Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett have created a modern album with modern references that has surely added another stripe on their musical sleeves and confirmed, to me anyway, that they should be regarded as troubadours of modern music.
First impressions were “mmm 16 tracks – good value for money or 4 songs too many”?
It has a good intro which flows nicely into the 2nd track ‘Welcome To The World Of The Plastic Beach’, which has funk and reminds me of the rapper Guru – nice and slow and sleazy. White flag the next track is big and bassy – after a Middle Eastern style intro it soon develops balls and attitude and does the business. So far so good with the next track ‘Rhinestone Eyes’ and the single ‘Stylo’ concluding what must be the best 4 opening tracks of any pop album since Yeasayers ‘All Hours Cymbals’. The rest of the album flows in much the same vein with some excellent tracks and audio fillers in between that do add value.
The key to the success of Gorillaz is I feel, not the images of cartoon characters, not the high tech tricks or media hype – it’s the fact that they understand the musical times we live in, write good songs with strong melody and lyrics – no tricks just talent.
It’s a very good album and although 12 tracks would be perfect 16 aren’t that bad after all
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
i would like to take this opportunity to complain about the distinct lack of the clash on this website
I second Strappy’s complaint!
So while mr D is busy raiding the archives for a totally new, never heard before recording of The Magnificent Seven or Straight to Hell why not have a peek of this clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H1v7V0UVFE
Wot the F is this???????????????????
Spacepig this is so not good bordering on down right CRAP c’mon man I thought you liked music
Rachid Taha more like Rancid Turda
lol and gotta agree with Mr Strappy Dappy
Aha great, some controversy at last! OK I’ll stick my head on the block – I love this guy. I was introduced to him by my Algerian friend Mokhtar. He got fed up with me rabbitting on about Siena Root, Faust, Hawkwind – just my usual. So he gave me a copy of one of Taha’s CDs and I thought it was just great. Apparently he is very good in concert, not that I would know that having never seen him.
Now, maybe he should stick to his own material and give the covers a miss, but I think the combination of Western rock and African/Middle Eastern rhythms works really well.
Still, I am a fan of Quantum Fantay and 17 Hippies so what would I know? (look those two up if you dare).
But – besides the point, we sure do need a good discussion on the merits of Strummer et al. Did you ever see The Clash Strappy person? I never managed it, but I did see Strummer & The Mescalaroes at the V Festival one year. Maybe not quite the same but still a great show.
http://entertainment.iafrica.com/music/latest/2345950.htm