Review Summary: Too rock for hip-hop, too hip-hop for rock.
I'm sure you've heard of this band, or at least heard their so-catchy-it's-annoying breakthrough hit "Cupid's Chokehold". But who really is the Gym Class Heroes? They're not a hip-hop band like Dem Franchise Boyz or any other "crunk" act doing their best to destroy rap. They don't flaunt their "bling", and they're signed to Pete Wentz's label, and tour with The All-American Rejects. Instead, they all play instruments, know how to lay down a funky-ass groove, and their lyrics are more heart-on-sleeve compared to the rest of hip-hop. Just look at their debut, The Papercut Chronicles, in which GCH gained a very nice following.
But this album is much different then their debut. After the very serious tone of their previous album, all they want to do now is have a good time. From "Clothes Off!", a funky, Prince-like track featuring Fall Out Boy's own Patrick Stump, to "Shoot Down The Stars", easily the most inspirational track, Travis's elastic and deep flow, pulls you in and forces you to listen. The guitarists in the band play with a 80's R&B sort of flow, and their playing is so good at times you think they're sampling. The "Sloppy Love Jingles" are sort of annoying, as they're too short and fragmented, and the lyrics are so overly heart-on-sleeve you wonder if they just pulled them out of Pete Wentz's never ending supply of angsty metaphors. "Biters Block" is the darkest track on the album, and it's sort of sour, like dark is something that GCH just shouldn't do. "Viva La Girl" and "7 Weeks" make up for these occasional missteps, with the latter featuring William Beckett from The Academy Is.
So while GCH takes over MTV, the world, and makes themselves a household name (not necessarily in that order), you get to enjoy one of the funkiest and most enjoyable hip-hop albums of the year. Now if GCH could make an entire album of funky and enjoyable tracks, then we can start saying how they made one of the BEST hip-hop albums of the year. Until then, pick this up and enjoy.
