It’s official: Gnarls Barkley are over. Yes, ”Crazy” is still the catchiest song on the airwaves (and will be for the foreseeable future), and yes, the fantastically creative duo could continue to make great records for years to come, but they’re over. Here’s how you can tell: They’ve been profiled in the New York Times Magazine, where it rubs up against a cover story on tobacco policy, ads for luxury homes, and serialized stories by hip-in-1989 authors Jaime Hernandez and Scott Turow. Actually, it’s more a profile of DJ Danger Mouse, who convinces reporter Chuck Klosterman (who should know better) that his auteurist approach to record-making is unprecedented in pop music (ignoring such recent examples as Dr. Dre and Moby, and slighting Gnarls vocalist and songwriter Cee-Lo) and owes more to such filmmakers as the Times-demographic-friendly Woody Allen. If being made safe for the readers of the Sunday New York Times isn’t enough of a death knell, Gnarls’ pretension probably would be; besides the auteurist comments, there’s their refusal to be photographed unless they’re dressed as movie characters (like , say, Napoleon Dynamite, pictured), and their insistence that the duo’s name is just silly wordplay and not an homage to a certain basketball star. Sure, they can be as silly and egotistical as they want as long as they can back up their antics with solid music, but I say it’s time for the honeymoon to end. Who’s with me?
Join the backlash: Gnarls Barkley
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Comments (1-30) of 50 Add your comment
Um… no.
I’m still with them. As long as the music’s still good, they can play whatever games they want with the media.
I love the magazine’s new “Spotlight” feature, too bad popwatch decides it’d rather go the negative route.
From a journalistic standpoint, you cannot fail when you stay focused on what counts. Your post notwithstanding, it’s the music, stupid.
Operating as a coolness arbiter with a trigger finger on a stopwatch, waiting for the right moment to kill a trend, is tiresome.
Stick with what is important, please. I won’t be “with you” until Gnarls Barkley gives me a musical reason to chuck them.
All I know is I keep playing that record. A lot.
the hot new thing in the media these days is to lead the backlash against actors/musicians/anybodies with nothing substantive to back up their claims other than the claim that “it’s time.” packaged with it, of course, is the concession that their work is still good or relevant, while the writer swiftly ignores that this fact might render their argument completely meaningless. i would hope ew would be above such pettiness, but obviously not.
Wow, I think that’s the fastes build-up and tear-down of an artist in Entertainment Weekly history.
It’s pretty transparent when you guys pull this kind of stuff. You try to stay ahead of the trends by dictating what’s new and exciting and what’s over.
I remember when you guys were trumpeting Everyone Loves Raymond for years. Pleading with readers “Why isn’t anyone watching this?” And then in it’s last two seasons, totally turning on them and telling them to give it up.
Weak.
Susman, you wouldn’t be dissing on Dangermouse if you heard the work he’s done with the Gorilaz or MF Doom (Dangerdoom, the Adult Swim Tribute Album). Dude’s got talent, and is doing it with his own oddball style.
I’ll start hating on them when they do their first Burger King commercial. Like Hootie.
Folks, methinks you need to lighten up — you’re all missing the irony in Gary’s piece. I took his intent here as providing a piece of humor, not serious entertainment news/analysis. He’s making fun of both Gnarls Barkley and the NYT magazine — and based on their respective pretentions, I think they they both deserve it.
two words- P.M. Dawn
More like P.U. Dawn
Did you catch Cee-lo in bed with your wife or something?
I don’t see any reason to stop liking them for the reasons listed. I’ll stop liking them when the music turns to crap.
You’re suggesting we boycott good music because… the singers have an ego???
While you’re at it, please remove CDs by these artists from your collection: Guns N Roses, The Beatles, Oasis, Madonna, Led Zepplin, The Rolling Stones, The Who ….in fact, through away all the CDs that aren’t of local bands who recorded in their basement or garage.
These guys are funny, have a great resume, and have the song of the summer. And unless you’re a superficial nimrod, it should about the music.
no
Yeah, so when John Lennon said “We’re bigger than Jesus.” we should not like the Beatles because he praised his work and his popularity?
i hate that song. and why were they dressed up like star wars?
Well I thought I would love them, and after playing Crazy since April, I finally bought the album. Besides “Just a Thought” and “Go Go Gadget Gospel” , nothing arises as anything more than a slight Outkast homage. Nothing matches the old soul meets new tech brilliancy of “Crazy” instead, it all ends up an over cluttered mess. I was pretty disappointed by the album actually, and I thought I would love it.
oh and even though I was disappointed with the album, I TOTALLY agree with Tom Brazelton here… EW tries way too hard sometimes to stay on top of the cool meter.
but when you guys list CSI as one of the top 10 dramas, you are anything but hip
What?
Why?
Sussman-
Shut the eff up. I agree with others here that your reasons for backlashing are specious at best. If they let Paris Hilton cover “Crazy,” like she was threatening to do, fire at will. Right now, their only crime is creating a good album, not a great one. But how many good albums have come out this year?
In two short months you’ve gone from Ga-ga to Goodbye? http://popwatch.ew.com/popwatch/2006/04/snap_judgment_g.html
First EW loves them, now they hate them. So when Snakes on a Plane rolls around in August, will the magazine feature a cover asking us to boycott it?
Hey, the movie photos/performances is a stupid joke. And it’s sometimes a funny stupid joke. I’m sure I could write up some post-modern examination of how they never perform as themselves, a la a Gorillaz. Does the gimmick deserve a bit fun poked at it? Sure. But you can’t take it too seriously.
Just like their album. It’s great music. Their personal lives or egos–who cares? As long as they don’t jump on Oprah’s couch or give birth in Nambia, I’ll follow the music.
lol EW is slowly starting to fall off. There are so many other blog sites out there kicking this sites ass when it comes to whats hot and whats not that I dont even know why I bother coming here anymore. Average Joe’s are doing better blogging then these guys. And they are paid people whold hold degrees in journalism… YAWN!!!!!
I say Gnarles Barkley must continue!!!!!!!!
it’s just two dudes, making good music and having fun. it’s nice to see hip-hop/rap folk who aren’t afraid to be creative and adventurous and bunk the status quo (cristal, video hoes, and fly (rented) rides, that is). who knew cee-lo had a little geek in him?
*raises hand*
i’m with you.
for anyone who questions dangermouse’s talent, i have 3 words for you: the grey album
ps. i know gary’s just being ironical, but he asked for it…
Face it: You stand alone.
I just bought the album today. I loved it for the same reason I enjoyed the Gorillaz ‘Demon Days’ (i.e. for the random and crazy music). How strange this is coming from the same magazine that gave their album an A-…
At least they’re trying to sound different, unlike most hip hop groups these days (and to a lesser extent, Lupe…that skating song isn’t half bad). Hearing songs from Latoya, Kelis, Them Franchise Boys or whatever medicore rap group that’s polluting the airwaves reinforces my need for a CD player.
EW is becomming very negative, every: review, critique or editorial seems to have a negative self-righteous slant now. Why?
I have enjoyed the popwatch everyday without ever feeling the need to post a comment, but come on, you are so wrong on this one I had to say something. This isn’t some heavily promoted new pop album from some mega-wealthy super-group, this is an extremely creative side project from some very talented underdogs. Gnarls Barkley deserve every bit of positive promotion they can get. I’m officially starting a backlash against you Mr. Susman for being completely out of touch.