Gym Class Heroes – The Quilt

Decaydance / Fueled By Ramen 2008

Rating: 8/10

Gym Class Heroes burst onto the scene in 2006 with mega-hit “Cupid’s Chokehold,” an enjoyable slice of poppy rap that perfectly encapsulated their mix of punk-pop and their backpack rapping style. Their love affair with Fall Out Boy’s Patrick Stump continues on the aptly-named The Quilt, which has its share of “Cupid”-sound-a-likes like the reggae-tinged “Drnk Txt Rmeo,” which features a fairly lyrical rap verse and a poppy, calypso-esque chorus breakdown.

The Heroes can finally afford some nicer guests than just Stump, and they work well, complementing the group rather than overshadowing them. Busta Rhymes’ spot on “Peace Sign/Index Down” is appropriately thug, and opener “Guilty As Charged” is epic funk, and Estelle’s sexy vocals sound at home with Hero MC Travis McCoy, whose abilities have much improved since Cruel As Schoolchildren. And the completely shot out of left field that is “Live Forever (Fly With Me),” their duet with Daryl Hall, somehow works despite being seven minutes long, its combination of soft-rock hooks and McCoy’s goofy vocals making the song a decidedly intriguing combination.

When the Heroes falter, it’s usually because McCoy’s ideas tend to run dry around the end of the 14-song-long track list, and while his flow is generally acceptable, lyrically the Heroes will never be compared to Atmosphere or Mos Def. Luckily, the uniformly innovative, genre-bending production by Stump and Cool & Dre manage to keep The Quilt afloat through its hour run and produce a pop/rap album that manages to be catchy and progressive at the same time.