CD Review: Travie McCoy, Lazarus

In fact, in a MySpace music interview with the tattooed musician formally known as Katy Perry’s beau, McCoy explains that the original material for the album started out as dark, due to his breakup with Perry and a struggle to overcome his addiction to prescription painkillers; however, the “introspective material” was apparently put aside as he chose to pursue the "glass half full" motif.

“A lot of the songs earlier on were directly reflecting what I was going through at that time … I think I needed to get that shit out in order to get to this stuff,” he says in the MySpace feature. “For me, this album is a positive, feel-good record.”

And I totally agree, but as McCoy showers the listener with these feel-good sun-rays of sound, he often mixes in rap-rhymes about the challenge of accomplishing a positive mindset when life gets overcast with problems. So, in many ways, this convincingly fun record is filled with lyrical introspection and, in spite of all its hip-hop, pop-hook, pay-it-forward-ness, there are gray clouds that work to keep the mood of the album realistic and relatable to the worlds of listeners. After all, the album cover art is of a gray backdrop with clouds, not sunshine and blue skies.

The optimistic vibes of Lazarus are presented right away with perfectly placed album opener “Dr. Feel Good,” which features vocalist Cee-Lo Green of Gnarls Barkley. The song has a fast tempo, emitting an upbeat energy perfect for changing a bleak mood; one can’t help grooving to its catchiness. If you listen closely, however, our singer is not feeling so good. Actually, he is heartbroken and unable to even get off the couch, so he begs Dr. Feel Good for the meds to mend his melancholy routine, but every time he goes to see the Doctor he self-sabotages his own attempts at happiness:

“I want to see the world but can’t decide myself/ whether or not to get up off this couch/ whether or not to get up out this house/ I want to know what it's like to feel real good/ is there something you could prescribe Dr. Feel Good/ I mean she's so happy, he's so free/ doctor what in the world is wrong with me.”

Eventually, Dr. Feel Good provides the proper prescription--a whole lot of clapping accompanied by the mantra-affirmation “I feel good/ Real good.” Below is an acoustic video for the opening track, filmed on the set of the album’s first proper single/vid “Billionaire” and featuring McCoy with Bruno Mars.

With "Dr. Feel Good," the overall message of the cohesive album immediately becomes clear--everyone wants to feel good, but sometimes it can seem impossible when life’s trials get in the way. For the rest of Lazarus, McCoy takes the listener on a journey with songs that provide introspection into life’s tribulations, but gives his ultimate conclusion that life if meant to be lived, enjoyed, and shared; it is supposed to be fun and done on your own terms, not spent on the couch worrying about how to pay the water bill. Despite an undercurrent of deep introspection, Lazarus remains fun and joyous at its core. On already-popular summer tune “Billionaire,” McCoy raps rhymes against pop-rock beats about becoming a charitable billionaire who would pay it all forward--you can call him “Travie Claus minus the ho ho"--and Bruno Mars jams out the chorus with his acoustic guitar and it easily seeps into the listener’s subconscious. Other standouts include “We’ll Be Alright” and “After Midnight,” two super-fun tracks that capture the fun pop-rock vibe of the record.

Overall, Lazarus is bursting with summertime flavor, catchy lyrics that aren't corny or contrived, and buoyant beats that create a musical experience ideal for car-stereo bumping on your way to a day at the beach or a night out on the Tampa town.

McCoy will be at the Florida State Fairgrounds July 30.

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