Reviews (page 10 of 15)
I dont like this as much as Blur who are apparently the same band?
Enjoyed a couple of songs but generally just not my vibe. Didn’t really draw me in. Feels like lots of sounds
There is some genuinely cool stuff here. Clint Eastwood is a helluva jam. There's also a lot of filler. White boy hip hop from across the pond. It's "artistic" in that way that requires scare quotes. I believed then and I still believe now that Gorillaz would've faded into obscurity by the end of 2001 if not for the "cartoon band" gimmick. Not saying they're bad, but I am saying they're not as good, or at least weren't as good with the first album, as the general public was excited to give them credit for.
This is essentially a hip hop album and a really good one. I wish they would’ve stayed that way instead of morphing into whatever they ended up becoming. At their best when they made this group as kind of a joke and used the defaults on the drum machine to make the beats (the Clint Eastwood beat is literally setting one on the drum machine they had).
3.4
Was excited to listen but ended up a bit short of my expectations. A couple of tracks I will go back to, but it might just be that i'm not that into Damon Albarn.
Oof
Het was duidelijk dat Damon Albarn al tijdens zijn Britpop-periode stond te popelen om zijn creatieve ei kwijt te kunnen. In een semi-virtueel gedaante kon hij dat met Gorillaz, en rond de eeuwwisseling veroverde hij opnieuw de hitlijsten. Maar waar veel grote acts een iconisch debuutalbum hebben, zijn het vooral de singles die de wereld kennis liet maken met de futuristische triphop van Gorillaz. Ik kende deze plaat tot mijn schrik ook niet echt goed - los van de singles natuurlijk. En de conclusie is helaas ook dat de singletjes de lading al wel dekken, én daarom dus fantastisch geselecteerd zijn. De rest van de plaat voelt een beetje als een mixtape, waarin het nieuwe hersenspinsel van Damon en Jamie laat zien wat voor eclectische verzameling aan culturele en muzikale invloeden ze eigen hebben gemaakt. Het gaat nogal van hot naar her, en duurt voor een eerste kennismaking echt wat te lang. Ze hadden het ijs moeten breken, een korte maar krachtige indruk achterlaten met hun atmosferische trip hop. In plaats daarvan bleven ze net wat te lang hangen, en was je niet echt hongerig naar meer werk van ze. Je moet toch een beetje teasen met een eerste release. Dat gezegd hebbende, ik heb genoten van de beats van Dan the Automator en de duizelingwekkende rijmschema's en zalige flow van Del the Funky Homosapien. Niet voor niets dat het monumentale 'Clint Eastwood' en het vermakelijke 'Rock the House' tot m'n favorieten behoren. 6,5/10 Highlights: Tomorrow Comes Today Clint Eastwood Rock the House
Het vetste nummer van deze plaat is een remix. De rest is een samenraapsel van gekke probeersels van Damon Albarn. Alsof hij met dit album het Gorillaz-geluid aan het uitproberen is. Zo is de intro van Clint Eastwood gewoon de standaard beat op een keyboard. De nummertjes lijken dan ook onvolledig en niet af. Tot iemand er een remix van maakt, dan is de cirkel wel ineens rond. Er zit dus potentie in de beats en geluiden. Maar als de nummertjes niet eens een rond geheel op zichzelf zijn, dan is dat van het album als geheel natuurlijk ook niet verwachten. Had toch iets hogere verwachtingen 5,5/10 Highlights Clint Eastwood 19-2000 Soulchild Remix
Really good album and I enjoyed listening to it today for the first time in ages. Although I like this album it is nowhere near as good as Demon Days though. Albarn is very good at everything he does and this album didn't disappoint
Had heard of it bit never listened to it. It was good. May have to listen again sometime.
Excited to finally listen to this after always thinking it looked cool at Woolworths as a kid. Lost interest pretty quick. A few stand out tracks like Re-Hash, Clint Eastwood and if you can make it that far 19-2000. I appreciate how experimental it was for a debut record. A lot of fillers. Artwork is still so cool!
Interesante. Muy conceptual en algunas partes
su genialidad radica no solo en lo musical y compositivo, sino tambien en su originalidad
jajaja cómo vas a separar a tu banda de rock y de repente aparecer con esto? Vos estás realmente mal de la cabeza? Le pondria 9 pts pero no puedo poner media estrella
First time listening to this as an album in its entirety. Enjoyed it but I think the 2 singles do a lot of heavy lifting an your sort of waiting for them to come on…
Simple yet groundbreaking
Bit slow in places for me even though I like Damon Albans voice. Not my favourite .
I like how they spelled geep, that's about it. Great concept but was pretty sub par for me. Probably being nice giving it a 3
Sleepy little album that won the lottery with a bunch of college kids who believed it was greatest ever.
Honestly never understood the concept. Apparently it's a "virtual band". Well it isn't, is it? It's a band. With some cartoon videos. But with humans e.g. Damon Albarn from Blur (also a band) doing the music, like a band does. So it's a band. Anyway, the music is alright. Probably because it's performed by accomplished musicians within a band. Not by non-existent cartoon characters.
Decent first album. With some great hits, it's interesting to hear their experimentations and what everyone tries to bring to the album.
Can tolerate one or two songs. Could do without a lot of the self indulgent Albarn vocals. Not an album I would choose to put on.
Great album overall, some amazing tracks but quite a few skippable
Gorillaz altijd goed
awesome album. I'm not sure if I've ever listened to this straight through, if I did it was a long time ago.
Very cool concept and overall great album. This was the first album I ever owned so I may be biased but I love the blend of alternative and hip hop influences. Favorite songs were: 2. 5/4 11. 19-2000 15. M1 A1 10/10
I am biased because I absolutely love the Gorillaz. This is not their best album and still a great listen. Clint Eastwood is one of my all time favorite songs.
I love the Gorillaz but have never listened to this album start to finish. I lived in England when Demon Days swept the nation. I remember being obsessed with the album art. Damon Albarn came into this project with very well formed idea. The entire Gorillaz sound is on display on this debut record. "Tomorrow Comes Today" has the melancholy instrumentals / vocals that remain central to their future projects. "Clint Eastwood" which showcases the other side of the Gorillaz signature sound - a Dan The Automator beat with Del rapping on it. I believe they got connected for this project because Dan was working on Deltron 3030 and Gorillaz at the same time. Del's voice and flow is iconic and is an irreplaceable part of the Gorillaz for me. "Punk" is the first song that brings me into the 'Gorillaz Universe' a little. It really does sound like a synthesized attempt at a punk song made by the characters. "Rock The House" and "19-2000" are my two favorite songs on the album. I've listened to them so much. They are both so unique and quintessentially Gorillaz. Del continues to spit and the beats are really fun. No other band has me moving my whole body as squeaky recorder noises come in under the vocals. "M1 A1" feels like I'm listening to Dark Side of the Moon. Until it doesn't. "Left Hand Suzuki Mode" sounds like I'm listening to The Pogues or a similar band combined with Japanese elements. I like it! This album is amazing. It isn't just the music either, the entire project is cool. The art direction, the band members, and the music videos are all novel and engaging. If it was just the music alone I'd likely give it an eight. There's so many great songs but also some filler. The scope of the entire project elevates it a little higher, so I'll give it a nine. 9/10
I’ve heard an awful lot of albums on this list that want to be this album, but can’t touch it. Is it a band? Is it an art project? Is it a cartoon? It’s just great is what it is.
pas ouf
Cool vibe album, and It’s got such a good run up to and including the obvious highlight «Clint Eastwood». Then «Man Research» (horrible, horrible song) takes the full 180 turn and starts a really awful streak before «19-2000» settles the score, and it’s quite decent until the end.
nobody told me that del was on another track other than clint eastwood. this song slaps.
Decent but not great
Awesome album; Gorillaz has a bunch of great songs I hadn't heard!
Meh.
Utterly forgettable at best, unlistenable and pretty confusing to be honest. I still feel like I do not understand this album at all - I don’t know what Gorillaz were trying to achieve with this. Every song feels like it belongs to a different genre and/or album (and I’m not saying this as a compliment). First album I was not able to finish listening to, and first one star album for me so far, 1.3/5 at best.
Here were go. Not their best, but still one of the best of all time.
Lots of meh, some good parts. Standout songs: New Genius Soundcheck Double Bass
It is an okay album in some ways but not for me so 2 stars or D+.
I have never heard any other song from this album that I could remember so I was basically listening to it for the first time ever and it was a blast. Every singe felt very distinct even the remixes had very different feelings than their original counterparts. I don't think this will be an album that I sit down and listen to all the way through any time soon, there were several new songs I added to my favorites that I was very happy to add to the mix (M1 A1, 5/4, Double Bass).
Great album, chaotic beauty
It was always going to be a 5/5 from me.
Punk, slow country, Dracula, Clint Eastwood The beat on star shine
I’ve always loved this album, although it’s not one of my favorite Gorillaz albums
Overall a 3 I think. I was not really inspired by this but I didn't dislike it. Some of beats were good for working with it on in the background.
Really good, chill listen. "Clint Eastwood" is the well-known standout track. 4 stars.
interesting, one big hit, hasn't stood the test of time
Strong 3.5, long album like
Great, an hour of Damon Albarn trying to convince everyone he’s cool. Not falling for it, Damon.
eh 2 stars for me
Seemed like fun by I was not in a good Gorillaz mood yesterday
Re-Hash 2.8 5/4 3 Tomorrow Comes Today 2.8 New Genius (Brother) 2.4 Clint Eastwood 3 Man Research (Clapper) 2.3 Punk 2.5 Sound Check (Gravity) 2.4 Double Bass 2.4 Rock the House 2.7 19-2000 2.6 Latin Simone (¿Qué Pasa Contigo?) 2.7 Starshine 2 Slow Country 1.8 M1 A1 1.9 Score: 2.486666667
Man this album was weird; did not expect that!
A solid classic, not may favourite music genre, but this album harbours a few classics that I could happily stick on repeat!
a classic really, not my favourite Gorillaz album but still a great album.
This is how to do a double album properly. Every song gave me something new and novel and fresh without ever losing the through line of what the band's sound is. That kind of cohesion on a debut album is bonkers! Turns out I know the song "Clint Eastwood". There was a time there on terrestrial radio you couldn't get away from that song. Fortunately it's a masterpiece so I loved it then and I love it now! Also a great example of an album where there are never really any powerhouse vocals. It's all pretty sedate therein. But they write the songs in a way where there's still a sense of contrast and rise and fall and it all adds up to a pretty damn near perfect album.
Forgot how fun this is, Blur, continued.
Gorillaz was definitely a really weird one. This album just had that acid sort of rock and rap all mixed into one and each song sounded like another kind of this stuff. And, this album is great for that. Many of the beats were really catchy and just had that kind of flow that i really love from these types of albums. I also do like how Albarn (AKA 2-D) was changing his voice to play into his character rather than just rip his voice from Blur which was his old band. Some of the songs could be repetitive or could feel very out of place or jarring but all in all, i still really enjoyed this one. Best Song: Clint Eastwood Worst Song: Punk
Some of the songs felt extremely long, but I am EXTREMELY down for the fake band concept and there’s some major bangers in there
Not as funky rave as some of their later songs
Funky, British techno pop
Got some real bangers just no demon days
I liked this! More than I was expecting to honestly. Still not over that it is the Blur guy
an enjoyable listen, love Clint Eastwood
Catchy combo of genres. Clint Eastwood is a great song. Funny timing since we got Blur three albums ago.
I’m always a happy human when listening to Gorillaz. I’ll admit that it has been a very long time since I listened to their debut from front to back, as I’ve been loving their newer stuff quite a lot. Let’s go back to the origin today! I think you’d be forgiven for not realising this to be the same band if you’d only heard Cracker Island. This record is much tripper than the newer stuff. I don’t think that is a good or bad thing, just notably different. I remember being a teen and playing a flash game that had 19-2000 as the soundtrack and falling in love instantaneously. 5/4 also deserves a shoutout here. Gorillaz introduced me to weird time signatures long before I actually realised it.
own
Ja shit als ik 4.5 had kunnen geven had ik het gedaan Maar omdat er nóg betere Gorillaz albums zijn toch geen 5 Wel errrg nice
19-2000!!! Throwback naar dat ene Gorillaz race spelletje waar dit nummer op repeat stond, mooie tijden
Cool
good first half, lost me in the 2nd
this went double platinum multiple times for me at various points in life
оч хотел послушать сей альбом, т.к. клинт иствуд - песня моего детства. а в итоге расстроился. думал, что гориллаз это место где албарн хулиганил, а в итоге какая то скучная залупка. два балла за клинт иствуд
Weckte Erinnerungen
19-2000 sehr geil, Remix sogar besser als das Original Clint Eastwood sowieso Man Research und Soundcheck auch geil Gut: Tomorrow comes today
bis auf die banger eigentlich lahm
Gute Klassiker, teilweise schwach.
4 Sterne, aber da es mein erstes Album war wird es für mich immer besonders sein, von daher 5 Sterne.
A little soporific. Tries out some different sounds but does justice to few of them (though Latin Simone was a pleasant suprise).
if i'd heard more songs from this album like 5 months ago, i wouldn't have been so shocked to find out damon from blur is also in this band. i feel betrayed he didn't tell me earlier, but still my bad an ok album, but still nowhere near their best
I love Demon Days and also think Plastic Beach is great, and Clint Eastwood is a great song, so I was ready to love this and unfortunately it's just a bit boring. The tight ideas, memorable songs, etc. aren't really there. It's kind of amazing to me that Demon Days came out after this given how good and tight everything is on there compared to this. This kind of feels like a proto-Gorillaz grab-bag rather than a properly written and put together album. Alas.
I do not think it aged well
Generic, low effort. Sonically decent at times, middle of the road album.
Almost there, but ultimately unsatisfying. Like a single coat of cheap paint in a really great color on a dry wall. Also, their art inexplicably gives me the heebie jeebies.
Bit of a long slog that one, Gorillaz ain’t the animal Blur was
Loved the mix of genres, and there were some interesting songs along the way. However, parts of the album were rather boring. Disappointingly so -- just not much going on. Re-hash, Clint Eastwood, Sound Check (Gravity), Rock the House as my favourites. With the exploration of different genres, it did sound a bit cheesy at times, like lowest common denominator stuff for a given genre. None other than Ibrahim Ferrer of Buena Vista fame showing up for Latin Simone (Que Pasa Contigo) brings it up to a low 4* for me. David Albarn is a musical genius, but better things were to come from the Gorillaz. 3.6* to be exact
So electic and bringing good music together. A whole journey
Liked it a lot less than I thought I would, first few songs are good, last few are too, & Clint Eastwood slaps. The instrumental stuff in between I did not like as much
Это интересный альбом с точки зрения концепта, который [концепт] к тому же совершенно точно станет чем-то очень большим уже на следующем альбоме (и важным для меня, в том числе), но на мой взгляд как минимум половина песен здесь - это никуда не идущее "а давайте ебанем вот такое и может прокатит", которым Албарн в той или иной мере успел позаниматься в американизированном Blur. Хиты - абсолютные бэнгеры. Double Bass - ультра. В остальном - меее. Лучшая песня - Clint Eastwood.
Fuck yea gorillaz, prob my favorite band tbh. but really only know of their hits. Never listened to this all the way through. Tomorrow Comes Today New Genius (Brother) Clint Eastwood is a Certified banger, there is no argument and if you don't like this song, I don't like you Man Research (Clapper) Sound Check (Gravity) !!!!! ok Rock the House is sick except fuck that recorder in the background lmfao 19-2000 Get the cool shoeshine motherfuckers!!!!! certified bop.... or rather a day doo de bop!!! Slow Country !!!!!!!!!!!! This album was already a 4/5 but holy shit I don't think there is a single dud here?! no wonder this was their breakout , theres so many bops
Clint Eastwood remains an all-timer Double Bass making me anxious, at times unbearably so Rock the House is fun 19-2000 my favourite from before M1 A1 is a strong closer love the buildup Scratching on this album is so charming, many diverse influences from hip-hop, trip-hop, punk, and electronica Overall, a great debut of which I can appreciate the impact however I think Gorillaz really hit their peak later on
I wasn't down with the gimmick at the time and dismissed Gorillaz out of hand from the jump. Going back and listening to the album, I don't feel a main through line to it although there are a few standout tracks. Try as I might, I don't find the album very compelling. It's definitely too long and wanders into early 00 musical territory I'm not particularly interested in spending my time in having heard it explored better elsewhere. I feel like this record in particular should also be judged by its cover. I think Tank Girl is rad, but this record cover is bland.
I'm glad this album is on the list, and I like a number of elements here...but The Gorillaz just don't quite do it for me. I like a bunch of alt-rock bands, and I like a bunch of bands that blend rap with other genres, so I'm not quite sure why this doesn't work for me as it seems like it should. I don't dislike it, but I feel like I should like it more. 3.0
I have loved this record since the first time I heard it when it originally came out. Masterpiece.
Gorillaz were just so different at the time of release, when this popped up, I was looking forward to listening to this after so many years. Clint Eastwood and all the remixes of it are brilliant. I never tire of hearing it. Such a good song and sound. There are other great songs too like Punk, Sound check and Re-Hash. I like this album, but I do think Demon Days is better! I will listen to this more regularly. Favourite song: Clint Eastwood and Punk Least favourite: New genius brother Album artwork: Great cover and the artwork of the band is now stuff of legend.
It’s like a massive attack and Radiohead collaboration with a tablespoon of melodica and a teaspoon of Goldan Age Hip-Hop. One thing is certain though, these tracks are undeniably fun and a few of them manage to be timeless.
This would be a good listen if I was chilling with my very white friends in an underdeveloped basement while we were stoned one night in 2002. Outside of this oddly specific scenario, it's a very generic alt rock album. There's nothing interesting, and it's giving me no reason to want to listen to it again. There was absolutely nothing catchy about it, and ever song just sounded like a repeat in which a monotone voice said nonsense lyrics with a standard electronic drum beat and some hip hip thrown in. It's not music as much as it is noise. Yet it's branded as 'cool' so wallflower teenagers can claim to have better music taste than the rest of us.
The album feels like stepping into a strange dream. It's quirky, with a mix of hip hop and alternative beats. The vocals are laid-back, blending with the electronic vibe in a way that feels effortless. It has a touch of Beck's early experimental sound, but with a moodier, more animated twist. The tracks are catchy, weird in all the right ways. There's a carefree energy that pulls you along.
This is one of my desert island albums.
Incredible debut from Damon Albarn’s Gotillaz. I still remember when this came out and the first time I heard Clint Eastwood on MTV. I’ve been a fan ever since!
I liked it, made me dance, it is a good ambient album but some songs are a little too saturated for me, i'm not a fan of the samples of alarms. I loved "Latin Simone (Que Pasa Contigo)" which has a more instrumental musical background
Gorillas got one kick-ass debutt with Gorillaz! Clint leads the way, butt great variety and sense of humor throughout. That they’re virtual / animated makes em even more fun. J = (4.3*s) L = meh (2.7*s)
With his musical ingenuity, Albarn created a phenomenon even better than Blur. Gorillaz was perfect for the online world and this debut album went viral (deservedly so). Albarn set out to expand his electronica talents, added some hip-hop and even got a little multi-cultural, cementing this release in music history. Not a bad song on the album with the lesser known "Latin Simone" and "M1A1" my top tracks. Albarn/Gorillaz have not slowed down since their debut, still pumping out solid work. What's up with you my brother?...must be from another planet to keep up producing such good tunes...3.7.
Very solid debut album from my favorite band ever. It was great upon an initial listening but has only grown on me over time. A couple hits are all-timers for me and all the remaining deeper cuts are solid songs. Gorillaz get nearly constant air play from me and this album has a handful of sleeper hits that make the rotation frequently beyond this big singles. Gorillaz bring a very diverse sound that is approachable from so many angles. While the debut album is understandably not as deep as some of their future work it was clear that something special was set in motion. Damon just starts to scratch the surface of all the unique sounds that come out of his immense amount of musical collaboration and I'm here for every second of it. An aspect that needs to be discussed for anything related to Gorillaz is the accompanying artwork. Hewlett created a couple perfect caricatures for the "virtual band" that were instantly part of the band's draw. The initial music videos were creative and unique at a perfect time when MTV and music videos were still a huge part of marketing and exposure. The approach to have the live performances with animated characters included and an ongoing side-story/plot was a cool aspect to the whole project. The animation and artwork is certainly a contributing aspect of why they became my favorite band. I've consumed nearly every aspect of Gorillaz possible and still the more I hear/read/see the more I love it all. Nothing but praise for the first album that got it started, but they only got better over the next few albums. 4.3 stars
didn't listen, but I listened some of the songs years ago and it was nice
some really good tracks on here but also a good few that feel like dampened xeroxes
really did not fuck with this which is such a shame cuz i know how beloved they are. Need to maybe give it another listen but i just felt like there was not a lot to the songs. He is a great songwriter in blur and i like gorillaz songs from other albums so idk wtf happened.
I feel bad giving this a 3 since it’s so well produced, but alas. What massive attack wishes they sound like.
I haven't listened to this in a while, but used to play it a lot in the past. It's a great album, very varied, with a bit of stealth Deltron 3030 action. Never cared too much for Gorillaz lore, but it stands on its own without the gimmicks. 4.5 stars, but I'll round it up.
There’s a surprising amount here that doesn’t work. The rap songs are easily the strongest parts, so I guess it makes sense Gorillaz leaned into that later. Surprising to rate it this low. I actually really like Demon Days and Plastic Beach. But Gorillaz did not come out of the gate fully formed.
Some really remarkable moments among a mediocre garage band effort. Covers a lot of genre-ground. Vocals need help.
Sono sempre stato affascinato dal concetto dei Gorillaz però boh, speravo mi piacesse di più
proprio bello. bravi bravi bravi.
Si sente che è “alternative” hip hop, comunque un buon album
Ci sta. Secondo me l’album è un filo troppo lungo (ammetto di essermi persa dopo un po’), ma i Gorillaz mi stanno simpatici, quindi mi sbilancio su un 4/5.
Amazing album.
Surprisingly good album
Gorillaz OP, mais c'est pas le meilleur. almost 5 stars
STRUGGLED not even gonna pretend to like it clint eastwood is the only good song on this
I love the Gorillaz. This isn't even an album I've heard all of before, I normally go to Demon Days. But this was incredible top to bottom. They've always fused sounds that shouldn't work and it just does. There are so many great tracks here that caught my attention from whatever I was doing. Of the songs I didn't really know (sorry Clint Eastwood), I was floored by 5/4 and Double Bass. But this album flaunts electronica, raegae, latin, R&B, and Brit pop as it bobs and weaves through it's many genres. Awesome debut by an awesome band.
oh hell yeah. not as good as demon days or plastic beach but still a very enjoyable listen
You immediately know it is them
DNF
Gut
Well, it's certainly not the best Gorillaz album, or even in the top 3. But there's something about its balls-to-the-wall, whiplash-inducing genre-hopping that remains an intriguing and strangely charming listen outside of its biggest hits. Probably more of a 3.5, but 3 seemed too low.
Great mix of talent in this record. Favorite track: Clint Eastwood other picks: 19-2000, Man Research, tomorrow comes today, rehash
Like the variety of music on this album
As a debut album, it shows incredible versatility in the sound that can be made and elevate the experience on a song. To be honest I only know a few songs off of their discography, but if this is what they have to offer in every album then I'll make sure to check out their other stuff
Hadn't listened to this in ages. My god, I'd forgotten how seemingly flawlessly it combines elements of genres I don't particularly love into one really fucking tight, grooving album that just makes your feet move and your head nod rhythmically.
Amazing
Solid. Not as diverse as some of the other albums I’ve heard from them but a nice listen.
My daughter introduced me to the Gorillaz back in the day. There are several songs I enjoy by this band and think they have a very unique sound and style. But I'm not sure this is the album I would have chosen for this list. I knew Clint Eastwood before listening and this was my favorite tune off this album. And despite enjoying my listens, this album couldn't get me to that "excited to hear the next song" level. Quite the opposite, I felt like this album played out a little too long. Again, I enjoyed it for the most part but can't say I'd go back and revisit without being talked into it. 3
3.5 I’ve never been a big Gorillaz guy, though I’ve always found the concept pretty cool - a fictional, cartoon band that performs songs composed by Blur’s Damon Albarn and just about any other British musical icon he can get ahold of? It’s unique, fun in concept, and also the only reason Americans probably recognize the name Damon Albarn aside from being the dude who did the “woo-hoo” song from the 90s. But, in execution, something about this “group” always felt kind of underwhelming to me. Like, Feel Good Inc.? Not feeling it. However, this album was a pleasant surprise for me. I didn’t realize that Gorillaz border more on the edge of hip hop territory than they do alternative rock, and something about that combined with the overall lo-fi, chill ambience of this album really worked for me. I’ve heard the song Clint Eastwood a few times before (shoutout to my sibling, Ashten) and was never a big fan, but it worked for me a lot more hearing it within the context of this album. I also didn’t realize until now that that’s Del the Funky Homosapien rapping on it - the dude has one of my favorite songs from Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (If You Must), so I think learning that’s him helped me appreciate the track a bit more. Overall, I thought just about everything here was enjoyable, but I do feel like it started to lose me a bit towards the end. I believe M1 A1 is supposed to be the proper closing track to the album, and it’s a pretty solid one at that, but I felt myself slowly losing interest somewhere in the stretch of Latin Simone to Slow Country. And while I won’t factor them into my review, the bonus tracks after did nothing for me, with the remix of Clint Eastwood being something I found borderline egregious. Still, solid album with a good vibe to it, and I don’t have anything negative to point to except for maybe the opening vocals on Sound Check (Gravity) - let’s not try that falsetto thing again, Damon. I’ll give a final shoutout again to Ashten for good taste, and I’ll throw one to my dad as well for his Gorillaz gym shirt I think he acquired/may have stolen from them - will definitely have to dive more into this project’s back catalog.
I liked "Clint Eastwood" and "Rock the House". The other songs not so much. 2/5
I know a lot of people my age really like Gorillaz, but I don’t get it. I wasn’t familiar with much other than the hits, I didn’t find a whole lot else when I listened. Some interesting grooves but I didn’t find the substance. Repetitive.
Better than I expected.
Couple of huge tunes, but an awful lot of shite too.
Funky sample filled cod indie from cartoon funsters. My kids loved it. It doesn't sound as radical as it did on release. The following 2 albums are better.
once again, choke in my own blood fake therapist help me put on a smile though my crooked back smells of death i shall flop along the pavement please, father, packed like frozen tuna and melting stares im a sinner with a burning veil living with a rotted mouth
I don't like dislike this album. I just don't like it either. Not really a fan of most of the falsetto singing. It's always (intentionally?) off-key and grates on me. I think the composition of all the music is really good though. It is right in my wheelhouse, so it's hard to completely write Gorillaz off. But that singing is...yeesh. A song I'd never heard before that I really liked was "Double Bass" had a similar feel to Beck with that suburban techno-funk sound (and no falsetto!)
I was generally more Blur than Oasis because by then I’d left Manchester for London although I think Noel Gallagher might be more fun to have a beer with. I liked this at the time and still do
Not what I expected, starts off very alt rock and then goes through a whole bunch of different genres. Clint Eastwood is the big hit. Some really nice laid back beats in the middle section. I think I'd have to be in the right mood to listen to this all the way through, but the production is so good I'm tempted to bump it up a notch. Other highlights: Tomorrow Comes Today, Double Bass, Rock the House.
I have listened to a few bangers off of this album, but never the whole thing. I gotta say that I was a little underwhelmed by the majority of songs on this record. Most were rather boring and felt like fillers. Clint Eastwood and 5/4 just barely carry this album to a 3 for me. However, It is definitely a great record for their first major album.
Classic late 90s Brit Alt Rock. Some songs are fine, some are great. Obviously the standouts were radio hits, but some good additional tracks. Aged ok and is worth a listen years later.
This website loves to pin me down and kick me in the bollocks over and over again
Going into this album I thought I knew it. Oh how I was wrong. I know 2 songs off this album and that is it. Honestly I didn't care for it. I thought I liked the Gorillaz. Then I realized it was there 2005 album that I knew and liked. Ifs funny how you hold on to something thinking you liked it all. Im now trying to go back and see if I really like them. Demon Day for sure I do but I need to go back and listen to more then just that. I feel like I might not like them as much as I thought. Didn't care for this album. its ok but its whatever to me.
Apart from eastwood and tomorrow never comes, the rest didnt hit the right notes. A decent project album i guess. I associate the G's with their later stuff i guess. Not for me this one. Low 3.
For me, Gorillaz was always the music that the cooler older kids listened to. By the time I had my own mp3 player Demon Days had been released and I thought all of it sounded like future music. I'm glad I gave this one a listen because it always happened that the hits were the ones that got the most airplay at the mall and on TV, and great songs like "M1 A1" were overshadowed by their more popular counterparts. Still don't prefer it to DD but it has some of my favorite Gorillaz tracks.
Nicht meine Richtung
Although a good album it does have the feel of a band that hasn't really hit their stride yet. The highlights of the albums all involve a deltron 3030 member who add a lot of stability to the album. Gorillaz follow up album, Demon Days, is a much better project.
I was too young to appreciate this when it first came out, it was something my friends’ “cool older siblings” listened to. I’ve been looking forward to this listening experience for a long time and frankly it was just… fine? It feels like a really well made album, it just doesn’t pique my interests too much… besides “Latin Simone” but that’s due to the feature from a member of “Bueno Vista Social Club”. Not everything can be special to everyone but I appreciate it exists!
Why did this get removed from the list? I'll never forgive the British.
O álbum de estreia do Gorillaz carrega o espírito da época em que foi lançado. O novo milênio, começo da difusão da internet, ápice da MTV e produção de videoclipes. É o cenário que torna possível a criação de uma banda de personagens virtuais com seu próprio universo. Como não poderiam se apresentar de outra forma que não a virtual / digital, o esforço colocado na estética e produção dos videoclipes, com ambientação elaborada e personagens caricatos, foi fundamental para criar no imaginário do público que essa banda realmente existe. A primeira música que ouvi do Gorillaz foi "19-2000", é uma das que mais gosto e tenho até hoje o clipe gravado na minha cabeça. A letra da musica é literalmente sobre a troca de milênios, não tem como deixar mais claro que eles representam o espírito da época que isso. Os criadores da banda ainda falam que na época, uma coisa que motivou a criação de uma banda virtual foi a difusão de Boys Band. Segundo eles a ideia era "já que as Boys Band são algo artificial, porque não fazemos algo artificial também mas de uma forma interessante?" A música de samples e super experimental carrega alguma coisa meio futurista na essência também e fugia - muito - do que estava em alta no momento. Parando pra reouvir o álbum agora acho impressionante como o Gorillaz ficou em alta junto ao que o pop que estourado na época. Pra mim soma-se à tudo isso o anonimato e ~mistério~ de quem eram as pessoas por trás da banda. Pode ser porque eu era uma criança meio tapada ou porque a internet não estava suficientemente consolidada ainda (pelo menos no Brasil, não sei o restante do mundo), então não era tão simples pesquisar e descobrir rapidamente que trata-se de uma projeto do vocalista do blur. Muita música boa, com muita experimentação e muita produção. Enfim, muita coisa boa num álbum só.
Man do I love two of these songs. Man can I live without the rest.
Steady watch me navigate, a ha ha ha haaah. Although I had forgotten quite how objectionably irritating that chipmunk voice in "All Alone" is, this is actually a reasonable album. Talking of voices, Dare is probably Shaun Ryder's best ever track. You can almost enjoy the heavy synth trombone/zipper hybrid that provides the bassline. Coming in 2005, this was actually an important release. I've spoken previously about how utterly awful early-mid 2000s music was. And it really was. The music industry was reeling from its own incompetence and the mishandling of filesharing. Their approach was (instead of promoting music that was new, different and good) to simply and straightforwardly act like gigantic gaping arseholes. According to the early 2000s music industry, if someone shared an MP3 they instantly became liable for eleventy quadrillion squillion dollars, because naturally the person you shared an MP3 with would otherwise have bought that track on CD. And naturally, they'll also pass on that MP3 to five of their mates, who each in turn would pass it to five of their own mates, who also would otherwise have bought it on CD. This obviously would have deprived the poor label execs of their second, third or 38th yacht. You see, dear readers, the music industry in the early to mid 2000s was not about music. It was about suing. The Recording Industry Ass. Of America sued Limewire for... $72tn. At the time, that was roughly £48tn. More money than the combined GDP of every nation on the planet. Anyway - how the shit do Gorillaz fit into this? Well. Enter Tank Girl. No, seriously. James Hewlett and Damon Allbran shared a flat in London. Both were pretty cut up about ended relationships (I refuse to say failed :the only failed relationship is one that doesn't end when it really should) and Allbran was starting to see how bloody awful the music industry was. Pointing at manufactured bands, where soulless music execs would take hopeful performers and pipe them through the machine to make cynical dollah from easy, formulaic music - the pair decided to take the piss. Allbran had an absolutely stellar pedigree with Blur. But ideas that didn't work with Blur as a vehicle. Hewlett had a great run with Dark Star comics and a kind of a cult hit with Tank Girl. So between them, they manufactured an unquestionably manufactured band. Gorillaz. The idea was that there could be no question that it was a "virtual" band, without some photoshopped teenagers, angsty twentysomethings or, indeed, anyone at all for the music execs to milk. Of course, they did this way before 2005. This album was basically a "Yeah, fuck you. Try and make us fit your mould" to cement the success of their first album. And you know what? It kinda worked. It flew off the shelves. And the music industry started to take a few more risks. I mean, it took them years. They're still not over it. But Gorillaz definitely helped. Which can only be a good thing. The only thing that really stops this from being a true five star release is that chipmunk in "All alone".
приятные биты, слышно что ончень качественно, показалось очень нудно долго, не зацепил.
Bands like "Gorillaz" and "Kasabian" are what I like to call "Cockney Rock". Please note that this is coming from a "Texan". In other words somebody who knows nothing about the very distinguishable difference of the many different accents from the UK. I use term, "Cockney Rock" to describe bands that emphasize there accents whilst singing there songs. Which by the way, I really appreciate. This album like thier others always come with fun surprises around every corner. Like for instance thier spanish song that appears around late to mid-album. All this to say...I really enjoy my time listening to it.
Uendelig nostalgi og har selvfølgelig mange gode sange, det er bare også helt proppet med filler-sange som til tider lyder næsten ufærdige :)
kommet hjem fra rumænien, nu er jeg tilbage :D Kæft en stor del af det er kedeligt, men i det mindste er der nogen gode sange på ind i mellem :))
Sublime as always
Cool to know
A few songs I liked well enough, would listen to on a lo-fi playlist and when in that kind of chill mood but probably not much outside of that. Musically I’m sure it’s really good but I found a lot of it quite repetitive and struggled to tell the difference between songs at first. Some great vocals and lots of funky bass lines which was cool.
Esse álbum pra mim é um clássico, fazia tempo que não o ouvia por completo. Um som muito maneiro e original.
I hate this album. This isn't coming from any bias, as I have never listened to it before, and I actually like a few Gorillaz songs - but this album is just absolute dogshit. It's inattentive, vapid, uncreative, boring, and honestly painful to listen to. I had to fight the urge to turn it off half way through. Fuck this album.
Pretty good
Pretty boring and irritating beyond the one hit, "Clint Eastwood", which is catchy but also irritating from the number of times I was subjected to it in high school. I had to turn the album off at "Sound Check (Gravity)" because of the dude's weird voice.
Slot should have gone to Demon Days
This came out when I was in high school and all of my friends really liked it. We listened to it a lot. Re-listening to it now, I don't really understand the appeal. Its generally kind of down-beat - not exactly depressing, but much of it is really slapped-out, like someone on prozac. That's kind of what Albarn's voice sounds like all the time. A lot of the supposed "high points" of many of the hits are a guest solo rap, which I generally find to be uninspiring. And the back half of the CD is terrible, just has some real duds on it. It's whatever.
Y'know, I just find it curious that this is the only Gorillaz album here. Or, if there can only be one (to nab a phrase), that **this** is the one that made the cut and not DEMON DAYS at least. That's not to put down the band's debut as a bad or unimportant record, but... I'unno. Maybe that's just me as a big Gorillaz fan speaking, 'cuz as someone who came into this group during the long hiatus between PLASTIC BEACH and HUMANZ... Their debut has just never been one of my favorites? Out of eight or so albums, I think I've commonly ranked this one around the middle. Maybe even towards the bottom. It's just that, with a few exceptions, this album is largely trip hop and dub. It's not my genre, exactly. Like, besides MAXINQUAYE on the trip hop side of things, I've yet to come across a trip hop or dub album I'm truly 100% negative about, but by that same token I've yet find one I'm 100% **positive** about. Which, to be fair, this probably the closet I've come, and not just because I'm a Gorillaz fangirl. I can't think of a better opener than "Re-Hash", "Tomorrow Comes Today" is of course incredible, "New Genious (Brother)" grooves hard, "Double Bass" is a nice roundabout, "Slow Country"... Well, honestly, "Slow Country" might be my favorite deep cut from any Gorillaz album. That synth line that preceeds the "Can't stand the loneliness" section—maybe my favorite moment on the entire album. Considering "Clint Eastwood" is on this same album, to this day one of the band's top five singles, that's saying something. And let's say some words about the rockers on this thing. "5/4", besides being a neat bit of... Whuzzit? Poly-meter? Mixed meter? Whatever word means that the riff is in 5/4 while the rest is in 4/4. I wish that one had gotten its video back in the day, but the fanmade version more than suffices. "Punk", meanwhile, is such an enjoyable, unintelligble goof that, heck, I can't help but love it. You'll always catch me yelling my own gibberish alongside it. As for the things that keep me from that 100% positivity... I'unno, "Latin SImon (¿Que Pasa Contigo?)" never really did it for me. It's just a little off my vibe—in Spanish **or** in English, for the record. Then you got "Starshine", which I've always found a bit too slowly and space-reverb-y for my liking. And "19-2000" is a fun single, but I've always much preferred Soulwax's "shot at a hit pop record" remix over the original. On the whole, too... Well, as I said above, this is their trip hoppiest album. Even with the rockers and the poppier bits, I don't think it has as much variety as some of their later albums. That variety, in my mind, is what makes them as great as they are: DEMON DAYS, PLASTIC BEACH, season one of SONG MACHINE... And also, they're poppier, and more often than not I tend towards that stuff? Which, y'know, this is probably a huge assumption about you, the reader, but don't take me as someone who looks up "without the rapper" mixes of these songs. I wouldn't live in a world without Del's verses on "Clint Eastwood", and neither should you. "Rock The House", even as a slightly lesser single in my mind, is way funner with Del's verses than whatever else could've been written. Similarly, as much as this isn't my favorite Gorillaz, there's a lot I love about it, and I hafta respect it for being as much as a success as it was. Enough of one, even, that it got to be in this book above DEMON DAYS. There's way more to it than Pitchfork's 7.6 would imply. It has "short-lasting, faddish appeal?" There's no way you coulda known where they'd go, mate, but come on. Murdoc, 2-D, Noodle and Russel deserve more credit than that. (And speaking of that review, I'unno why it kept confusing 2-D for Damon Albarn? I know they have similar voices, but continually insisting that Albarn's singing on this... Wasn't he busy making some opera about JOURNEY TO THE EAST at the time, anyway? Come on now. I expect better from you, Pitchfork.)
Just a stellar collage of various genres including some of the best triphop this side of Massive Attack. Very easy 5.
It’s a 4. I’ve never heard the debut, though I have heard Demon Days, and while I firmly think Demon Days is the better album of the two after this listen, what’s here is remarkably experimental and genre-bending for 2001 that I have to give this album a lot of flowers. Obviously, Clint Eastwood is the big star of the album, but a lot of this is really fucking good. The big thing stopping this from being within 5 territory is simply how many tracks feel a little flat or a little repetitive for my tastes; there’s not any bad tracks, but a few too many weren’t clicking for one reason or another, namely the stretch of Tracks 12 through 14, whether it’s the language barrier biting at me, not really vibing with the emptiness in a soundscape, or simply being really fucking annoyed by a never-ending sample of a cheering crowd that anchors an entire song. Yeah, Slow Country sucks, I said it. I did not like that track. Regardless of that, though, the rest of this album clicked incredibly well for me. It’s a bit repetitive in a few spots, and sometimes the beats kept droning on without much of an evolution in the sound, but I don’t think any of it really took my enjoyment away until that stretch of tracks 12-14. There’s simply too much that doesn’t vibe with my tastes to go up to a 5, but it’s absolutely no less than a 4; great fucking stuff here, and easily deserving to be on the list.
the instrumentals are SICK
Not every track justifies its existence but plenty do. Better than a cartoon side project probably has any right to be
I haven’t listened to this album all the way through in a number of years, but it is just as good as I remember it. I’m glad it came onto my list when it did because it’s such a killer summer vibes album. The blend of Albarn’s previous rock work and hip hop just goes so well together. I was delighted to hear this album again and many of the songs will go into rotation for my other listening. Would absolutely listen again.
The first half is weaker, but the second half is great. Similar to the Chemical Brothers' debut album, this one likely had a unique impact in the early 2000s.
Flawless, one of my all time favorites. It's not that I don't enjoy their newer stuff too, but Damon Albarn being the "main act" on the album makes this peak Gorillaz to me.
The amount of tracks on this album really brings it down to a 4 star for me. The highs are awesome. A shorter album would’ve made this an easy 5. Favs: 5:4, tomorrow comes today, Punk
Damon Albarn is a master of worldbuilding. I love this and it is just far too iconic to not be loved. There were some slower moments on this that I had never heard but I think the concept of a virtual band critiquing the mtv early 2000s vibes is too good. Rock the house 19200 Clint Eastwood Latin Simone all of these are iconic. So many genres done so well and even the instrumental tracks are so good. Demon Days is better, but this is a great debut, which is just pure Gorillaz. Damon loves these characters now, and it is awesome to see their beginnings.
A really solid album, and a unique sound.
Muy bueno
Valszleg nem ez a legjobb gorillaz album, de ez is nagyon jó.
Love gorillaz, a couple I had saved already actually
one of my favorite albums of all time, can't believe this got cut from the list and not replaced with another gorillaz album
I knew of Gorillaz but hadn’t listened to much of their material. Some interesting stuff here, I enjoyed 5/4, Clint Eastwood one of their biggest.. can’t say that it’s been one of my favorite albums from the project but I would listen again. 3.5/5
Had to attempt listening to this multiple times before I could get through it in one sitting - it's just incredibly boring
Good, but repetitive after awhile.
Great album, start to finish. I did not actually the Gorillaz had been going for that long.
Un po' vibes Linkin park
Chill
Not as good as later albums
Rock Recipes, Installment Two: “Ape Juice” Ingredients: -One part Deltron 3030 -One part Beck -One part leftover animations picked up from the UPA cutting room floor -16 oz. room temperature tap water -3 oz. Gran Marnier -3 oz. Sambuca Instructions: -Combine ingredients into a large glass pitcher. -Stir gently, while mindlessly staring out your kitchen window, for 30 minutes. -Pour contents of pitcher down your sink drain -Open your streaming platform of choice -Search for Deltron 3030 -Select their 2000 album, “Deltron 3030” -Enjoy.
There's a lot of good stuff, but a lot of filler too.
Pretty sick
Another album I've heard a million times. Really cool and unique. Quirky in a way, but also fresh and cool at the same time. Must say I am really impressed with Damon Albarn. Blur doesn't exactly sound remotely close to this, yet he manages to deliver even better in a completely different context. While (what felt like) hugely popular when it came out, I don't think this is the best Gorillaz album, but it still really good. There are some cool tracks on this record, like 'Tomorrow Comes Today', '19-2000', 'Rock The House', and of course Gorillaz's most famous song: 'Clint Eastwood'. Then there are songs that conceptually tie the record together, but aren't hits per-se, like 'New Genius (Brother)' and 'Sound Check (Gravity)'. A handful of songs could've been skipped, like 'Punk', 'Slow Country', 'M1 A1' to name a few. Before writing the review I was determined on a strong 4, but after skimming through it again I realize that there aren't as many weak songs as I thought, so I will have to put it on a weak 5 instead. I am really a Gorillaz fan though, so probably a bit biased.
A bit disappointed with this one. I really like some of the Gorillaz singles like "Clint Eastwood" and "19-2000". There are some other tracks that I really liked the rap in which were new to me like "Rock the House" but many of the other songs I really disliked (looking at you "Punk") My disappointment is mostly that I was expecting a 5 star album and this wasn't really it. Rather it was a mixed bag with some really good songs and some quite bad ones. Strong 3 or weak 4. Going for a weak 4 with this one.
I recall being fine with Clint Eastwood at the time it was released but didn’t like it enough to explore further. I never much cared for Blur and Alburns super British delivery. While Blur bores me, The Gorillaz managed to straight up annoy me. There were moments that I was on board for, some of the beats were enjoyable. Man Research was downright awful and the peak of my annoyance. Somehow they managed to fall shy of my low expectations. 2 stars
Huge vibies
jeep
Surprisingly good, divers and interesting music
# Playlist track - 19-2000 # Notes - Still sounds amazing! Definitely influenced by how I felt *back then* when I listened to "Clint Eastwood" for the first time on MTV. - The album is pretty great all around, with the exception of "M1 A1", which is kind of boring. - Very iconic album and definitely worth your time to listen a couple of times, and watch the videos too!
So much fun. Far ahead of its time.
Is gorillaz overrated?
Refreshingly different album. Never actually sat down and listened to this in whole. There's some fantastic tracks [19-2000, Clint Eastwood, Sunshine] and some that are just a bit boring, so 4 stars for me.
would be a 0 if i could
Decent. 3.
Great songs, tad too long to be perfect
Peak
Not bad
There were a couple good songs. Usually when there was more guitar. I don't think I would consider this a rock album. It is more hip-hop.
Re-Hash: reminds me of sublime a bit, 5/10 5/4: So fucking British/ 6.5/10 Tomorrow Comes Today: Blueeessyyy 7.5/10 New Genius: It's giving in my time of dying by Zep. Not as good tho. 4/10 Clint Eastwood: fucking banger 9/10 Man Research: coooool; little weird tho as it goes on 6.5/10 Punk: not my thing 3/10 Sound Check: this dude sounds like if Chris Martin lost his voice. Genuinely bad and annoying. Cool instrumental tho 3/10 Double Bass: chill, a little boring tho 5/10 Rock the house: Heat. shake ya ass crack 8/10 19-2000: Such an ugly keyboard tone that somehow works. 6/10 Latin Simone: Finally a good singer on this album. 6.5/10 Starshine: This guys voice is irritating to me. 3/10 Slow Country: Beautiful synth. Mid song. 5/10 M1 A1: nobody is there. 6/10 Dracula: Not that stimulating to me. 4.5/10 Left hand suzuki method: Knights of Cydonia Intro noise?? 4/10 Clint Eastwood (2): wasn't expecting to like this so much 8/10 Overall: solid album. I liked the songs where his voice wasn't the main focal point. On experimental-ish albums like this you sorta expect to not fuck with EVERYthing. Overall (avg of all scores): 5.58/10. I enjoyed it but I wouldn't rave about it
Listened to a few from Gorillaz before, but never a whole album. I was hoping I'd enjoy more of this than I did. A lot of repetitive filler tracks without a lot going on. I can see how it is innovative through the characters created though. Definitely unique. Highlights: Clint Eastwood 19-2000
This was great! Aside from a few tracks that are just eh, this album has amazing tracks (Tomorrow Comes Today, Clint Eastwood, 19-2000, etc.) Great album.
Clint Eastwood is one of my favourite songs from the early 2000s, all the other singles are class, and even the really random songs (like Latin Simone and Sound Check) capture a mood or a feeling. Another album I own on CD, although I think my daughter has pinched it - but maybe it is the mark of genious [sic] that it still feels contemporary over 23 years later.
One of my favorite albums of all time
Great album. Clint Eastwood is, of course, a certified classic.
I like the singles, but the rest is just kinda .... I dunno, there. I applaud Damon Albarn pivoting far away from the jangly guitars of Blur to try something absolutely different.
With Clint Eastwood and 19-2000 in tow, the album struggles to reach the heights of its hits.
Obviously, Clint Eastwood is pretty great (actor and song). The rest of the album, not so much. Many boring tracks, despite the stylistic versatility, which in turn you really have to appreciate. The album feels more like a sandbox in which musicians played around with different concepts and ideas. This also fits with the either very cryptic or very label-like song titles. Makes sense considering this is a debut of a virtual band. All in all ok music earning bonus points for creativity.
Pretty good album to start this whole thing with. It's a little loaded, maybe a song or two could have been cut but overall I like. Favourite song was definitely the opener "Re-Hash" that shit hypes me up.
I only liked Clint eastwood
Like most folks, I wasn't cool enough to find the Gorillaz until Demon Days. I always forget how good they on on this debut. Clint Eastwood is a certified classic but 5/4, M1 A1, 19-2000, and Starshine are all bangers.
Always wondered what the hype about Gorillaz was. Still do. 3/5.
Only one song I liked
fuck off
I liked it, mostly
Many bands adopt stage personas, hiding behind elaborate makeup or costumes. Gorrillaz go one step further, being an entirely virtual band with cartoon avatars drawn in Jamie Hewlett’s distinctive style. Gimmicks aside, this is pretty good stuff - lo fi beats and samples, with a bit of rap thrown in, although I wonder how successful it would have been if it hadn’t been obvious from the start that Damon Albarn was behind it all.
This is a bit sentimental as I listened to this album a lot when it came out, but of course it's a great record. It's very diverse, it shows all Albarn is capable of, it has 5 stars guests, it can go from son cubano to trip hop to abrasive rock. It's a mess, but a beautiful one. This introduced me to trip hop back in the day and seriously broaden my musical horizon.
Day 27 - June 28, 2024 I have no idea why this album is classified as rock lmao. Not my cup of tea, but it had catchy songs. 3/5
Very good. Some downtime that could be cut out. Will I listen to again: 90%
No. 210/1001 Re-Hash 3/5 5/4 3/5 Tomorrow Comes Today 4/5 New Genius 3/5 Clint Eastwood 4/5 Man Research 3/5 Punk 3/5 Sound Check 3/5 Double Bass 2/5 Rock the House 3/5 19-2000 2/5 Latin Simone 3/5 Star Shine 2/5 Slow Country 4/5 M1 A1 2/5 Average: 2,93 Album didn't really work for me.
Although still amid finding their footing fully, the Gorillaz debut is a fun mish mash of Albarn and co's skill in writing and producing acquired in the past, as well as a handful of perspective ideas to be made better in the future.
Comforting chill start with the first four songs. When things picked up, it wasn't really my bag. I wonder if this made the 1001 list because of the 'virtual band' element more than the music? I guess it does sound modern for 2001. Becomes more experimental, but I'm finding it bland. I like Latin Simone and Starshine and M1 A1.
I like maybe two total songs made by them, one of which was on the album (Clint Eastwood). Otherwise I don't get the appeal of their music. Sure, they have a unique sound and they use cartoon characters to represent themselves but outside of that... this was just... meh? 6/10.
It's whatever ... too much going on not a fan.
Notable tracks: most of it.
Muy lento
This was a big album for its time. It was highly experimental and innovative, which we take for granted now. Good beats and good music are what this album contains.
### In-Depth Review of "Gorillaz" by Gorillaz The debut album by the virtual band Gorillaz, released in 2001, stands as a unique and influential work in the music industry. This innovative project, created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, blends various musical styles and genres, leading to a distinctive and memorable auditory experience. Here, we delve into the album’s lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, while also weighing its pros and cons. #### Lyrics The lyrics in "Gorillaz" often juxtapose whimsical and dark themes, reflecting a balance between playful storytelling and serious undertones. Tracks like "Clint Eastwood" and "Tomorrow Comes Today" showcase this duality effectively. "Clint Eastwood" features lines like "I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad, I got sunshine in a bag," which present a paradoxical mixture of optimism and melancholy. This lyricism reflects the human condition, capturing both light and dark sides. The album also explores themes of disillusionment and societal critique. In "Man Research (Clapper)," the lyrics address the absurdity of consumer culture with lines like "They thought I was a spaceman, diggin' in the moonlight." Such lines indicate a critique of how society places value on materialism and surface-level success. However, some lyrics can feel abstract and esoteric, potentially alienating listeners who prefer straightforward narratives. This abstraction, while artistically intriguing, might not resonate with all audiences. #### Music Musically, "Gorillaz" is a melting pot of genres, including alternative rock, hip-hop, dub, and electronica. This eclectic mix is one of the album's strongest points. Tracks like "19-2000" and "Rock the House" exhibit the band’s ability to blend catchy melodies with unconventional sounds. "Clint Eastwood" stands out with its fusion of hip-hop beats and reggae influences, underpinned by Del the Funky Homosapien's rap verses. This track exemplifies the band’s genre-bending approach, making it accessible yet innovative. "Tomorrow Comes Today" introduces a melancholic atmosphere with its dub influences and haunting melodies. The use of traditional and electronic instruments creates a soundscape that is both nostalgic and futuristic. However, this diversity can sometimes lead to a lack of cohesion. The album feels like a collection of disparate sounds rather than a unified whole, which might be jarring for listeners seeking a more consistent sonic experience. #### Production The production quality of "Gorillaz" is a testament to Damon Albarn’s versatility and ingenuity. The album’s sound is meticulously crafted, with layers of instrumentation and effects that create a rich, immersive experience. The use of sampling, live instruments, and electronic elements is balanced expertly. The production shines on tracks like "Clint Eastwood," where the mix of live bass, drum machines, and sampled sounds creates a dynamic and engaging listening experience. The clarity and depth of the production allow each element to stand out while contributing to the overall texture. However, the experimental nature of the production can sometimes result in uneven quality. Certain tracks might feel overproduced, with too many competing elements that obscure the core musical ideas. This issue is evident in "Man Research (Clapper)," where the complexity of sounds can overwhelm the listener. #### Themes "Gorillaz" delves into themes of modern life, alienation, and the interplay between technology and humanity. The album reflects a world where digital and real-life experiences are increasingly intertwined. "5/4" addresses themes of media consumption and its impact on society. The repetitive lines "She made me kill myself" hint at the destructive influence of media on self-perception and behavior. This theme of media critique recurs throughout the album, suggesting a skepticism towards mass communication and its effects. Environmental concerns are also touched upon in "Sound Check (Gravity)." The lyrics "Gravity on me never let me down gently" metaphorically speak to the relentless pressure of modern life and the environmental degradation caused by human activity. The virtual nature of the band itself is a commentary on the digital age, where virtual personas can have a significant impact on reality. This meta-theme adds a layer of complexity to the album, inviting listeners to consider the implications of living in a mediated world. #### Influence The influence of "Gorillaz" on the music industry is profound. It paved the way for virtual bands and projects that leverage multimedia for storytelling. The album’s success demonstrated that blending diverse genres could lead to commercial and critical acclaim. The use of animation and virtual personas in music videos and live performances was groundbreaking. It allowed for a unique form of artistic expression that transcended traditional music boundaries. This approach influenced subsequent artists and bands to experiment with multimedia and non-traditional forms of presentation. Moreover, the album’s eclectic style encouraged a more open-minded approach to genre blending in popular music. It showed that mainstream success could be achieved without adhering to conventional genre classifications, inspiring artists to explore and integrate diverse musical influences. #### Pros 1. **Innovative Blend of Genres**: The album’s fusion of rock, hip-hop, dub, and electronica offers a refreshing and unique listening experience. 2. **High Production Quality**: Meticulous production and sound design create an immersive and dynamic auditory landscape. 3. **Thought-Provoking Themes**: Lyrics explore relevant themes such as media influence, environmental concerns, and the impact of technology on society. 4. **Cultural Impact**: Pioneered the concept of virtual bands and multimedia integration in music, influencing future artists and projects. 5. **Memorable Tracks**: Songs like "Clint Eastwood" and "19-2000" stand out for their catchy hooks and innovative sound. #### Cons 1. **Lack of Cohesion**: The eclectic mix of genres and styles can lead to a disjointed listening experience. 2. **Abstract Lyrics**: Some lyrics are overly abstract and may alienate listeners who prefer more straightforward storytelling. 3. **Overproduction**: Certain tracks suffer from an overabundance of competing sounds, which can obscure the musical ideas. 4. **Inconsistent Quality**: The experimental nature of the album results in varying quality across tracks, with some songs feeling less polished than others. ### Conclusion "Gorillaz" by Gorillaz is a seminal album that challenged the conventions of the music industry. Its innovative blend of genres, high production quality, and exploration of contemporary themes set it apart as a groundbreaking work. While the lack of cohesion and abstract lyrics may be drawbacks for some listeners, the album’s impact and influence cannot be overstated. It opened new avenues for artistic expression and encouraged a more inclusive and experimental approach to music-making. "Gorillaz" remains a vital and influential album, reflecting the complexities and contradictions of modern life through its unique virtual lens.
Classic
I'm sleeping
wild that this was the chosen gorillaz album - demon days is a certified classic and has so many more bangers. clint eastwood is an incredible song though, and I haven't heard Rock the House before but I really liked it. Also 19-2000 is pretty clean. Honestly - middle third of the album >> rest
I'm starting to think that maybe I just like music. I feel like this album was perfect for listening to while I worked. Truthfully, I'm not experienced enough in the genre to provide meaningful input here, but I really liked the sound
I didn't care for much for this album, it's mainly the main vocalist's voice that I don't really like
Hmm.. yeah this is a banger 🦍
Nog swägä
Classic.
Onhan tämä ihan hyvä! Seuraava tietysti hittiensä puolesta vielä ns isompi levy 3/5
On tässä hetkensä mut ei tätä kyl kokonaisena levynä taho jaksaa
Hyvä ja genrerajoja kaatava levyhän tää on. Vähän liikaa tekstien puolella käytetään aikaa Gorillaz-loreen ja musta Demon Daysillä bändi kasvo täyteen mittaansa, joten annetaan nyt vaan nelonen. DD ei taida kyllä olla listalla snif
3.5
I just had Blur a few albums ago, which I gave middling marks. So I enjoyed this way more than I was expecting too. Interesting, fun, entertaining. Not everything clicked but some of these songs really come together into something special.
Not really the music I listen to.
Ok
5/4
Ennþá mjög gott stöff flest. Gæti samt stytt plötuna heldur mikið. 3,5 af 5.
Svona plötu gera bara snillingar. Alls konar tónlist og tilraunamennska en allt gengur þetta upp. Geggjaðir lagatitlar. Fáum Ibraim Ferrer til að semja og syngja eitt laga. Bætir svo brilliant konsepti og þá getur ekki niðurstaðan orðið önnur en 5 stjörnur.
1/5. Definitely a trial period. Without Clint Eastwood this would not have gotten a second chance. Thankfully it did but dang this album does not age well. So many just unlistenable songs, like someone trying out electronic music for the first time. Even Clint Eastwood isn't that good, couldn't push myself to even finish the album. Best Song: Clint Eastwood but barely
3.5/5
this one leaves me cold
Really interesting, enjoyed the experience
8/10
Really enjoyable and interesting, might need a 2nd listen to put it a 5 out of 5.
I quite enjoyed this album. Many pieces on here I managed to enjoy more second or third time around. A couple od tracks are dross, and a couple grew on me. The Wikipedia article on them was also a revelation. I had no idea of Blur being a connection. I'll listen to this again, and enjoy it again then as well. While really only worth three stars, but I've given it 4 stars because, to me, there is an element of exploring the human condition here, some interesting facets of illuminating interest were unpacked.
Delighted me today! Who knew? Lots of people, but not me.
Not for me 1/5
Gorillaz is conceptually amusing, but ultimately doesn't really deliver beyond pastiche. Which I guess is appropriate. It's a nice enough album.
Rock the House-amusing lyrics Star Shine-haunting Clint Eastwood-catchy, playful 19-2000-love this song!! Couldn’t stop dancing! Fun first listen.
This’ll be sacrilege considering I LOVE Gorillaz, especially after seeing them live in September’22 (probably a top 3 concert experience I’ve ever had; such an amazing show), but I like this album, don’t love it. It’s a critical darling; rightly so considering Damon & Jamie’s unique musical/art conceptual creation that’s now 23 years in and still going strong, and some of the beats are next level, but I like some of their later stuff just a bit more.
Made me angry how bad this was
Good but not great. Alot to like and alot to dislike. I can see why the band took off though
Ok this one is hard to rate. Gorillaz are impressive by just about any metric. The art meets digital enterprise meets music is an incredible accomplishment. But the music is... weird. The lyrics are largely nonsense. This almost feels more like academic music than a mainstream album. It's definitely worth repeat listens, but more because you find something new every time than because it's actually enjoyable.
Classic. You can hear the influence of the specials.
Just a really weird and cool mix of styles.
funky! classic mix of different sounds.
i have listened to this album before and gave it a score of 3.5. this album is packed full of fillers; ok but doesnt really stand out. i used to listen to gorillaz through their music videos back in middle school, so i’m familiar with the singles. that includes 5/4 as well, but i dont fw it as much as the other featured songs. as a standalone trip hop album, it’s pretty solid, but unfortunately since i dont care much about trip hop, its hard to stay interested in the rest of the album besides a couple tracks like new genius brother and sound check gravity. 3 personal favs: tomorrow comes today, rock the house, 19-2000 soulchild remix
Absolute all-timer
You've got to be a special kind of rock star to create a side project that ends up being even more internationally popular than your first internationally popular band. (Also, this album still rips.)
When Damon Albarn teamed up with Jamie Hewlitt, it changed music forever. Demon Days is Gorillaz’ masterwork, but their debut whets the appetite for genre-blending, giddy excess.
This is a re-listen for me. Like it a lot, but maybe don't absolutely love it, and I respect it even more than I like it. I've revisited select songs before including Latin Simone which I really like for some reason. And Clint Eastwood was impossible to escape when it came out.
I liked some of this. Clint Eastwood was a huge hit and something different at the time. But I think the album just went on too long. My guess is that if this didn’t involve Damon Albarn this wouldn’t even be on the list.
This one of the better 3s I've heard. Not quite a 4 though.
As a longtime Blur fan, Dan the Automator fan, and Del the Funky Homosapien fan (and Kid Koala), I was super excited for Gorillaz and have loved the first album since its release. I went through every Gorillaz album last year, and I still would say the first album is at least tied as my favorite.
Some great songs, but mostly just ok. Feel like there where quite a few try hard songs that focuses on being different over being good.
I had a lot more hope that this would be really good.
Re-Hash - 4.8/5 5/4- 5/5 Tomorrow Comes Today- 4.9/5 New Genius (Brother)- 5/5 Clint Eastwood- 5/5 Man Research (Clapper)- 5/5 Punk- 5/5 Sound Check (Gravity)- 4.7/5 Double Bass- 4.5/5 Rock the House- 5/5 19-2000- 5/5 Latin Simone (Que Pasa Contigo)- 4.8/5 Starshine- 4.9/5 Slow Country- 5/5 M1 A1- 5/5 Dracula- 4.7/5 Left Hand Suzuki Method- 5/5 Clint Eastwood (remix) - 4.3/5 Total- 4.9/5
Okay but not timeless
More than anything, it's just boring.
clint eastwood goes crazy first half of album kinda blows last half was pretty good though 3/5 prob
anhörbar
Classic from my teens. Hard to appreciate it for what it is because by this point I've heard it so much. 3.5/5
Gorillaz I fucking loved this when it came out, I listened to it loads, but I haven’t re-visited it in years, in fact I kind of forgot it exists. I really enjoyed listening to it today though, and there was a lot of residual muscle memory to it. At the time it seemed a bit of a left turn, but 23 years later its eclecticism and slightly wonky nature now seems quite normal, both for Damon/Blur’s timeline and music in general. Clint Eastwood and 19-2000 still stand up as great bits of electronic pop/hip hop, but quite alot of the other tracks stood out to me; Re-Hash as a very Blur-esque bit of catchy pop, Tommorow Comes Today’s spaciness, New Genius’ keening circularity, Sound Check’s dubby vibes sound great, Double Bass could have been on Think Tank, a really great groove. Rock the House is great, love the horn sample. Really like the guitar line on Starshine. Always loved Slow Country, great bass sound and a nice melody. It’s definitely has a sense of a collections of atmospheric bits of music, rather than a coherent album, but I do love the different moods and sounds. It’s also much more dub influenced than I remember, which I think I appreciate more now than I did 20+ years ago. A nice fat solid 4, a great album and I need to remember to listen to it more often ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I had already heard Clint Eastwood before listening to this album in full and loved it of course. But wow, it's full of bangers apart from that track. Incredible.
Gorillaz good AF
It's an interesting "proof of concept", though I don't find a lot of substance here. The virtual band idea is cool (and has clearly gotten Gorillaz somewhere), but this really feels like a guy fucking around with a few pieces of equipment, and two well done Del Tha Funky Homosapien verses. Favorite tracks: "Clint Eastwood", "19-2000"
Me gusta este disco, pero no lo escucho frecuentemente. Clint Eastwood es un temazo
I fully believe that the Gorillaz must be polarizing. Some people must not get them at all, and others, like me, are big fans. I think it would be essential to be good with all things electronic and move towards trip hop and move towards electo-pop without finding it all to jarring. For me it works. For others, IDK? This is one of those albums that I find very satisfying and it shows the absolute huge range this band can operate in. The only reason I will not give this album five stars is because I don't know if it is my favorite album of theirs. I will have to spend the time determining which one is, or not... But this is really good stuff people!
Really nice sequencing of songs, creative and just a vibe. Not a perfect album but great for sure. Loved this when it came out and it stands up. Could even be 4.5
Decent album
I do not enjoy nor would i return to any but one song. In terms of 1001 best albums ever, this is certainly on a much lower end