Here we go again; another frontman set to embark on his own journey by going “solo.” Gym Class Heroes’ Travis McCoy adds an element of hip-hop to the otherwise pop-punk band, but by going solo McCoy has the opportunity to focus on those hip-hop chops. In Lazarus, “Travie” McCoy does just that, but the album leaves you to wonder, “Why did he decide to go solo in the first place?”
The album starts out strong with “Dr. Feelgood” featuring Cee-Lo Green of Gnarls Barkley. The beat is kicking right away and makes way into a BIG summer-jam sound. Cee-Lo’s chorus is super catchy and McCoy’s verses are mediocre at best, but his flow is good. This song definitely gets you moving but already sounds a bit like Gym Class Heroes.
My absolute favorite track and the album’s first single is “Billionaire” featuring Bruno Mars. This song starts off with a tropical sounding acoustic guitar and bongos … I don’t know who Bruno Mars is, but I absolutely LOVE his voice! This ska track has cute lyrics about what everyone wants: being a billionaire! McCoy even takes a dig at ex-Katy Perry with my favorite line: “Give away a few Mercedes like, ‘Here lady, have this’/And last but not least, grant somebody they last wish/It’s been a couple months that I’ve been single, so/You can call me Travie Clause, minus the ho-ho.” This is the perfect summer track and the perfect single because it’s catchy as hell and will definitely draw people in. One thing I can not stand about this guy, though, are his little giggles or laughs that he throws in the mix. Other than that, I like this guy’s flow.
Another highlight is the song “Akidagain,” one of those “I wish I was a kid again” anthems. Featuring a kid chorus (one of my favies) and a modest piano and beat, McCoy looks back into his past as a child. Shouting out Video Vibrations and Wu-Tang Clan, this is a great song to reminisce to.
One song that is a definite lo-light but had the potential to be something great is “The Manual” featuring T-Pain and Young Cash. You would think that with the names that are attached to this track it wouldn’t sound rushed but McCoy’s singing is horrible in this track. It sounds totally off during the chorus. Lazarus definitely could’ve done without this song; McCoy should have opted for a much better track to throw these two personalities in.
Overall, Lazarus is a fantastic summer album and was released at the perfect time. Once again, this solo outing doesn’t seem like a stretch from Gym Class Heroes, but it’s still a great album nonetheless. Pop this album in your convertible when your cruisin’ the beach; you’ll be sure to get some honeys looking your way!
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