right down to the loping "Billie Jean" bass line. "Love Gun," a duet with Lauren Bennett, sounds like Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell filtered through Amy Winehouse's dangerous mind, while "I Want You" takes on bits of Luther Vandross' smooth phrasing.

Teaming up with Philip Bailey on "Fool for You," Green brings back the mid-'70s Earth, Wind & Fire R&B vibe. He goes back to Sam Cooke's early-'60s soul on the gorgeous "Old Fashioned" and the infectious "Satisfied," which throws in a bit of "Sign o' the Times"-era Prince for good measure.

But that's not to say that Cee Lo, best known for groundbreaking work with Danger Mouse in Gnarls Barkley, isn't still looking to the future. On "Bodies," he uncoils a murder mystery worthy of "Law & Order" over a trip-hop beat.

After two middling solo albums, Green finally gets everything right on "The Lady Killer." For him, the third time is definitely the charm.