CeeLo Green
Heart Blanche
(Atlantic Records)

Atlanta singer CeeLo Green sort of liberates himself with the release of Heart Blanche, his fifth solo LP. In a recent interview, the former Goodie Mob/Gnarls Barkley member described the album as “a very joyous and elated outlook on life and professional endeavors.” It’s an honest effort; for the most part, it’s fun and encouraging. Full of ’70s-inspired disco and ’80s pop, specifically on tracks like “Tonight” and “Est. 1980s.” There’s a serious track too though, “Robin Williams.” It’s on celebrity, perhaps on the hazards of fame where he also mentions actor Philip Seymour Hoffman and comic John Belushi.” He sings, “We don’t know what the next man’s going through/Wish I can say it in a plainer way/We don’t know/Life reminds me of Robin Williams/We’ve got to laugh the pain away.” The song is almost like a reflection of mortality as well. Nevertheless, the jazzy groove of the Bony James-assisted “Sign of the Times” and soul-inspired “Mother May I” (co-produced by Mark Ronson) are among my recommended spins, including the motivational “Working Class Heroes (Work)”.