20 Years Later: Gnarls Barkley’s Debut With Spellbinding & Vulnerable Fusion On ‘St. Elsewhere’

“Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley is one of the more recognizable and beloved songs of its era. The multi-platinum single, with its stirring gospel-tinted vocals and hypnotic production, launched this newly minted duo into a stratosphere only a select few celebrities get to inhabit. From several placements in major motion pictures and TV projects, the song became a global chart-topper, bringing global attention to this budding collaborative relationship. Yes, “Crazy” was a runaway success, and a shocking one when a deeper look at the lyrics is completed. The internal conflict at the heart of this instantly singable seems to go by the way-side when Gnarls Barkley’s debut single gets thrown into playlists for parties and car-rides, an omen for what was to become of the duo. 

Gnarls Barkley, the combination of acrobatic vocalist and Hip-hop legend CeeLo Green and producer extraordinaire Danger Mouse, existed in a space that was not meant to be understood. Ever since their inevitable meeting as two titans of the Atlanta music scene after Danger Mouse won a competition to DJ for CeeLo during a performance at the University of Georgia. The two immediately began working on music, pairing the veteran prowess of Green with the fresh, hungry sonic trajectory of Danger Mouse, one of those songs being “Crazy.” The duo’s explosive debut single paved a golden path to St. Elsewhere, Gnarls Barkley’s underappreciated, misunderstood debut album, originally released in the U.K. on April 24, 2006. The cacophony of raw passion and unique interpretations of age-old traditions spans 14 spellbinding efforts, created in pursuit of something fresh. 

The success of “Crazy” has seemingly overshadowed the mystical, colorful listen that is St. Elsewhere. Far from the best song of the bunch, and typically played in the wrong setting anyhow, Gnarls Barkley is far superior to their radio-friendly smash hit. Green, fresh into his post-Goodie Mob solo career, found Danger Mouse’s thirst to prove himself to be the perfect platform for the neo-soul trajectory he was on. However, neo-soul is only one of the many labels that could accurately describe this 14-song tracklist. Gospel music flows through Green’s vocals, and his Hip-hop expertise shines in certain moments. Meanwhile, Danger Mouse crafts arrangements that lean equally on psychedelia and bluesy undertones. This sonic carnival ride of an early-aughts LP stands out not for its radio play but for the vulnerability that is ever-present with every listen. 

St. Elsewhere was made to prove exactly how far these two could stretch their imaginations, and the results are as daring as the duo could take them. From the firework-style intro, “Go-Go Gadget Gospel,” with its cascading harmonies and cartoonish flourishes, to the hypnotic funk of the album’s closer, “The Last Time,” St. Elsewhere consistently keeps its inhabitants guessing. Hidden underneath these animated vocal performances and hectic arrangements are two artists who seem to be at a crossroads with themselves. Green takes time to address his mental health on the heart-shattering “Just a Thought,” while the bouncing pianos of “Who Cares?” find the vocalist reaching out for help. It is in these moments that the true heart of Gnarls Barkley shows: innovative production paired with soaring vocals that deliver thought-provoking songwriting. 

This formula proved to be a winning one. St. Elsewhere as a whole performed nearly as well as its breakthrough lead single, peaking at four on the US Billboard 200, while reaching number one in places like the U.K. and New Zealand. The album has sold platinum multiple times over in several countries, and critics seem to agree with the numbers. The Los Angeles Times gave it a perfect 5/5 stars,  Entertainment Weekly graded it an A, and the likes of NME, Pitchfork, and Spin gave near-perfect reviews. 

St. Elsewhere is an album that still holds up as a creative milestone twenty years after it first hit shelves, but its purpose has always felt deeper. Large record sales and media praise aside, these 14 songs find two instantly recognizable musicians attempting to make sense of their lives outside their art and to place their confusion and discoveries into melody. If you haven’t heard St. Elsewhere in a while, or never before, treat yourself to a brutally honest and heart-pulsating listen.