TRAVIE McCOY-- "Lazarus" (RATING 5/5)

(One of this week's FEATURED ARTISTS!)

It may not have been a CD I would've rushed out to get in the past but TRAVIE McCOY gets the label of Featured Artist for a reason...he is the one American-side artist that released an album of pure genius this week and I have to give him credit for it. We all know Travie (or Travis) McCoy as being the lead vocalist of the band GYM CLASS HEROES. He brings us his debut solo album LAZARUS at a proper time when everyone else seemed to fail miserably at their own projects. McCOY's album is filled with joyful rhythms and fun lyrics...the perfect soundtrack for an adventurous Summer.

The one thing I like about LAZARUS is that it really brings to light how talented and versatile McCOY is. His music is all about partying and reminiscing on the good times that have been had. After Midnight talks about "becoming alive" once the clock hits 12am. That sense of raucousness is also present on the track Superbad [11:34]. The one song that really took me back is Akidagain. Joining in on the chorus is a group of children singing along to a song that perfectly describes how it feels to miss your childhood. Those moments of innocence that seem so far gone now that we've become adults and have taken on so many responsibilities is vividly painted on this amazing track. McCOY also talks about some serious topics...for all the lovers who've been done wrong in the past, the final track to the album entitled Don't Pretend featuring Colin Munroe is may just bring to memory some of the pain and hardships we've gone through with past "love interests". Tim Williams, Bruno Mars, T-Pain, and Young Cash also appear as guests on three tracks that bring LAZARUS complete appeal and wonder.

Lyrically and production-wise, TRAVIE McCOY struck gold with his idea to embark on a solo project. However, this does NOT mean that GYM CLASS HEROES has split up. As a matter of fact, there is an album rumored to have an upcoming release in 2011 tentatively named The Papercut Chronicles II. Until then, as an audience, we do have to embrace TRAVIE McCOY for doing his own thing...and doing it the RIGHT way. One too many times I've witnessed artists doing "solo" work only to bomb on their way out into the spotlight. I'll be heavily anticipating to see how well he does with LAZARUS on the charts...because if any of the other people mentioned in this review debut higher, I will be extremely disappointed more than what I am with the industry already!

SONGS that I COMPLETELY ENJOYED from LAZARUS:
• Dr. Feel Good featuring Cee Lo Green
• Billionaire featuring Bruno Mars
• Need You
• Critical featuring Tim Williams
• We'll Be Alright
• The Manual featuring T-Pain and Young Cash
• Don't Pretend featuring Colin Munroe

From TRAVIE McCOY's debut album "Lazarus", here's the song "After Midnight..."



From the same album, here's "Akidagain..."



TRAVIE McCOY featuring BRUNO MARS
Billionaire
From the LAZARUS album
Directed by N/A
(3.33)



COPYRIGHT PROTECTED.
Written by Felix-Lee "Campbells" Andrades, III