Similar Albums:
- Artist: Gorillaz
- Rating:
- Release Date: April 24, 2001
- Type: Contains explicit content, Enhanced CD-ROM
- Genre: Rock
Review
It's tempting to judge Gorillaz -- Damon Albarn, Tank Girl creator Jamie Hewlett, and Dan "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 between the Charlatans' Tim Burgess and 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 of the Specials' "Ghost Town" for granted. And initially, Gorillaz' self-titled debut feels incomplete when Hewlett'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, à la the DVD version of Super Furry Animals' Rings Around the World. Musically, however, Gorillaz is a cutely caricatured blend of Albarn's eclectic Brit-pop and Nakamura's equally wide-ranging hip-hop, and it sounds almost as good as the band looks. Albarn has fun sending up Blur'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 between Albarn's main gig and his contributions here, Gorillaz isn't an Albarn solo 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, and Ibrahim 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. ~ Heather Phares, All Music GuideTracks
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Re-Hash (Lyrics) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (3:38) |
| 5/4 (Lyrics) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (2:40) |
| Tomorrow Comes Today (Lyrics) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (3:13) |
| New Genious (Brother) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (3:58) |
| Clint Eastwood (Lyrics) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (5:40) |
| Man Research (Clapper) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (4:33) |
| Punk (Lyrics) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (1:36) |
| Sound Check (Gravity) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (4:41) |
| Double Bass | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (4:45) |
| Rock the House (Lyrics) | Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Dan the Automator, Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (4:09) |
| 19-2000 (Lyrics) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (3:28) |
| Latin Simone (Que Pasa Contigo) | Gorillaz | (3:37) | |
| Starshine (Lyrics) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (3:31) |
| Slow Country (Lyrics) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (3:36) |
| M1 A1 (Lyrics) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (10:42) |
| Dracula (Lyrics) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (4:42) |
| Left Hand Suzuki Method (Lyrics) | Gorillaz | Gorillaz | (10:01) |
