Artist: Travie McCoy
Album: Lazarus
Release Date: 6.8.10
Lazarus is an intelligent mix of rap and pop/rock jams from the former Gym Class Heroes front man Travie McCoy. The upbeat, carefree nature on most of the album’s 11 tracks makes it a perfect summer album – a refreshing diversion from most of the excessively emotion-heavy albums out now or on the way. It features appearances from Cee-Lo, Bruno Mars, T-Pain, Young Cash, Tim William, Travis Barker and Colin Munroe with production from The Smeezingtons and The Stereotypes among others. Though the title refers to his middle name, McCoy also made sure that Lazarus, like it’s more commonly known Biblical namesake, is a project that’s full of life.
Cee-Lo lends a hand on Dr. Feel Good, the album’s opening number and tone-setter, noted for its vivid instrumental and light nature. The rock guitars come in full force on Superbad, one of the album’s highlights, which initially sounds a bit darker but the song as a whole rocks. For lead single, Billionaire was a brilliant choice – it’s so easily relatable and Bruno Mars brings a fresh sound to the hook. We’ll Be Alright follows it up as a single and could easily be a summertime anthem with the right promo behind it – it has a sing-song appeal to it and is warm-weather ready. Other highlights include After Midnight, Need You and Don’t Pretend.
My problem with Lazarus is that the songs are so short they feel like teasers. Just as I’m really starting to get into tracks like Superbad and Critical or even the lyrically intense Don’t Pretend, they end and it’s on to the next song. Most of the better songs don’t even reach the 3:30 mark, and for me that’s a disappointment. McCoy’s band is solid so rockin out these tracks a bit longer would’ve done some justice to his art.
Pardon my candor but the album was so enjoyable that I completely lost sight of the fact that he was affiliated with Nappy Boy Entertainment until I was mostly done listening. All in all, Lazarus is a great debut offering, it’s filled with some feel-good music and is an album that you can put on and just let it ride straight through. The cover art is an accurate depiction as this album is designed to, for at least 50 minutes, provide an escape from everyday life and allow the listener to embrace the innocence of youth (Kidagain) and enjoy life.
Sound-Savvy rates Lazarus with 4 out of 5 platinum headphones.
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