Gym Class Heroes - Quilt - Music & Performance - CD

"Take a look at my girlfriend! She's the only one I got." If you turned on your radio or television at ANY point in 2007, you probably heard Gym Class Heroes' "Cupid's Chokehold" at least once. The group's breakout hit put the U in ubiquitous for mainstream exposure, elevating the band from a regional hip-hop tour opener to closing act at arena rock levels. 2008's The Quilt is the highly anticipated follow-up from the fantastic foursome, they being Travis McCoy as the frontman, Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo on guitar, Eric Roberts on bass and Matt McGinley on percussion.

McCoy is the most easily identifiable of the group but it's the cohesive sound of the four working together that truly set GCH apart. Their diverse influences individually weave together into a colorful tapestry collectively, a true hip-hop band with the emphasis on BAND, equal parts Arrested Development and Fishbone. "Cookie Jar" is set to blow as their next crossover hit, produced by and featuring R&B sensation The-Dream, narrating an analogy of how tempting it is to not be faithful with so many flavors in the world. Put simply the song is Raekwon's "Ice Cream" for the 21st century. "Peace Sign / Index Down" featuring Busta Rhymes won't be too far behind. Cool & Dre provide a bouncy backdrop which could easily blend into a mix at any party, and much like Flobots' "Handlebars" the song gathers more energy and intensity the further in you go.

Humor has always been a hallmark of the Gym Class Heroes and "Drnk Txt Rmeo" is no exception, as McCoy deals with his inability to put down a cell phone when he's a little bit lit up. As playful and witty as GHC are, they have the musical chops to get serious on lengthy seven-minute epics like "Live Forever (Fly With Me)" and be no less credible. While the artwork for The Quilt suggests a nightmare carnival, trapping you in a horrorshow with sadistic top hat wearing clowns, the truth is the fabric of this album will wrap you up snug like a warm blanket on a cold December night.

By Jason Seifer