RATING


New Zealand duo Flight of the Conchords recently went from cult favorites to being recognized on a national scale.

Their HBO show was nominated for “Outstanding Comedy Series” while Franeknstein-ish Jemaine Clement scored a nod for acting.

The under-appreciated combination of Clement and unicorn shirt-wearing Bret McKenzie has released a collection of songs from the show’s second season on “I Told You I Was Freaky.” The 13-track album is noticeably not as good as the band’s first, self-titled album. The sophomore season excelled in evolving the sitcom’s formula to something never-before-seen, but some of the music was just lame.

There’s a few exemplary tracks like “Demon Woman,” “Rambling Through The Avenues Of Time” and “Petrov, Yelyena and Me.” They all seem too self-indulgent and the repeat ratio to the album’s other songs is minute. It’s cool to see some curious experimentation, but these offerings were mediocre.

The first couple tracks, though, are pretty funky as Bret and Jemaine try to lay down their best flow or go smooth with R&B influenced vibes. “Hurt Feelings” tells the old adage of dudes getting upset. “The day after my birthday is not my birthday, mom,” croons Jemaine. “We’re Both In Love With A Sexy Lady” is a hilarious and alarmingly awesome mid 90’s-influenced beat where the twosome trade lines back and forth about the same girl.

The Bowie dead ringer “Fashion is Danger” is a synthed-up homage to keytar’s and piano key neckties. “President Reagan,” “jazzercise” and “lip gloss” are all referenced while a bridge about posing is a candidate for best bit on the album .

“Friends,” featuring eternally-pale comic Jim Gaffigan and Rhys Darby, is an a capella quartet of guys almost touchingly describing male camaraderie (friends borrow money and don’t pay friends back, friends tell you when your fly is down).

“You Don’t Have To Be A Prostitute,” which could have been a B-side The Police released, and the acoustic song about “angels doing it,” “Angels,” are both choice tracks.

“I Told You I Was Freaky” is a worthy follow-up, just as the second season was. But unlike the show, which reached an incredible new creative plane, the music is either hit or miss.

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