Gorillaz – S/T

Description

It’s tempting to judge Gorillaz — Damon Albarn, Tank Girl creatorJamie Hewlett, andDan “The Automator” Nakamura‘s virtual band — just by their brilliantly animated videos and write the project off as another triumph of style over substance. Admittedly,Hewlett‘s edgy-cute characterizations of 2-D, Gorillaz’ pretty boy singer (who looks a cross betweenthe Charlatans‘Tim Burgessand Sonic the Hedgehog), sinister bassist Murdoc, whiz-kid guitarist Noodle, and b-boy drummer Russel are so arresting that they almost detract from Gorillaz’ music. The amazing “Thriller”-meets-Planet of the Apes clip for “Clint Eastwood” is so visually clever that it’s easy to take the song’s equally clever, hip-hop-tinged update ofthe Specials‘ “Ghost Town” for granted. And initially, Gorillaz’ self-titled debut feels incomplete whenHewlett‘s imagery is removed; the concept of Gorillaz as a virtual band doesn’t hold up as well when you can’t see the virtual bandmembers. It’s too bad that there isn’t a DVD version of Gorillaz, with videos for every song, la the DVD version ofSuper Furry Animals‘ Rings Around the World.

Musically, however, Gorillaz is a cutely caricatured blend ofAlbarn‘s eclectic Brit-pop andNakamura‘s equally wide-ranging hip-hop, and it sounds almost as good as the band looks.Albarnhas fun sending upBlur‘s cheeky pop on songs like “5/4” and “Re-Hash,” their trip-hop experiments on “New Genious” and “Sound Check,” and “Song 2”-like thrash-pop on “Punk” and “M1 A1.” Despite the similarities betweenAlbarn‘s main gig and his contributions here, Gorillaz isn’t anAlbarnsolo album in disguise;Nakamura‘s bass- and beat-oriented production gives the album an authentically dub and hip-hop-inspired feel, particularly on “Rock the House” and “Tomorrow Comes Today.” Likewise,Del tha Funkee Homosapien,Miho Hatori, andIbrahim Ferrer‘s vocals ensure that it sounds like a diverse collaboration rather than an insular side project. Instead, it feels like a musical vacation for all parties involved — a little self-indulgent, but filled with enough fun ideas and good songs to make this virtual band’s debut a genuinely enjoyable album. via Label

Label: Parlophone
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Repress, Stereo, 180g
Reissued: 2024 / Original Release: 2001
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop, Rock, Pop
Style: Metalcore, Punk

File under: Alternative / Indie / Pop