Stereo Hearts; Gym Class Heroes or Travie McCoy?

        With Travie McCoy hitting the pop top 5 out of the box with his solo debut single “Billionaire” it seemed an open question for a time whether he could bring his group Gym Class Heroes similar success. Some fans feared that the Cali hit maker was angling to leave his former crew behind. If you were one of those left wondering whether the Gym Class Heroes would survive its frontman’s transition to pop stardom, new single Stereo Hearts should be just the thing to allay your doubts. On this exuberant selection, instrumentalists Disashi, Eric and Matt hooked up with producer Benny Blanco behind the boards, cooking up a lush, bouncy hip-pop backdrop for McCoy’s picturesque musings on love, loss and the power of music. Comparing himself to an trusty old-school boom box that seen its share of bumps and bruises, he asks listeners, “Don’t get mad at me / when you have to purchase mad D batteries.” Maroon 5’s lead vocalist, Adam Levine assists on the guest tip, lending his vocals to the hook and poignant bridge.

        In some ways it is difficult to see “Stereo Hearts” as much more than a Travie McCoy and Adam Levine duet. It seems possibly a Gym Class Heroes record only in name. However, it is a pop gem. Kicked off by Adam Levine’s sweetly soulful hook followed by the charm of Travie McCoy’s inquiries about a lover’s commitment, the song instantly sinks in as a charming pop tune. This is the second songwriting collaboration by Adam Levine and Benny Blanco on the current pop charts. They also worked together on Maroon 5’s  “Moves Like Jagger”. The common thread between the two is the sweet, upbeat nature of the song coupled with undeniable hooks. “Stereo Hearts” has since turned out to be the biggest Gym Class Heroes record since “Cupid’s Chokehold”.

Time for readers to weigh in—does this lead single leave you with high hopes for GCH’s forthcoming set? If you like what you’re hearing, keep it locked for details on The Papercut Chronicles II, which has yet to receive a solid drop date.