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Four years ago, you couldn't escape the Gorillaz' infectious hit, "Clint Eastwood," from their self-titled debut. It was the slacker jam of Summer 2001, and you can still hear its meandering piano chords while Del tha Funkee Homosapien took you for a ride you've never before been on. Conceived as the first "virtual hip-hop group," the quirky bunch of cartoon MC's are back with their latest, Demon Days, and continue to push the limits of Hip Hop and Prog Rock. With the blended contributions of De La Soul, Shaun Ryder, Debbie Harry, Dennis Hopper, and Martina Topley-Bird, Demon Days spotlights the Gorillaz' out-the-box thinking and genre blurring talents. |
Grade: A+ |The Gorillaz' debut was an unexpected worldwide hit for something originally deemed a "side project" by the brain trusts of illustrator Jamie Hewlett and Blur frontman Damon Albarn. They took a small seed and grew it into a vast landscape of sounds and b-boy beats that continue to resonate on Demon Days. With DJ Danger Mouse (responsible for the infamously effective Grey Album, a turn-table mixing of The Beatles' The White Album and Jay Z's The Black Album) now steering the ship, the Gorillaz' formula is increasingly potent and a must have for music officionados.
Demon Days begins with a murky intro that has you questioning which direction they intend to take you. The "Last Living Souls" eases you into the album's progressively increasing upbeat tempos and doesn't let go of your curiosity. There are always contrasting sounds waiting around the corner and you are filled with beats and melodies that pull and twist music you think you've heard before.
Article comments
1 - Crystal E.
What did Debbie Harry contribute to this album? I just reviewed this CD, and I found no information about her appearance on the disc.
2 - microsoft spellcheck
It's uh... Prophets not Profits.