Jermaine Stewart’s ode to platonic love gets a slight rework from Fueled by Ramen favourites, Gym Class Heroes.
Once again borrowing the vocal skills of Fall Out Boy vocalist Patrick Stump, Clothes Off!! is the second Radio-1 friendly release from the band that are currently supporting Gwen Stefani over in Australasia.
Like their last single, Cupids Chokehold, this latest offeringis a highly infectious number. It’s hard to see how you can keep the spirit of the original song in tact when you’re reversing the meaning of the chorus, and yet GCH manage it.
Lyrically, they’re not the greatest band ever- you see the next line coming before its predecessor is even finished. But something undeniably charming about Travis McCoy vocally that seems to make you let it slide.
It’d be easy for any cynical critics to lay into them for their choice of guest vocalist. After all, this is a band who were pretty unknown this side of the Atlantic until their label mates Fall Out Boy blew up, and they happened to have their lead singer on a couple of tracks.
But that would be doing them a huge disservice. It’s a catchy tune, with a good deal of variation, with a decent attempt at a guitar solo and the blatant hooky chorus.
Despite all the good work of Gym Class Heroes by themselves, it’s Stump’s guest vocals that are the undeniable highlight, and it’s hard to imagine whether the single would work without him or not.
What’s important is that, as a single, it works. Gym Class Heroes are a hip-hop act that don’t take themselves too seriously and this single proves they can knock out a catchy tune. And that’s all that matters.
