The resulting list shouldn’t be considered the Gorillaz’s best songs, but rather the ones that represent the building blocks that make up their unique sound - the individual cells of the Gorillaz wonderland animation. Finding the most engaging gasps of Albarn’s genius was key, but so was finding his most thrilling collaborations. Capturing all the flash and bravado was a must, but so was angling the spotlight on their quieter moments, their more subtler emotions, and their more human experiences. Their family of collaborators has grown also exponentially, from Del the Funky Homosapien and De La Soul to Mavis Staples and Lou Reed.īut that’s the magic of Gorillaz: Despite their cartoon visages and the massive swirl of genre shards ranging from alt rock to pop, hip-hop to new wave, they never lack for subtlety or depth.įor that reason, putting together a list of 10 songs that sum up Gorillaz proved a unique challenge. Fresh ahead of the release of their fifth album, Humanz, 2-D, Murdoc, Noodle, and Russel have achieved an astonishing ubiquity with their smooth funk electronica, far beyond what Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett may have ever expected.Įssentially, the universe of Gorillaz - both musically and from a storytelling standpoint - has always been vast and all-encompassing, fusing genres across the spectrum with a saucy smile and subtle head nod. There’s no one who could have better given life to the idea of “smart pop” while confidently rebelling against the genre’s shackles. They’re pockmarked and weathered, garish, rough around the edges, the residents of Banksy’s Dismaland as counterpoint to Mickey, Donald, and pals. Isn’t it frustrating not being able to box something in? Not being able to name it because the goddamn thing is so busy evolving that it slips through your fingers? Sure, they might be a bunch of cartoon characters, but there’s always been something a little darker than meets the eye going on with Gorillaz. This article originally ran in 2017 and has been updated.Įver felt overwhelmed by an artist’s extensive back catalog? Been meaning to check out a band, but you just don’t know where to begin? In 10 Songs is here to help, offering a crash course and entry point into the daunting discographies of iconic artists of all genres.
0 kommentar(er)
