Gorillaz is an English virtual band created in 1998 by Damon Albarn of Britpop band Blur, and Jamie Hewlett, co-creator of the comic book Tank Girl. The band is composed of four animated band members: 2D (lead vocals, keyboard), Murdoc Niccals (bass guitar), Noodle (lead guitar and occasional vocals) and Russel (drums and percussion). The band's music is a collaboration between various musicians, Albarn being the only permanent musical contributor. Their style is a composition of multiple musical genres, with a large number of their influences including: dub, hip hop, and alternative rock, electronic and pop music.
Plastic Beach, Gorillaz's third excellent album in a row, is all Albarn — he writes the tunes, produces, sings, plays most of the music and gets people on the phone for left-field cameos: Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, Lou Reed, the Clash's Mick Jones and more. "Stylo" is a typical highlight, with Albarn passing the mike to indie rapper Mos Def and old-school soul belter Bobby Womack.
Plastic Beach is not as pop as the first two Gorillaz albums — there aren't any go-for-the-throat dance tunes in the style of "Dare," "Feel Good Inc." or "19-2000." But it peaks high.
Beach has a loose environmental theme, inspired by Albarn's visit to a Mali landfill. The tropical island where the Gorillaz hang out is a "plastic beach" of industrial-waste products, so they recycle all the debris into shiny new toys. And that's the musical plan as well, mixing up bric-a-brac from around the world. Albarn hasn't totally given up his day job — Blur are back in the headlines after recent reunion shows. But Plastic Beach proves that he's most truly himself when he turns into a cartoon.
2011-01-09 21:26:36
I don't understand how this band became popular to begin with. They're so utterly weird, it's unreal... and the 'proper' people who actually ARE the voices, cannot sing what so ever.
Answer correctly and win
funky points every day!
Q1 = 5 points
Q2 = 10 points
Q3 = 15 points