NEW YORK, NY (Atlantic Records) -
Gnarls Barkley has unveiled details of their upcoming limited edition re-release of the phenomenal debut album, "ST. ELSEWHERE" (Downtown/Atlantic). Due in stores on Tuesday, November 7th, the special CD + DVD package compiles the platinum-certified, genre-defying collection in its entirety, along with an exciting assortment of exclusive extras and mind-blowing bonus features.
Bound in a deluxe o-card adorned with a 3-D lenticular rendition of the album art, the new "ST. ELSEWHERE" package will come with an all-new 92-page booklet (yes, you read that right... 92 pages!), featuring greatly expanded artwork including a special flip book with images from the classic "Crazy" video.
Inside, the "ST. ELSEWHERE" DVD collects four of Gnarls' astonishing music videos, including the companion clips for "Crazy," "Smiley Faces," and the current single, "Gone Daddy Gone." What's more, the DVD features the never-before-seen video for the album's roof-raising opening track, "Go Go Gadget Gospel."
The extras continue with a pair of live audio tracks from UK TV: an alternative version of "Crazy" from Gnarls' April 16th appearance on "Top of the Pops," and "Gone Daddy Gone," performed live on "Later with Jools Holland" this past May 19th.
Currently gracing the cover of Spin's November issue, Gnarls recently announced plans to celebrate the New Year by accompanying the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the next leg of their ongoing US tour. The dates - which will be officially announced sometime in the coming weeks - will begin in January and then traverse the country through mid-March.
But first, Gnarls - the combination of groundbreaking artist and notorious sound architect Danger Mouse (Grammy-winning producer of Gorillaz "Demon Days," producer of the "Grey Album") and the psychologically complex Grammy nominated vocalist Cee-Lo Green - are slated for a series of European live dates, touching down in France, Ireland, and the UK through early November. Upon their return to these shores, Gnarls will perform at Miami's Bicentennial Park as a highlight of the Bang! Music Festival on November 11th. On December 8th, they'll hit Sacramento's ARCO Arena for a set at KWOD's annual "Twisted Xmas" extravaganza. They'll close out their extraordinary 2006 on December 30th at San Francisco's Bill Graham Civic Auditorium with an eagerly awaited co-headline show alongside the one-and-only Flaming Lips.
Earlier this summer, "ST ELSEWHERE" was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales exceeding 1,000,000 units. Now approaching double platinum certification, the critically celebrated collection - which has scaled the charts to reach the top five on the Billboard 200 - features the history-making, record-breaking crossover hit single, "Crazy." Among its many accomplishments, "Crazy" was heard on the most airplay charts in a single week, scoring play on nine -count 'em-nine different radio formats, including CHR/Top 40, Triple A, Hot AC, Alternative, AC, Urban, and Rhythmic. In addition, "Crazy" was the No 1 digital single of the summer, with sales nearing 900,000. As the world surely knows by now, "Crazy" made music industry history earlier this spring, topping the UK singles chart based on download sales alone, and then going on to hold the No 1 spot for three consecutive weeks. "ST ELSEWHERE" has also proven an online blockbuster, reaching No 1 on Billboard's "Top Electronic Albums" ranking, and topping the pop charts at iTunes before the CD release even hit the shelves.
The "Crazy" companion video recently took home a pair of prestigious MTV Video Music Awards, receiving the honors for "Best Direction in a Video" and "Best Editing in a Video." In addition, Gnarls and "Crazy" just picked up the "Left Field Woodie" trophy at the mtvU Woodie Awards 2006 ceremonies at New York's Roseland Ballroom. The event will be broadcast next Thursday, November 2nd, on mtvU and mtvU.com.
Gnarls' latest video, for their irresistible rethink of the Violent Femmes classic, "Gone Daddy Gone," has now begun receiving play across the music TV spectrum. The clip - directed by Chris Milk (known for his eye-popping work with such artists as Kanye West, Jet, and the Flaming Lips) - made its debut last week on MTV's TRL, and has just entered the rotation at MTV2, having recently had its round-the-clock premiere as the network's "Unleashed" video of the day. At VH1, "Gone Daddy Gone" is currently No 12 on the "VSPOT Top 20 Video Countdown," preceding the "Crazy" clip which stands at lucky No 13. "Gone Daddy Gone" is also receiving plentiful play at VH1 Soul and VH1.com, as well as on Fuse, where it resides among the network's Top 10 clips.
Gnarls Barkley certainly ranks among this year's most entertaining and visually inventive live acts, having performed sold-out headline dates and show-stealing festival appearances around the world. In addition, the duo has made unforgettable appearances on such high-profile TV shows as the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," and the "2006 MTV Movie Awards" (who can forget Chewbacca on drums?).
Not just a massive popular triumph, "ST. ELSEWHERE" has also drawn unanimous critical hosannas. Rolling Stone waxed effusive (and alliterative) about the "delightfully deranged duo" and their "forward-thinking funhouse funk," while Entertainment Weekly gave "ST. ELSEWHERE" an "A," going on to commend it as "an album that blends hefty soul shouting, swirly techno, and creepy-crawly hip-hop... perfection is achieved."
"One of the year's most intriguing new arrivals," raved the L.A. Times, calling it "the record Marvin Gaye might have made if he had come of age in an era of digital samplers," while L.A. Weekly hailed it as "2006's first sure-thing."
In addition, Gnarls Barkley has appeared on the cover of such major publications as Spin, URB, CMJ, and Vapors, with profiles and interviews also lighting up the pages of USA Today, Rolling Stone, New York Times Magazine, Blender, Billboard, Trace, Mass Appeal, Metro, Nylon, Pitchfork, and XLR8R.
