Chromeo

In general, I hate commercials. Specifically, the ones placed in between the few television shows I watch outside of HBO. Besides the occasional chuckle, I feel they do nothing but disintegrate viewers’ attention spans, and regularly ruin network-run movies.

However, recently I saw an ad for Reeses Peanut Butter Cups that made up for all the mind-murdering advertising that floods my dome on the daily.

When I saw this specific spot, titled “Three Way,” I almost busted a load.

While I could really care less about the visual, or the product itself, the song that was playing throughout the entire 15-second ad sounded like something that gets made in the hottest studio in heaven. Featuring up-tempo drums, a synthed-out bass-line, and a talk box, this cut straight blew my mind. In terms of things being ‘up a person’s proverbial alley,’ it’s as if the song was parked in the middle of mine, and was banging louder than a set of MTX Jackhammers.

After more yearning than Charlie Wilson on Valentines Day, and the required research to find the musical genius(es) responsible, the song in question turned out to be, “Needy Girl” by NYC/Canadian-based duo, Chromeo.

After a little more exploring, I found out that Chromeo is my new favorite group.

Described on their MySpace as “the only successful Arab/Jew partnership since the dawn of human culture,” this duo makes the best modern music I’ve heard in a long time. It’s nothing like anything currently being pushed on the FM, nor is it trying to be. Basically, it’s two very talented friends making some of the flyest music in an extremely grounded market.

As they so distinctively put it, their sound is like, “Hall & Oates riding on 22′s, busting shots in the air with Quincy Jones driving.” While I can’t put it much better than that, I might call it 80s electronic-funk/R&B/party music. The type of shit that would have Hilary and Barak getting’ down simultaneously, and Giuliani doing air flares on cardboard cutouts of A-Rod.

Their first album, 2004′s She’s In Control is seriously something special. Along with the delicious “Needy Girl,” jams like the shoulder-swaying “You’re So Gangsta” and the eclectic “Mercury Tears,” make the LP sound like it’s made specifically for those who want to dance…and never stop.

Their 2007 album Fancy Footwork is more of the same. Crazy synthesizers, mixed with all the musical elements that made Charlie White the most popular guy at the club during the eighties.

In my humble opinion, their music is simply the shit. More specifically, some real stanky elephant shit, that’s been laying directly on the equator. If you don’t like it, you’re either into the grimiest of grime and the grittiest of grit, or you should be smacked in the face.

Unfortunately for me, I should also get a five to the face, because of the extreme late-pass I needed in order to hear these two.

Musically, Chromeo is far-and-above the norm. In a genre that can produce sloppy, never-ending jams, they create well-crafted songs. In a world where the most-annoying music reigns on the charts and in the clubs, they make justified discothèque dance tracks. They’re “dripping with reverb,” and they could probably put a genuine smile on the hardest person on Earth.

And I found out about them from a fucking candy bar commercial.

But thanks to TSS, you don’t have to.

Chromeo – She’s In Control (2004)

For more info, visit www.myspace.com/chromeo.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXuESUaESHY[/youtube]

“Needy Girl” Video

Loosies

Amerie Ft. Fabolous Slim Thug – Thats What U R (Remix)

Cassidy – Big Spender

Crooked I – Uh Oh

Grafiti Boyz – Yankin

Hot Dollar Ft. Rick Ross Gucci Mane – Streets On Lock Remix

Hurricane Chris – Hand Clap

Jaz-O – Nobody Can Stop Me

Pimp C – Pussy Nigga Anthem

T.I. – Get Up

Tony Sunshine Ft Fat Joe – I Love Them Both

Loosies