Gnarls Barkley Rides Again: Duo Announces Final Album 'Atlanta' After 18-Year Hiatus

Gnarls Barkley is back, gracing fans with a new single, “Pictures,” marking their first musical offering in 18 years. The track heralds their upcoming album, Atlanta, slated for release on March 6 via 10k Projects/Atlantic Records.

Atlanta will be the final chapter for CeeLo Green and Danger Mouse under the Gnarls Barkley banner. The pair previously gifted the world with two acclaimed LPs, 2006’s St. Elsewhere and 2008’s The Odd Couple, always with the intention of completing a trilogy. A reconnection last year sparked the creation of this new music.

Green describes “Pictures” as a return to their roots. "'Pictures' is like going back to square one," Green stated. “It’s a full circle moment. The spirit of Gnarls Barkley is always self-discovery. The sweet, the sad, and the strange. The universe, the adventure inside of yourself.”

The inspiration for “Pictures” is drawn from Atlanta’s MARTA public train system, a nostalgic nod to the musicians' younger days in the city during the '90s.

Green elaborates on the personal connection: “The song came from a childhood experience,” Green said. “I had a middle school principal who, every Friday would tell me to go when I would get to school. Without fail. I was in 8th grade and I would leave school and ride the train alone from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The hook of the song is literally about being on the train. When you are in transit it’s like a motion picture passing you by… staring out the window of the MARTA train.”
Gnarls Barkley New Album

Since Gnarls Barkley went on hiatus, both Green and Danger Mouse have carved successful solo paths. Green released his sixth studio album, CeeLo Green is Thomas Calloway, in 2020, while Danger Mouse has collaborated with a diverse array of artists, including Black Thought and Karen O.

Green has been hinting at a Gnarls Barkley reunion for over a decade. In 2010, he told Rolling Stone, “We’ll get started again in the near future.” Four years later, he noted his surprise at the continued demand for new music from the group.

He reflected: “I didn’t realize the importance of [a new Gnarls Barkley album] or the anticipation for it until recently,” he said. “I was going through an airport at about 5:45am on the way to Atlanta and a guy from TMZ asked me would I be working on another Gnarls. And I was like, ‘Yeah, next year.’ I was a little dismissive because I don’t want to get involved that early – but it just kind of went like wildfire. And I was like, ‘Wow, okay. People are still interested to see what we could do.’ And so am I. Gnarls Barkley is an alter ego and something like an out of body experience.”

Atlanta is available for pre-order via the band’s website.

Atlanta tracklist:

1. Tomorrow Died Today
2. I Amnesia
3. Pictures
4. Line Dance
5. Turn Your Heart Back On
6. Let Me Be
7. Cyberbully (Yayo)
8. Perfect Time
9. Sweet Evil
10. Boy Genius
11. The Be Be King
12. Sorry
13. Accept It

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