Gorillaz [ECD] [PA] - Gorillaz > Reviews > grrrr is for gorillaz

Author's product rating:   

Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency of tracks
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Value for Money

Advantages:	Experimental
Disadvantages:	Could be too weird for pop pickers

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I must say I'm pleasantly surprised by this album. I bought it on a hunch. You see I love Blur and I was half hoping that Damon Albarns contribution to this album would be noticible. I thought the single Clint Eastwood was OK but I like to listen to stuff a little more experimental, and I heard from a source that the album was not like the single so I bought it. I'm so glad I did. It is a cross between Blurs album 13, hiphop beats, a nice deep bass and almost like a bit of experimental pop. I can say though that if you liked the single because its pop, you won't like this album. The Clint Eastwood they play on the radio is different to the version on the album which is a lot more raw and slower and almost has a sinister feel to it(if you don't like it the hidden track is the more upbeat version of Clint Eastwood).

Other tracks include the first track Rehash which includes the typical Damonesque 'ba ba ba's' and an organ. The second track 5/4 is a mixture of rock, electronica and scratchy sounds. It also contains the quite amusing line 'She turned my Dad on'. In fact this reminds me a bit of what Beck would churn out and is more akin to his album Midnite Vultures.

I can tell this album was made purely for fun. The track Punk, well it kinda takes the mick out of punk, but still manages to sound punky...if that makes sense? There are handclaps after Damon shouts down the microphone and what sounds like a car screeching to a halt, a radio being tuned, and a briefly mangled guitar. Yup, it is bizarre but you can join in the hand claps...!

The other tracks are kinda spooky at the beginning and then emerge into this melodic yet deeply challenging piece of music. Could be quite depressing apart from the fact that you're not sure how it makes you feel. An example is the track Double Bass. You see you have the bass spiralling downwards yet u have little pieces of almost ecstatic organ playing which seems cheerful but then are sent straight back to the depths when hollow bottle sounds play flats downwards. No words to interpret,just plain music.

I don't know why but the track Rock The House just made me laugh when i first heard it. It has these really cheery trumpets on it, and a piano playing salsa sounds, and this guy rappingover it. His voice reminds me of Yogi bear and I suppose it was just that image that made me laugh.

OK, track 11 - 19-2000 - has to be one of my favourites on this album. It has this really cool noise through it, which sounds like a computer singing. It also has the typical Damon 'La la la's' and bizarre lyrics. I can never decide whether to movemy body to this song or to chill to it.

Just as you think things can't get any more bizarre the next track is Latin Simone and...well...is like a heartbroken Mexican singing over trumpets and a lonely piano symphony but with a mellotron thrown in for good measure all over a slowed down hip hop beat. Make of it what you will.

Starshine is beautiful and has Damon wailing 'starshine, never gonna find me' throughout. I think he had a sore throat when he recorded this track as he's struggling to speak. However this cleverly adds to the effect of the song. The character he is trying to portray sounds lost, within himself and within his life. You can't help but feel for him.

The feeling of being lost reappears on the last track M1 A1. With spooky sounds, a fog appears and you are instantly transformed to this place where no-one can reach you, and as you realise that theres nobody there the music builds as you begin to panic, and then you start to run...thats when Damon starts singing and screaming and you begin to feel that theres miles until you reach civilisation.

Gorillaz is an excellent album. I will say that you will have to have open ears and you will like it if you liked Blurs latest stuff and you like experimental music. Stay away if you don't like originality and your ears can't cope with something that doesn't sound like S Club 7.

Grrrrrrrr is for Gorillaz!