African Roots - Clint Eastwood

Advantages: It's being overplayed on radio somewhat.
Disadvantages: You won't stop singing it. No, really.

...Ah yes, the side project. Beginning of the end for Blur, or Dermot Oblong's exorcising of his pop demons? Let's hope it's the latter - this track is fantastic. Cartoon band 'Gorillaz' are made up of 2-D (Lead singer, sultry, boyish, reminds me of someone...) Murdoc (Bassist, Devil worship, attitude, punched in the balls in the video) Russel (Drummer, no eyes, hat, enormous) & Noodle (Guitarist, Sandals, Oriental). The band play a trip hop punk rock pop rap ska mix, and after their low key release 'Tomorrow Comes Too Soon' comes 'Clint Eastwood', perhaps the first truly great pop single for 7 years. Since Parklife, ironically enough. Well, actually, there have been hundreds of great pop singles better than this. But it gives the review a nice bit of closure :) I guarantee you know the chorus, or at least what you THINK the chorus is... Read review

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Advantages: Ground-breaking music
Disadvantages: None

...The Gorillaz claim to have found their motley crew of cartoon characters sleeping in Leicester Square, but Blur's Damon Albarn (a.k.a. 2-D) and cult cartoonist Jamie Hewlett (Murdoc) aren't fooling anyone. As the ultimate experiment in manufactured image, the Gorillaz are a virtual cartoon-character-based hip-hop band who bring together witty, silly lyrics and talented musicians. Infectious old-school hip-hop rhythms, rhymes, and effects courtesy of Deltron 303's Kid Koala and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien (Russel) are combined with Albarn's passion for chugging lo-fi and edgy melodies to create a seemingly raw but ultimately slick blend of styles. This is nowhere more evident than on the hit single "Clint Eastwood," which is carried along by the sound of 2-D's slurred voice and a bluesy harmonica melody interrupted by Russel's punching... Read review

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Advantages: .
Disadvantages: .

...An interesting partnership between the guy that does Tank Girl and Damon Albarn of Blur plus who knows else. Reputedly formed out of a desire to stay away from the press and release non-conformist music, this translates as make a fictional band and then animate them. Featuring the talents of 2D (half Faerie, Murdoc (a Satanist), Noodle (a Kung-Fu fighting kid) and Russel (possessed by his rapper school friend), you've probably heard the irrepressibly catchy Clint Eastwood by now (or at least the god-awful remix of it. "nah, speed it up man, then stick some dodgy rapping over the top, they go mad for that stuff!"). The rest of the album is in a fairly similar vein, though less of Russel's (or should that be his possessor?) rapping over the top, which is a pity, as Albarn's vocals can be rather tiresome. The music is a rather laid back... Read review

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