Sound: Damon Albarn’s (Blur) world-weary croon collides with apocalyptic electronic rock, hip hop and funk to paint a predominately bleak picture
Note: Gorillaz debut album was produced by Dan the Automator (also well known for his production of Dr. Octagon, Cornershop and Handsome Boy Modeling School) and featured Del Tha Funky Homosapien on a couple tracks; neither is involved this time
Also Note: Danger Mouse produced this album (best known for his illegal Internet phenomeon, The Grey Album, which is made up entirely of vocals from Jay-Z’s Black Album and music from The Beatles’ White Album), and it features guest raps from De La Soul, MF Doom, Roots Manuva and Bootie
Brown of the Pharcyde, guest vocals from Neneh Cherry, Ike Turner, Martina Topley-Bird and Shaun Ryder of the Happy Mondays and spoken word from Dennis Hopper
Heavy Rotation track: “November Has Come“
Medium Rotation tracks: “Every Planet We Reach Is Dead“; “Feel Good Inc.“; “Dare“
Recommended: It doesn’t have the same snappy spunk of much of the debut album, and there’s certainly nothing as jaw-dropping as “Clint Eastwood” but the darker, subtler vibe is full of little surprises that make a lot of sense after a few listens. Damon’s pushing of the envelop through Gorillaz
works better than his recent experimentations with Blur.
Grade: B

(As posted 6/6/05 on davepowersmusic.com)
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