Gorillaz – Plastic Beach
(2010, Parlophone)
Grade: A
Gorillaz, or Damon Albarn, frontman of Blur’s, 2D side-project with graphic artist Jamie Hewlett, return after a 5-year break with the stellar album Plastic Beach. Albarn masterfully blends Britpop, hip-hop and world music into one of the most interesting sounds in music today.
Gorillaz bring with them an impressive and eclectic guest list including Mos Def, Lou Reed, and the Lebanese National Orchestra; this album has something for anyone. In Plastic Beach, Gorillaz mature their sound, holding onto their bass heavy dub sound and bringing in more synth-pop influence as we see in the song “Glitter Freeze.” All the while, Gorillaz keep things lighthearted, with goofy rapping and bright pop hooks as demonstrated in Albarn’s ode to fast food (or possibly radiation poisoning?) in “Superfast Jellyfish.”
Clocking in at 57 minutes, this album always has something new to offer anytime it may feel like it is dragging on, and with mildly environmentalist lyrics, it will give you something to think about while enjoying the music.
I would rather not have to wait five more years for the next Gorillaz album, but if an album of this quality is the result I think can bear the wait.
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