Singles

Gym Class Heroes - Clothes Off!

Daniel Smith 15/08/2007

Rating: 3/5

Gym Class Heroes' were the guilty parties behind one of this summer's surprise crossover hits, 'Cupid's Chokehold (Breakfast In America)." Next single, Clothes Off!, is attempting to build on this success, but in the wake of such an unexpected breakthrough, will the band prove to be more than just a novelty?

The song itself is strong, with well-constructed vocal harmonies, a satisfying bump 'n' grind chorus and some skillful and streetwise rapping in the verses. Interest is added to the proceedings via a guitar solo that, however brief, succeeds in making it's point; Gym Class Heroes aim to approach hip-hop from a bold new angle.

But the problem is, take said solo out of the equation and you're left with stylistically, a very standard hip-hop radio single. As good as it is, Clothes Off! lacks the crossover appeal of it's predecessor and consequently, won't win the eponymous Heroes' any more converts from outside the graffiti-clad walls of hip-hop fandom.

With such an original and radio friendly take on the genre, Gym Class Heroes career will undoubtedly snowball in the long run - just not this time.

Clothes Off! Is released on 20th August on Decaydence/Fueled by Ramen