Post by StevePulaski on May 12, 2011 18:23:49 GMT -5
The Lonely Island
Turtleneck & Chain
★★★
It seemed like Saturday Night Live was heading into a spiral of boredom and cliches after Chris Farley, Adam Sandler, David Spade, and other of their nineties cast parted ways or past away. Then Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone form a comedy and parody band called "The Lonely Island" in 2008 with their breakout singles D*** in a Box and Jizz in My Pants. The songs mixed a disgusting subject and provided humorous antics that they sung or spoke along with a beat.
The format clicked and now The Lonely Island is a household name. The duo followed up their success with I'm On a Boat, my favorite song to date by them which combines the gangster rap style and also spoofs it a bit. They're basically parodying how hardcore gangster rap is made to sound like they are trying to get a big message across, when really, it is just a nonsensical topic that is just made to sound badass.
The next single they released was Like a Boss, a song that has Andy Samberg being interviewed for a job. After making the abrupt statement that he is "a boss," he then goes on to state why. He chops his balls off, blacks out in sewers, crashed into the sun, ate chicken strips, and got rejected making him worthy of the title. The song is another one done in a rap style, and it definitely hits the spot. Now we hear kids say that whenever they get a three kill streak on Black Ops.
The unprecedented success got the duo to release their first studio album, Incredibad, in 2009. The album was met with critical acclaim and respectable sales to follow. The three have now followed up Incredibad with Turtleneck & Chain, a line uttered in their first single I Just Had Sex. It was quirky and surprising, and is a fitting name to the standout of an album.
We begin with We're Back, stating that The Lonely Island started this fake rap thing and the world needs them. The world however, doesn't need this lame intro track. It tries to hard, has a music video, and is a weak opening to a good album. Mama follows, a track about how the three of them love their mothers dearly until one mom (played by Liz Cackowski, Akiva's wife respectively) continues to bother them and annoy them in the middle of recording. Another okay track, but is a mediocre mother anthem of Motherlover.
The first single is the next thing to follow and it is by far my favorite on the album I Just Had Sex. The song was released back in December, and still continues to make me smile and sing along with every listen. It is another song that makes a small topic seem meaningful and emotional as it has a soft beat and passionate lyrics. Akon helps out a ton on this track giving his R&B/Soul style feel. Overall, this track is outstanding.
The runner up for favorite on the album is Jack Sparrow, with Michael Bolton. The song is intentionally about The Lonely Island "hitting a club" and wooing everyone there. Michael Bolton interrupts the chorus of the track to state how great of a captain Jack Sparrow is from the Disney franchise Pirates of the Caribbean. After being told to "focus up" by The Lonely Island, Michael Bolton continues to go off on his own singing as Forrest Gump, Erin Brockovich, and Tony Montana from Scarface. Bolton's vocals are outstanding and powerful making this track an easy win.
Attracted to Us is a weak tune with Beck as a guest star. There isn't a whole lot to say, but it could be better. Rocky is not a bad one either, but still isn't perfect. We stop the album abruptly to get an interlude (if you haven't figured out I hate those), but this one is a little cornier and sweeter than some would expect.
We then get Turtleneck & Chain featuring Snoop Dogg. Unexpected delight here from Snoop and the gang as they deliver some hardcore lines without even coming close to being hardcore. All I can say is continue sipping on light beer and the tracks should come out nicely. After that we get Shy Ronnie: Ronnie & Clyde with Rihanna. This one comes equipped with a video like Jack Sparrow and I Just Had Sex. The video is Shy Ronnie (played by Samberg) and his busty partner Clyde (played by Rihanna). The song is about a nerdy kid named Ronnie who is very soft-spoken during a bank robbery. Clyde tries to get Ronnie to "use [his] outside voice" but it doesn't work too well. Amusing.
Trouble on Dookie Island is a solid track, and it is one of the few The Lonely Island fly solo on. Falcor vs. Atreyu â Classy Skit #1 is one of two "Classy Skits" on the album that are pointless and awkward. This one in particular is the worst of the town. You'll see why. Motherlover, the sequel to D*** in a Box is next and is so distasteful and disgusting I love it. The video has Samberg and Timberlake both come up with the brilliant plan to f*** each other's mothers for Mother's Day. It is a weird little oddball of a track, but it deserves some recognition for being unexpected and different.
The Creep was released as the second single off of Turtleneck & Chain and it lives up for a bit. John Waters has a great opening and definitely gives it a "creepy" vibe. The song goes pretty well talking about doing a bizarre dance on women at the club until Nicki Minaj comes in after her cue. Nicki isn't too hot on this track, and not being a huge fan of rap music anymore, I don't see her as being attractive or clever in this track. So trim up your pencil mustache, and pop them peepers, cut the song short, and your a satisfied creeper.
Time for another "Classy Skit!" The last one I might add. Watch Me Do Me â Classy Skit #2 consists of one of The Lonely Island members masturbating saying "Watch me do me." Kind of obscure, and proves that interludes (or classy skits) are pointless and tiring. Threw It on the Ground is a strange tune, but I love it. It's about Andy Samberg having a strange explanation for when somebody asks him to do something or gives him something free of charge. He proceeds by...throwing it on the ground.
Japan, No Homo, and After Party are all pretty well composed tracks. After Party I was not a huge fan of, but did find humor in the track No Homo since I hear that phrase a lot. Cute song ideas, nothing amazing. To conclude the regular, CD side of the album we get a No Homo Outro. Tacky as can be.
Then, if you want to count the iTunes Bonus Track, we have Reba (Two Worlds Collide) with Kenan Thompson, a fellow SNL castmember. What a delightful and unexpected treat this track is. Andy Samberg is a guy who meets and falls in love with "Reba McEntire" (played by Kenan Thompson in drag). Clearly "Reba" is a man, but Andy isn't convinced. He brags about having sex and how his friends are jealous of him. It is strange to see Kenan drop some f bombs, but the track is just so witty and clever, who cares?
That is Turtleneck & Chain; a solid sophomore release by The Lonely Island, with one to many interludes, mostly welcomed guest stars, and a handful of recommended and memorable raps. The Lonely Island has come a long way and has started this fake rap s***. I feel that this is only the beginning of their long career. Maybe we don't need them, at this point SNL certainly does.
Recommended tracks: I Just Had Sex, Jack Sparrow, Turtleneck & Chain, Shy Ronnie 2: Ronnie and Clyde, Motherlover, Threw it on the Ground, and Reba (Two Worlds Collide).