Reviews (page 5 of 14)
This one's tough for me... This is one of the first albums I ever heard, so obviously it has a special place for me. On the one hand I think the idea of this album is so creative, really ahead of it's time. Production (on some of the songs) is also just outstanding, mix is great. And then you have other songs which are just not quite there for me anymore. I don't think this is peak Gorillaz, I think demon days takes that title (still confused as to why it's not on the list if this one is). In my heart I want to give it a 4, but a very weak one. I might come back to bump it down to 3 later...
Favorite Track: Clint Eastwood
I had never listened to Gorillaz before. For some reason, I just assumed they were not something I'd enjoy based on the cartoon character aspect from the album covers. I knew the lead singer of Blur was part of it, but that wasn't enough to intrigue me. I read the Wikipedia page this morning before listening, and genres listed all are ones I enjoy, so I was cautiously optimistic about listening. And what do you know, I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the beats, the use of hip hop and electronic elements. The only thing that kept it from being something I absolutely loved is that it was just too long. Cutting back some of the second half of the album would've worked perfectly for me. But it was a solid listen and I will seek out more of their work.
This is one of my top 5 all time favorite albums so I tried to listen to it objectively. It starts out pretty chill, which is usually difficult to grab my attention, but the varrued styles and hooks help to keep my interest. It probably helped that this one of the few cds at the time so I had nothing but time to listen to it over and over until I gained a deeper appreciation, which is something I do lament with music access today that I don’t give things enough of a chance. Cause this album was and still is totally worth the extra listens.
You can tell the band were deciding what they wanted to be on this album. There's some rather by-the-numbers stuff on here, as well as some tracks which are genuinely more interesting. Clint Eastwood still sounds great. The album comes alive in the second half and you can hear the genesis of their sound there. I think their follow up album is better, but this is still a good listen.
найс
The bangers bang hard, but there are a surprising number of misses on this debut album.
I mean I love me some Gorillaz, but I was a bit confused about the inclusion of this album over Demon Days on this generator. Regardless, I think this is still a great album. Mediocre Gorillaz music is still great music overall, and I'd listen to (and have listened to) this album again and again. Damon and Jamie are such a great creative duo. Gorillaz is unlike any other band that you will find out there, and I truly think that kind of uniqueness is rare in the music industry. 2D's (Damon's) vocals are fantastic, and the music is just so catchy. Clint Eastwood is, of course, a classic. The only reason it misses out on a 5 star rating from me is because I just don't think this is the band's best overall work. I've heard more interesting, strong albums from them, but this is still incredibly solid. I love this album.
Gorillest gorilla who ever gorilled
I had only heard clips of the Clint Eastwood song before but had never really gave them a good listen. I love Del and will likely come back to this one.
++: Re-Hash, 5/4, New Genious (Brother), Clint Eastwood, Punk, Double Bass, Rock the House, 19-2000, M1 A1 +: Man Research (Clapper), Sound Check (Gravity), Latin Simone (¿Qué Pasa Contigo?), Starshine, Slow Country +-: Tomorrow Comes Today 8,2/10
Pretty fun album. A bit all over the place but an interesting mix of rock music, electronica and hiphop. Weaker songs are definitely Man Research (Clapper) and Starshine.
A solid one!
Här finns kanske något! Är inte riktigt bekväm än, men kan nog börja tycka om det efter några lyssningar. Får kanske ändra sedan, men sätter en 4a för att komma ihåg.
One of the greats, I give 9/10
The cartoon thing annoys me so much
Not my favourite Gorillaz album (that's probably Demon Days/Plastic Beach), but it's a great mix of hip-hop, trip-hop, and experimental pop/rock that Damon was into at the time.
Double bass also makes me unbearably anxious.
How got how much of this first album just sounds like Blur, and not in a bad way at all. 3.5/5
it was good
The Omnichord!
Funnily enough, listened to this the other day for the first time in years. This was the first album I ever bought. Remember being thrown by many of the songs on first listen but coming back to them years later a lot of it clicks. Love Albarn’s falsetto vocals on songs like Gravity and Man Research. Feels like a prototype for Gorillaz as a concept in many respects, but was still the beginning of a great run for the band.
Rv/g
Have always been a fan and this is a solid album. The hits/singles are big ones in my view. A little bit of filler, however overall a good flow to the album, a lot of variety and an enjoyable listen.
Well this is a bit of nostalgia. You can definitely hear Blur in some of the tracks with just Alburn involved, but add in the collaborations and there's a lot going on. Not sure that I'd be putting any of the non singles on a playlist, but as a whole, very enjoyable.
When they're on, they're my favorite
I GOT TICKETS TODAY! also this album was very enjoyable x
Didn’t spend too much time with this one at the time. I determined that the album is the perfect soundtrack for decorating the yard for Halloween. High praise indeed.
I like this album a lot, and I don't think Damon Albarn always gets the credit he deserves for being one of Britain's best and most consistently adventurous songwriters. But if there's only room for one Gorillaz album on this list, this wouldn't have been my pick.
Some of the songs giving me strong 80s vibe although that might have more to do with the fact that the 80s are the last time I used to just listen to a whole album instead mixes or radio. Only song I've heard before was 19-2000 and Clint Eastwood. Man, I really love 19-2000. I also dug the vibe of Double Bass. A much more chill sounding album that I was expecting.
A really good album. I knew the hits off the album but hadn't listened to the rest. I liked it.
One thing I admire about the Gorillaz is their dedication to defy the norms in their albums. This album went from trip hop, to punk, to rap,to funk etc theres a lot packed in this album that set the stage for what they would later release.
This took me back to my days in high school. This album was everywhere, touched everything. As good now was it was then. Maybe a bit long but a must listent
super
Bold - it hits more often than it misses
I've listened to this before in my teens, so a lot of my listen so far is revisiting those memories. I think I had this on my first ever MP3 player.
Shamefully, I have never really listened to Gorillaz, despite generally knowing about them. I actually liked this better than I thought I would. Some of the styles were not really my favorite, but overall it was enjoyable. Slow Country was definitely the highlight for me.
Although it's not a completely even album in terms of back-to-front quality, I remember when this first came out and just how original and unlike anything else it felt. Seeing the video for "Clint Eastwood" for the first time on MTV was pretty mind blowing and that song is still the high water mark for me - Del's verses are incredible, the production is moody, and just creates the sort of dark creeping unease that maybe it is "all in your head". You can still hear Blur in some of the songs but this is clearly Damon's outlet for his weirder impulses to mess with sounds and genres and it does make for a super interesting listen. I also love Dan the Automator and his sort of old-school hip hop production leanings, and can see how this connects to Deltron 3030 (another personal favorite) as well. Tomorrow Comes Today is another highlight that I just love the atmosphere of. Overall certainly not a perfect album but a very enjoyable listen.
So this one is pretty interesting to get on the backs of a week with TERRIBLE vocals and lots of discordant punk sounds. Because Gorillaz has a good bit of that too — but I really like it. So it’s interesting to think what’s different for me: - I know this album, so connects with my high school / college years. - lots more experimental beats, hip hop, rather than generic driving punk style guitar/bass - Clint Eastwood is an all-timer - del It’s not without some droning that gets a little old (slow country) but this is a fun album.
Ha! After two 1/5 star albums in a row, finally an album again that I can appreciate! Recorded 24 years ago, it sounds surprisingly fresh. I wasn't very familiar with the whole album, apart from their hits, but I'm genuinely impressed by this record. Surely, the first two tracks are with out a doubt Albarn's songs, but from then, the album makes an interesting turn, introducing hiphop and triphop influences to their songs ("Tomorrow comes Today", "New Genius (Brother)", and "Man Research") and return to Blur alike rock songs ("Punk", "M1 A1.") to be continued with a mixture of these styles in the following songs. The contributions of Del the Funky Homosapien's especially doesn't feel out of place, but is fitting in the whole eclectic approach of this album. Overall, a pleasant and joyful listen! 4/5
blur guy should stick with this
A nice sombre listen. I like every single on the album, and they are woven together nicely with "filler tracks" in a satisfying way.
Good stuff
A preview of greater things to come.
I can’t exactly put my finger on what prevents me from listening to this band more often. I admire Damon Alborn as a person (google some of his youtube interviews) and an artist. But this band, like Blur produces some of the catchiest, most enjoyable and memorable songs and a whole lot of harder-to-get-into mediocre stuff. Clint Eastwood a likely top 20 all time song for me; 19-2000 in the top 100. A few others are catchy - Double Bass, Rock the House, Starshine - but it’s hard to put this on as an album and enjoy it all the way through in most settings. The 2nd half is better than the first; I think Melancholy Hill is the better record. 4/5
good album just not a fan of a few songs like double bass as too anxiety inducing to listen personally (but that could be my headspace) love rock the house and 19-2000 esp the remix. also obvs clint eastwood is a banger
Didn't know the Gorillaz have as much dynamic sound packed into one album
4 out of 5. That is a classic album. Some songs are just ok. There are some great ones in addition to Clint Eastwood.
Brilliant concept, and still going strong today. This album brings back a ton of memories and still holds up today.
I love the Gorillaz and this is such a solid and dope debut album! I love how they mix electronic music, hip hop, and rock elements together. They have such a unique sound which makes them so much fun to listen to. Some of my fav tracks from this album are: Clint Eastwood, 19-2000, and Dracula. I would definitely jam to this album again in the future!
What a terrific album. I need to spend more time with these guys.
For me, Gorillaz is more of a product than a band. Benefiting from already having that Blur $, they were able to combine their titular album with badass animated video without any sort of come up. No buzz, no fan base, they just drop the Clint Eastwood video at a time MTV was still a thing, and it was massive. It's brilliant marketing. It's impossible for me to hear Gorillaz without visualizing those creepy caricatures. That said, the music is good. 4 stars for the album, 5 stars as a product
Should absolutely be Demon Days or Plastic Beach. I get the idea of paying respect to albums that started it all (and this album is still very good), and I would be more accepting of this album on the list if just one of the other albums I mention were also on here. But this is not the best representation of Gorillaz, but nor is it the most culturally significant. Everyone and their dog knows Feel Good Inc, after all. Gorillaz deserves a 5 star album on this list, but I do not think their debut is 5 start unfortunately. Still very good though.
Okay, so obviously this doesn't measure up to the titan of Demon Days that was to follow but still, for this to come from nowhere was incredible back in the day. Maybe a biased score, but this gets a STRONG 4*, kept at that level just because Demon Days is perfect and my ratings need somewhere to go.
me gustó, lo sentí mucho más experimental que el anterior de Gorillaz que me había recomendado
Gorillaz self-titled debut was everywhere when it came out in 2001. So much of it holds up nearly 25 years later and still sounds as cool and good as the last time I listened to it. How do you come up with an idea as out there as "Let's make a virtual cartoon band" and it all works this well? And it's enough of a hit that they just kept doing it? You’re welcome, Hatsune Miku, et al… 4⭐️
Listened to years ago. Liked it. Not enough to return to, though
Remember the hype from back then for this release. A virtual band was something completely new. Clint eastwood was rocking so hard. Never listened to the full album tho until now. Takes a while to get drawn in at first, but from track 5 on this record really takes of and throws a lot of great songs at you. Love the hypnotizing vocals, the many change-ups do to the many features and the general overarching groove that somehow binds it all together.
Pretty good and only about 3 songs I didn’t like and lots of different enjoyable sounds. Favorite song - 19 - 200 or Latin Simone.
In hindsight this feels like the next Blur album, if Blur had gotten really into Check Your Head-era Beastie Boys in the interim (Exhibit A: "Double Bass," which mimics the vibe and placement of "Something's Got to Give" on the Beasties' album). As a fan of both, I'm on board here; remember that the blues went from America to Britain and back to America before hip-hop ever did.
This album feels more complete to me than something like Demon Days. Demon Days is definitely flush with more hits, but this is Gorillaz at their most interesting and raw.
Nostalgic banger
Good, but some were a bit forgetful
I really really like this album. I'm not sure exactly why. Lot's of different sounds and styles, but it is all pretty distinctive Gorillaz.
Pretty good stuff. Demon Days is a better album overall -- but it's fun to hear these guys come together.
Very good. Damien Albarn’s spin off band. Versed eclectic will benefit from repeated listens.
Oh yeah feel it who who balssackies
Album 852 of 1089 Gorillaz - Gorillaz (2001) Rating : 3.5 / 5 A good listen overall—maybe not quite what I was expecting, but still glad I gave it a spin. They’re a favorite of my younger son, so I was hoping for something I’d really connect with. There were definitely some solid moments, but too much of it leaned on slow grooves that just didn’t quite move enough for me. That said, “Clint Eastwood” remains an excellent track and was a definite highlight.
Pretty eclectic for it's time, but very interesting. I didn't get it when it was originally released, but really enjoyed listening to it today. Had a couple slow spots, but overall it is excellent.
PG Tips did it, Cadburys did it, then Damon Alburn did it. Yet Houmous & Chutney are still banned from using primates in the creation of their art. Just because of one incident in 1963! 3.9 10/17 Rock The House
My second time hearing this all the way through. very good album. i really enjoy the early sound of this band and i love damon’s artistry, he is a musical genius, i love how this album can blend some grungy and rugged sounding rock with some rap. it’s a little messy but i feel that adds to it. 4/5
Love this one, big variety in songs and a couple real classics. A few too many songs, but really fun.
Demon Days and Plastic Beach clear this but still a solid album
Clint Eastwood gets this album 4 stars by itself but the rest is good too. crazy how much better Gorillaz are then Blur. and this isn’t even the best Gorillaz album!
Classic. A crazy blend of all genres. Solid 8/10
7.5/10
alt album reasonable good.
Great album, overshadowed by the second though.
Fun album. I liked the experimentation in the songs and the band is also a bit nostalgic for me.
Funny this came up right after Beck's Odelay, because I can somewhat equate the two of them in eccentricity and variety. But this one is better. I haven't listened to this one in years, and was really surprised how little it has aged, especially in comparison to Beck. I was really digging the back half where a few of the more mellow tracks are. I was never big on the 'the musicians are actually cartoons!' thing, which soured me on them at the start, but this is a high quality album with some deep cuts as good, to me, as the singles. High 4 star.
enjoyed the bsides more than I thought I would
I bought this album when it came out in 2001 because of “Clint Eastwood.” At the age of 14 I was disappointed. I tried and tried and tried to get into it. I needed to get my moneys worth, but still only liked 1 other song (Rock the House). 5 or 6 years later I gave it another shot after the success of their second album and was blown away with what I had missed. It still hits for me today as one of their top albums. Close 5, but “Plastic Beach” exists.
Enjoyable record. Another situation where for whatever reason debut albums seem to have more weight than later records even if the later records are better. With that being said, still a great start to this band. Loved them since day 1.
Not a single song from this album is on the Billboard Top 100 for 2001. Yet, the Gorillaz seemed to be everywhere at the time. Certainly, the music video played with regularity on MTV. Never having been a big Gorillaz fan, I thought to at first rate this a 2 or 3. However, looking at that list of the Top 100 for the year and re-listening to the b-side of the album, I have to rate it higher. The first two songs on the album made me think "oh great, just more Blur", but then as the album proceeds it astounds: the inclusion of Del the Funky Homosapien, experimentations with dub, intriguing sampling, genre bending; truly this album was unique when it came out. I firmly believe some of the more guitar heavy sounds likewise would go to inspire other indie rock of the mid to late 2000s like the Arctic Monkeys. Oddly, many of my favorite tracks are the smoother love letters to bands like Massive Attack and Portishead, songs like "Sound Check (Gravity)" and "New Genius (Brother)", or the more dub heavy sounds of "Slow Country" and "Dracula". This debut album is a showcase of a group of musicians making the types of music they want to make, and not hemmed in by constraints of genre or even instrument.
I absolutely LOATHED this album when it was first released. I HATED the singles, and thought the concept of the band was DUMB, even though I love CARTOONS. Luckily, I came to my senses when Demon Days was released, and it forced me to re-evaluate Gorillaz. This is a strong debut and a great thesis statement. While I've grown to love the radio hits, this album's best tracks are deeper cuts. I think Demon Days or Plastic Beach deserves to be on this list more than the self-titled, but here we are.
Some superb and original sounding songs on it. Certainly not back-to-back banger and there are some just unpleasant parts to the album. But also some songs that sound better today than they did back then.
Wowzerrrs da het mis herzli en freudessprung gmacht woni das Album gseh han. Viel zspaht i mim Lebe hani Gorillaz für mich entdeckt aber natürli lieber z spaht wie nie. Ihres Debut Album vo Ahfang bis Schluss durelose hani dadefür jetzt s erst mal gmacht und paar wiiteri Gorillaz Perle entdeckt. Juhuiii! Grosse Shout-out an Damon Albarn wie er mit Gorillaz Ziitloosi Pionier-Arbeit gleistet het. Geile huere Soubock du! Git Abgrundeti 4 Elephante
grüezi ex-favourite band! chund bi wiitem nöd ah demon days ane, aber top debut album! tomorrow comes today klare standout, clint eastwood scho au banger aber muess säge: de nervt mi mengisch chli ich gspüre es gad wieder berguuf mit de qualität wo eus da de generator serviert – me gusta wie en gorilla chlopf ich mir drüehalb mal uf d‘brust & wie en noah werded die drüehalb chlopfer uf vier chlopfer ufgrundet
Gorillaz is an amazing band, but this album is not their best, even though it has some bangers - tomorrow comes today, Clint Eastwood, 19-2000. I hope demon days and plastic beach are on the list too
Very easy listening.
Listened in the truck via YouTube music. If I ever listened to this all the way through it would have been around when Demon days came out. Lots of variety here, but this was just the beginning of what Gorillaz would become. The Clint Eastwood remix at the end was a fun surprise.
4/5
мне понравилось, хип-хоп не зашел а вот остальное очень даже интересное. Если абстрагироваться от того кто исполнитель то вообще хорошо
Есть интересные песни
wow this is much more dark and slow than i remember.... emphasis on the slow
Un disco que tiene unos cuantos hits inmediatamente reconocibles. Pero pareció interesante que los temas menos conocidos tienen cierto grado de experimental. Así bien me gustó siento que es un poco largo, hacia el final me costaba continuar prestando atención a la música.
Just such a unique blend of hip hop and grunge and rock and something else intangible. The vocal are great, the beats are fantastic. The concept of this band and album are amazing. 8.8/10 85//1001
Gorillaz first album defintely lays the foundation for the bands sound to come but "Gorillaz" ends up feeling a little bloated inbetween the obvious highlights here 7/10 Favourite: Tommorow Comes Today Least Favourite: M1 A1
Clint Eastwood still bangs but the majority of these songs kinda Blur together
The Monkees better watch their backs
Chill music, nice to have in background while working
I love the Gorillaz and this is a great album with some real classics, but far from their best. A couple of clunker songs makes this a 4.
Solid album, though the best tracks are those with Del the Funky Homosapien. Enough tracks that are just fine to keep it from five stars.
A solid debut. Favorites: Re-Hash, Tomorrow Comes Today, Clint Eastwood, Punk, 19-2000 Would I listen to it again: Yes
Quite good, had never really given this a full listen before since I have never been a Clint Eastwood fan (he’s an actor? I just like him for his politics) Really cool and great beats. Classic hip hop album
To me, this doesn’t quite fully sound like a Gorillaz album. I like it and there are some excellent songs on it, but I think Damon was still finding his sound here.
À gem
24/1001. Hmmm, I might own a library sale cd copy of this? Anyway I hadn't really LISTENED to thw album before...many songs seem groovy, the sound is nice and funky, featuring artists bring a lot in, and the songs have interesting details in the background, but still overall feel is too lazy, like an album which is made stoned. I hope they had continued the virtual only band, they were really pioneering the thing and now you would have so many possibilities with virtual productions, motion detection, Fortnite concerts and what not. But hey, a Jim Henson award for creativity and a guinness world record!
First off, this album contains certified BANGERS. "Clint Eastwood" may be a top 10 all-timer for me. Putting Del in anything elevates it. And yes, this album was groundbreaking, and Damon Albarn & Co. moved the needle for popular music with this album. BUT. A solid one-third of this album feels like good ideas that were never fully developed, which contributes to the "Damon Albarn is too decadent" narrative. Three stars, but throw another in for the sheer presence of Del The Funky Homosapien.
This is really good, its biggest problem is it’s not as good as the albums that would come after it.
Lotta good stuff going on
This was interesting!
Such a cool album! It's Blur, but modernized, electosized, and produced with a mass market in mind. It was also completely creative compared to the corporate garbage that was being pumped out back then. Hence, you hear this stuff in regular rotation still today. I like Demon Days better than this album, but this was the start.
Totally forgot how this came out in 2001. I always associated it with a few years later. All solid tracks on the album, even outside of the hits.
The first time I ever independently learned about an upcoming album and then bought that album when it came out, I was about 12 and it was this album. I never really connected with another Gorillaz album. People really like Demon Days but if I remember correctly there’s several years between the self titled and the follow up, and I guess by then I had moved on to other stuff. Anyway I still like this one a lot. Does sort of drag at the end, but the first half is very cool to me.
Great album, it has a very nice early 2000s internet vibe that I love.
Good sounds all around
some real deep cut gems in here
This is a goddamn great album.
Very nice! Never heard it before! Thanks.
Great album, a couple slow spots but the pop hits are wonderful. Def a product of its times
fav: clint eastwood (1) least fav: 5/4 7/10
I liked it much more than I thought I would
This album shows promise of some pretty incredible and innovative stuff yet to come while also delivering some certified classics such as “5/4”, “Tomorrow Comes Today”, “19-2000”, not to mention “Clint Eastwood”. This album is fun and light while also being able to deal with heavier themes. With a runtime nearing an hour, it can start to feel a little bloated towards the end, but otherwise no complaints. Writing, production, and lyrics are all fantastic. I enjoy this album a lot. 4/5
Highlight Song/s: 5/4 New Genius (Brother) Double Bass The backing track for all of the songs are so colourful and unique. It's like a forest, you can totally lose yourself in it. The backing track also reminds me of Shoegaze and Dream pop, with so many things to discover on one track.
Ahead of its time like little old ladies in bonnets. Bully is very influenced by this IMO
some exceptional songs on here but too long
Solid overall. Unique sound. Vocals can get a bit strange but they’re not bad.
Dang, this is pretty good. For some reason, when I read the phrase "virtual band", my mind immediately went to the Wiggles. I spent the next twenty minutes scrolling through their Wikipedia page (while listening to Gorillaz) and getting lost in a wonderful world of fruit salad, hot potatoes, and cold spaghetti. Honestly, that's not a terrible description of the Gorillaz' sound either. It's pretty experimental, with quite a few musical ideas that aren't really developed into something I would consider a masterpiece. The songs are a bit disjointed from one another, making each Gorillian creation stand out but also making for a slightly confusing/exhausting album experience. But every single track on here is incredibly interesting, if only because musical experimentation is a breath of fresh air in the grimy, overpopulated swamp of punk and Britpop on this list. 5/4, Tomorrow Comes Today, New Genius, Man Research, Double Bass, Slow Country... It's funny, half these songs sound exactly like their title (at least until 5/4 diverges traitorously into a 4/4 time signature). Crazy how that works. Some tracks definitely stand out for all the right reasons. Clint Eastwood has that ridiculously memorable vocal hook ("the future, it's comin' on, it's comin' on, it's comin' on...") and exotic hip-hop backbeat. Rock the House is a fresh, clean, lighthearted track with some carefully edited horns. I would probably prefer the trumpets if they were less edited and sounded more human, but it's still great as is. And... is that a pan flute? Insanity. 19-2000 wasn't initially in my list of key tracks, but the Soulchild Remix version at the end of the record has a significantly cleaner production, and bumps it up to a top-tier track. Man, listen to those drums. That fast tempo, the women meowing for backing vocals. As for Tomorrow Comes Today, I can't really explain why I enjoyed it as much as I did. It sounds a bit like lo-fi, which is of course the best genre of music to emerge from the 90s. These primatez know their stuff! 4/5 Key tracks: Tomorrow Comes Today, Clint Eastwood, Rock the House, 19-2000 (Soulchild Remix)
Liked this much better than expected. All over the place but overall very cool.
Feels like a while since I've had a band that I like but never did a deep dive on. Hello Damon Albarn's Cartoon Band. Extremely Blur in the first couple of songs. This is their debut right? Is it pre big collabs. Love 5/4 that bangs. Clint Eastwood obviously sticks out but it's hard to argue. And it doesn't sound like blur. Man Research is like. If I didn't know gorillaz would I write this off as random background noise. I'd hope not bc it's good just like not my genre. Punk is Very Blur and I love it. Hm the ones ive said are very blur are Very Blur Self Titled specifically which is where On Your Own is so maybe Blur are Very Gorillaz actually. Mentioning every song individually atp but Sound Check?? Ooooh that's nice. And see this is So Gorillaz. So it's not just the very blur ones that I'm liking. Love 19-2000. Afraid I'm tempted to say Latin simone is a bit of a flop mostly bc it doesn't fit it with the rest particularly well. Otherwise a really good time, definitely transitional you could accuse some songs of being rejected blur but those were my favourites on the whole (i really like blur). Good and varied as an album, i think later work with more collaborators will be better but i really enjoyed this. Bias is at play. Tempted to just do a gorillaz deep dive now. The music I mean.. cba with the mental story.
Not quite perfect but still a goshdarn good album. A good bit of variety to keep it fresh through the 1hr+ runtime and just a lot of fun and interesting beats and vibes. 8/10
Haven’t listened to this in ages!
The debut Gorillaz album is a fun, genre-blending ride that still feels fresh in its ideas—hip hop, dub, rock, and cartoon madness all mashed together in a way that only Damon Albarn and Dan the Automator could pull off. Tracks like Clint Eastwood and Tomorrow Comes Today became instant classics for a reason, and the album’s laid-back weirdness is part of its charm. That said, it’s a bit looser and less focused than what the band would go on to do with Demon Days. Some tracks feel more like sketches than fully realised songs, and as part of the 1001 albums journey, this doesn’t quite hit the top tier. Still, it’s inventive, playful, and very cool—it just feels like the start of something bigger rather than the main event.
Re-hash 5/10 5/4 7/10 Tomorrow comes today 5/10 New genious 4/10 Clint eastwood 9/10 Man research 3/10 Punk 2/10 7/10
honestly? this should've been demon days! 😭 I still enjoyed this album, but not as much as I was hoping. it was a little scattered. but demon days 🤌🤌🤌🤌 that's the ticket!!! still a worthy inclusion that I'm glad I listened to.
i was never really a gorillaz fan but i definitely get the appeal. this album has some solid tunes, but for every good track there are two that feel unfinished, uninteresting, or otherwise miss the mark for me. i like the genre exploration and "virtual band"/multimedia aspect beyond just the music, but the juice isn't necessarily worth the squeeze. the harmonica is cool, but the rest of the instrumentation sounds hollow and kinda late-90s-default-DAW-sound-library. the genre fusion that is clint eastwood is awesome, while the generic rap songs that don't go anywhere and go on forever really weigh this down. and a song called 5/4 that's actually in 4/4? you're killin me damon. in short... it's complicated. 3.5 stars? rounding up to 4 for del the funky homosapien favorites: re-hash, 5/4, tomorrow comes today, clint eastwood, rock the house, 19-2000
Not as amazing as their later albums, but it is still pretty solid.
4.3/finally an artist i love lol. there is definitely a reason why gorillaz succeeded with this album, it's so interesting and all over the place
Iconic and very varied with some clear bangers.
It's quite good. 19-2000 Soulchild Remix is the best track, and has been a regular listen since I played Fifa 2002. One of the band sounds like Will Smith on tranquilisers though, so those bits were pants compared to the rest.
Love the idea of Gorillaz, love the singles they’ve put out their entire career, and the albums are generally pretty darn good, too.
Been a fan of gorillaz a long time. Have not given this album a listen in over 15 years. Great album, better than I remember. I like the later gorillaz with more song based songs and less instrumental but still the albums production is still great today and inspiring.
i had heard clint eastwood before but i've never listened to anything else off of this album. an eclectic mix of genres but overall works pretty well.
Capital C - "Consistency". The sound of the album is an interesting time capsule; it's both an in-depth view of the 2000s indie/alt scene at the time of release and an early look at the shift in the music industry that occurred throughout the early 2000s that's still resonating to this day. Gorillaz as a brand, in my honest opinion, is one of the most interesting depictions of art in music. The fusion of different music genres and styles of production works in conjunction with an artstyle that combines several aspects of counter-culture, late 20th century animation, punk visuals, underground comics, and many more other inspirations.
Classic full of bangers
I think there is a version of this album that I would give a 5/5 to - drop a couple of songs, make 19-2000 the Soulchild remix - but I don't think Damon Albarn ever could have made that album. As I alluded to in my comments for Blur's self-titled, he was clearly overflowing with ideas that were largely too weird for Blur. Lots of them turned into this album, and the accompanying "G Sides". There's something like 25-30 songs from the Gorillaz sessions, and nearly all of them are interesting, and most of them are good. Can't really blame Albarn for doing a little too much, all things considered.
Loved Double Bass & Clint
Feels like Gorillaz weren't fully dialed in yet but the highs are so high they drown out the lows
This is one of those albums that hit at seemingly just the right time. I think I like Demon Days better, but this is great.
Great songs were great, average songs were good.
Catchy and nostalgic. Really enjoyed listening to this again.
I really like this. Good beats, lots of different styles, laid back but interesting
So far, first two songs most definitely pretty repetitive but the third was good. I need to finish the slbum so I'll come back to rate more. I know the popular songs are good and I'm sure there are other really good ones
Classic, production on point
Nice
Un clásico que no escucho hace 23 años. Me sorprendió la cantidad de data que me perdí. No puedo ponerle mala nota a ningún tema. Quizá Double Bass es muy larga y el remix de Clint sobra. Nota: 4.5
Interesting
This blew my mind when it came out, but I haven't heard most of it since then (except the singles). This was ok. 5/4 was in 4/4. M1 A1 annoyed the crap out of me. Highlights: 19-2000, clint eastwood
Ok I think I get the gorillaz now. Double Bass was my fav
Good vibes top to bottom
Are they the greatest British band since The Style Council?
I always liked this band.
I've not really been sure how I feel about Gorillaz despite the all-star names behind them. I think, perhaps, I'm expecting them to be one thing when they're another, so I listened a second time taking them for what they are, and I liked them more. Sorry for the cryptic comment, it's more for myself. Rating: 4
I write it down a whole essay on how much I love this album, and how upon the first hearing it help me to get through tough period of my life and me becoming, who I am now. But just saying, pretty good album.
Was pretty good, very chill
A fantastic start for me, since I'm already familiar with at least a couple of the songs and know I enjoy their sound.
Good but not great
Great Dub album with alternative flourishes. Classic Gorillaz. One of Damon Albarn's best works
4.25
Great debut from Gorillaz. I own the CD, so a no brainer!
8/10 The Gorillaz are fun and I enjoy listening to them. This is my least favorite album but I still like it quite a bit 4-7-2025
muy triphopsito. No es el mejor de Gorillaz, pero es un inicio. Todavía tiene bastante de la fiereza de Blur. Quizá es un poco disperso. Ya escuchado de antes también.
Very hip hoppy and some amazing tunes. Some samples I recognised not sure if it’s them originally or someone else
Favorite Track: 3 way tie between 19-2000, Clint Eastwood, and Rock The House
....
Songs: 19-2000
was surprised at how good this was. super eclectic mix of genres, eg the random latin song was a stand-out. whole album was bursting with creativity but still felt coherent
Fine Album! Clint Eastwood alone is worth 3 of the 4 points.
The filler tracks are utterly skippable, but Clint Eastwood, Slow Country and M1A1 are worth two extra stars on their own.
Love the Gorillaz. This album has a lot of bangers 5/4 is kinda garbage, but everything else is pretty great.
such a playful, strong album. so much interesting stuff happening stylistically and definitely expanded the horizons for its time. a really fun listen
So groundbreaking, but the last third feels kinda unfinished and falls apart
Glad I listened, enjoyed some, felt other songs were too weird
For as much as I hated them growing up this very much reminds me of adolescence
Ok but a bit blah so you have to be in the mood
Not my favorite Gorillaz album, but it's Gorillaz, so I love it.
Despite making a big impact when it was released, I think they have gone on to better albums. Cline Eastwood really carries this album although there are other notable tracks. Hadn’t listened to this in ages but was pleasantly surprised.
Haven’t listened to this in a long time probably as i was originally disappointed that not everything sounded like the excellent Clint Eastwood. On revisit I thought it was a really fun listen. Kinda reminded me of the vibe of a Beastie Boys album insofar as it had lots of styles (I particularly like the dub), experimentation and tongue firmly in cheek throughout. I didn’t find it too long given the variation, in fact the length probably helped spread out the bits where they’re maybe titting about too much. One to stick back on the rotation list.
Really fun!
While not their best album (That honor is reserved for Demon Days), this is still a solid, heavy hitting album that introduced the world to the Gorillaz.
very catchy and surprisingly chill enough to be used a studying music. some of the vocals are a bit too obnoxious but the rest of the songs make up for it.
The debut album might feel a tad plain and self-indulgent at point but it is honestly still a classic album. It is foundational, tapping into something new that defined their later work. What I enjoy about this particular LP is the blend between a quirky alternative rock which is laden with trip-hop beats. It has a distinct aesthetic with its hip-hop production that still incorporates pop and rock elements to create something unique. You may not like Damon Albarns vocal delivery but I believe that it elevates a lot of these songs. He can be quirky, serious or melancholic and it suits all the landscapes that each song creates. The instrumentation is really strong with cool arrangements and samples such as the melodica of "Tomorrow Comes Today" or the horns in "Rock the House". The flow of Del is unmatched and "Clint Eastwood" is just an overall excellent song. After simping so much, I have to say that the latter half of the album is weak with tracks that feel unfinished. However, there are so many bangers on here that the album still shines.
Hell yeah
the precursor to a new sound and type of band
Great album better than I remember
Some great standout singles and the less "big" tracks are also still pretty catchy
I think Gorillaz is Damon's best project. That said, the Del song's are by far the best and I'd rather listen to Deltron 3030 for my Del/Automator/Kid Koala kick. However, this does in a pinch.
Awesome, Classic Trip-Hop
FINALLY SOMEONE LET ME OUT OF MY CAGE TIME FOR ME IS NOTHIN CUS IM COUNTIN NO AGE NOW I COULDNT BE THERE NOW YOU SHOULDNT BE SCARED &c &c
I do like the thumpiness of this. Am going to listen again in the car because I feel I will enjoy driving along to it very much indeed! It's good. Clint Eastwood is 5 star. Gravity is great. Not every track worked, for me. But a strong album, for sure.
Love this album!
Ahhh I thought I’d like this more being a blur fan but there’s a lot of experimental songs. Still good though.
Oh this one was one that I had relistened to recently and massively enjoyed this second time around. I think it's interesting both how famous Gorillaz' first album is while also being kind of underrated compared to Demon Days or Plastic Beach, and I mean I get that the rest of the songs can be more on the kind of slow trip hop and dub not a lot of people are into but personally? Especially after such a rainy day as today in my city? A huge industrial city? It feels perfect in such an moody and urban environment, which in a way I do kinda miss about early Gorillaz, the feeling of gloom and more urban sort of flavor compared to their later music (which is still good though), even the artwork during phase 1 is what I prefer because it felt so cartooney in the most perfect way, but still weird enough to be its own thing. I don't know, I just really like this one even if it's not the most consistent album in their catalog
Maybe not the world's greatest album, but this just hit this morning on my way to work. Plus Clint Eastwood is a classic.
Two self-titled albums back to back? Really great for a band with members who don't really exist, with some bangers I didn't even know about before. Will be adding Punk and Sound Check to my rotation
This band was early on the virtual scene. I like their blur of synth-pop, world, and electronic...which in and of themselves are not my genres, but when blended, I like it here.
After making us go woo hoo the man brought the melodica and dub to America. They have better albums but this one is chock full of left field ideas that for the most part work. And that's just the musical part - certainly the best animated band since the Archies. Damon Albarn don't mess.
Interesting seeing the blur between Demon Days and whatever band Damon Albarn was in before Gorillaz. Soulchild went nuts on that remix btw
Probably a 3.5 but rating up
you can really feel the bones of blur in this which works for me when my default genre is britpop
I fell in love with them after seeing them in concert several years ago. That concert is easily in my top three concerts of all time. Having said that, this isn’t in my top tier of favorite albums from their discography. I actually prefer their later albums. That doesn’t mean this isn’t a banger; their mix of pop, alternative and hip-hop is amazing and innovative, especially for the time it came out. And all from a “fake” band that’s built a whole para social cinematic world that only enhances the music. In a world of Spotify driven A.I. playlists it’s clear Gorillaz were showing us a peek into the coming future.
Bangin album. TOMORROW COMES TODAY is the goat
A good album, I liked Clint Eastwood the most but I also enjoyed Slow Country and 19-2000 Soulchild Remix.
Great and unique album. Even this many years after the success of the album there is no other band that has had the sound and associated success as the Gorillaz.
i love the monkeez with 3-D and pasta
I don't know if I've ever really listened to them before? They're pretty good. I like the vibe.
Don't think I've ever listened to the album before. It wasn't what I had expected but I really enjoyed it.
I'm gonna go 4.5 on Gorillaz. I think the Dan the Automator/Damon Albarn collab is really cool and there's a lot of interesting styles coming into play here. You get Del tha Funkee Homosapian, Chris and Tina from Talking Heads, Miro Hitori from Cibo Matto, and even Ibrahim Ferrer shows up for a song. There's a ton of really cool tracks that go beyond "Clint Eastwood". "5/4", "Punk", "Sound Check (Gravity)", and my personal favorite, "Slow Country".
A funny and cool album...
niceu
Got some real groovy stuff, not my favourite from them but definitely a hit debut album for sure, sounds NOTHING like blur 👍
The problem with Damon's experiment with Gorrillaz is that it's .... experimental. So, some experiments work (eg Clint Eastwood) and others...well. Do rather outlive the welcome. Overall, well worth listening to, but for my taste, some tracks are skippable. (YMMV.)
I agree its not their best album. But for sheer experimentalism & as the debut for the project I fw it
Great album. Only 4 instead of 5 stars for not being Demon Days.
Not something I listen to regularly, but I can't deny the creativity
You know, Gorillaz is actually a really interesting project if you think about it. You have the frontman of one of the biggest britpop bands of the 90s working with a comic book artist to create a virtual band with actual lore and a universe to it that ends up becoming arguably more popular than said britpop band. That's interesting, right? Anyways, let's talk about their self-titled debut album. It's pretty good! On top of its whole existence, another one of the most interesting things about Gorillaz is the genre blend in their music. I'd say it has rock as the base, but the elements of electronic, hip-hop, funk, and other genres do a lot to create a style that you can't really find in any other bands. One of my favorite things about this album is just how much variety there is in the songs on this album. There's 15 songs here, and none of them blend together. Some songs lean more into an electronic, almost trip-hop-like style like "Tomorrow Comes Today," while other songs like "Rock the House" focus more on the hip-hop elements. You have time-signature experiments on the song "5/4," some funkier songs like "19-2000," and songs that blend everything together in a way that really shows off why Gorillaz is as popular as it is like "Clint Eastwood." Some of the songs don't hit as hard as the ones I mentioned, but the best songs on here are really good. I like Damon Albarn's singing here. Oops. Sorry. I killed the immersion. I like 2-D's singing here. I know this doesn't really affect the content's of the music, but I've always like the general aesthetic of Gorillaz. It's pretty cool. Overall, I'm sure there are better Gorillaz albums out there. I've especially heard great things about Demon Days and Plastic Beach. I would definitely include one of those albums over this one if I made a list like this myself, but this album is still a strong first showing for a pretty cool music thing. Solid 4/5.
Wonderfully interesting. Nothing quite reaches Clint Eastwood, though.
This one was tough for me to decide. Gorillaz (and also Blur) has always been one of those bands where I like a few tracks but not really anything else they've made. I think it's down to how experimental it is and most of those experiments then end up not being successful for my tastes. I often feel like it would probably be really cool if I was on drugs. Long story short I was trying to decide if 'Clint Eastwood', which is a certified banger, is enough to cary the album all on its own, and I'm not quite sure it is... Standouts 5/4 Clint Eastwood 4/5
cool
Gorillaz are a "virtual band" - a band comprised of fictional characters, that is primarily the work of Damon Albarn, and cartoonist Jamie Hewlett. The band makes music that weaves rap, hip-hop, and alt-rock into their version of trip hop. Their debut album was an international success, supported by extensive touring - making the band not just a cartoon entity, but instead a group with a designed, "branded" side to their public image. The album includes "Clint Eastwood," featuring Del the Funky Homosapian rapping, so titled because the melody is close to the theme song from the movie "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly." The band regularly collaborates with a range of musicians; the band's catalog has something of a rolling cast.
Good
There is way more lofi and trip hop on this thing than I remember as a teenager. No wonder it was an album I skipped so much of lol. Listening back now though, I am getting a better appreciation of what Damon was trying to accomplish, although I think the vision is a bit all over the place. Still, alot of quality on it.
Alternative Digital Hip hop? - Hip hop mixed with electronic sample loops, record scratching, crooning voices, and repetition served to create an alternative digital sound that ushered in musical trends for the new millennium. I like the alternative feel and the genre switching but seek something more upbeat. They said it best themselves in “Left Hand Suzuki” to “…the most important thing is listening, the recording of the music”
Pretty good, and more stylistically varied than I thought it would be from knowing Clint Eastwood
Pretty fun. Del The Funky Homosapien really crushed it with Clint Eastwood. Can't wait for Demon Days to pop up on here.
There's a couple 10/10 tracks on here, and Clint Eastwood is a 12/10 for me, but the quality is not consistent, so a lot of the album feels like weird experimental Albarn filler. Bonus star for the entire virtual band concept.
this record marks the inception of an ambitious project blending animation, music, and diverse genres into something truly revolutionary. Damon Albarn’s brainchild, alongside Jamie Hewlett’s striking visual artistry, transcended the boundaries of what we thought a "band" could be, delivering an album that feels as fresh today as it did at the turn of the millennium. From the very first track, “Re-Hash,” it’s clear that Gorillaz is not your conventional album. The laid-back, reggae-tinged groove sets the tone for the eclectic journey ahead. Albarn’s hazy vocals feel effortlessly cool, introducing listeners to the essence of Gorillaz: genre-blurring soundscapes with a cheeky edge. One of the standout tracks, Clint Eastwood, he haunting melody, driven by a hypnotic bassline and eerie melodica, is paired with Del the Funky Homosapien’s unforgettable verses. The song feels like a conversation between the digital and human worlds, perfectly encapsulating the band’s ethos of combining disparate elements into cohesive brilliance. What struck me most while revisiting this album is its ability to balance light-hearted fun with darker undertones. Tracks like “Tomorrow Comes Today” and “Gravity” delve into more introspective territory, with moody beats and melancholic melodies. These songs give the album depth, revealing a contemplative side beneath the animated façade. The production throughout the album is another highlight. Hip-hop, dub, rock, electronica, and even punk all collide in a seamless blend. It’s a testament to the creative vision behind Gorillaz that none of this feels forced or chaotic. Instead, it feels like a celebration of musical diversity If I have any criticism, it’s that the album occasionally leans too heavily on its experimental nature. Some tracks feel more like sketches than fully fleshed-out songs. While this rawness can be endearing, it occasionally disrupts the album’s flow. That said, Gorillaz is an album that thrives on its imperfections. Its rough edges, unpredictable turns, and unapologetic weirdness are precisely what make it special. It’s not trying to fit into a mould, it’s breaking the mould entirely.
This starts damon albarns reign of terror. I honestly forgot there were remixes on here!!! I was making rice while listening to this so i hope when i listen to rock the house in the future i think of the smell of garlic onion and pork.
re-listened live, the soulchild remix still slaps, fun if bit of a mixed bag, light 7
8/10 Damon Albarn lashes out at MTV by doing some real goofy shit. Still greatly appreciate the Hip Hop and Dub influences, you can tell how much respect and love he had for what he was doing on this album. Lot of nice middle and high school memories had listening to this album, not the most perfect album in the world but special to me nonetheless :)
A much cooler idea on paper than it is an album to listen to. Lots of interesting ideas going on but could definitely use another run past quality control. The List is once again proven to be mental in the fucking head though, this was the only album included from Gorillaz but it has since been removed.
4.5/5. Wanted to listen to this stoned but was afraid I’d fall asleep so held off on it. Maybe I’m too dependent on the Green if I keep thinking “wow this was be so much better if I was high…” But at any rate, I think Damon is such a talented artist, he was still in Blur when he started this side project and you could already hear his level of commitment.
The only Gorillaz album that feels dated to me. Still great with a lot of nice music that really captures the time period
Enjoyed more than I thought I would
I was really excited to listen to this as a whole. It wasn’t as good as their 2nd album but still good enough and it was the perfect album to listen to after a stressful day at work.
Meh I think Demon days is a better album but this has some good hits on. The remix of 19-2000 slaps and I hadn't actually heard the DnB version of Clint Eastwood and that also goes hard
I’m aware of the imagery of this band and maybe a hit. But I don’t get. My first inkling was to skip this album. But I hear about them all the time so I figured I should give it a go. First track is good so far. I didn’t not know if I’d listen again, but this is good. Ok. “Clint Eastwood” is the song I know. So this is a good album. I still don’t know if I will listen again, but I definitely don’t hate it.
The amount of times I've listened to this in the past, it would be hard to not be biased. Admittedly (before listening) the album can be a bit all over the place but that's also part of the charm! Demon Days perfected the projects of formula of pulling from all sorts of influences, but this laid the foundation for it. Great album with some absolute classics that still stand out, but there's a few areas that feel more likely sketches.
considering this was an album that was a new project made by someone who had created multiple albums previously, this feels amazingly like a debut album from a band. It never hits the heights of demon days or PB, but every song is at least good, and the whole thing has a singular vibe that carries on throughout the album. some corny moments, like dels rap on rock the house, but generally tight with no obvious skips or moments to lose. gets a four because there aren't any half stars on this and its not a 5
it's pretty crazy to realize the staying power of some samples and a groovy drum beat from the 90s. Classic loops and timeless melodies make this album a great one to put on repeat.
First Listen: July 18 2023 I LOVE GORILLAZ AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH great debut, clint eastwood and 19-20000 are classic. def one of their weaker albums tho, demon days is far better
I do remember this album when it came out. I dismissed it as gimmicky and never really listened. Maybe it’s years later and now that it’s influenced pretty nearly everything that’s come since (pop, lo-fi, folk, HipHop (is that too far?) I can see Aug I’ve missed. My kids embraced this without bias and turned me around. Damon Albarn as visionary.
Great album. I prefer their follow up (demon days) but I remember this feeling so fresh and new when it was released and still love it. Doesn’t take itself too seriously but still sounds fantastic on good speakers.
As another reviewer put it: "I find it doesn't achieve the same effect on me as it did back in the day, but nevertheless it's still a great and innovative album." I'll second that opinion, as the album didn't truly 'wow' me (listening in 2024) but the songwriting is still excellent, and "Clint Eastwood" absolutely still slaps. I found myself giving "Double Bass" multiple listens - man, that one is DIRTY, in the best way possible.
Baš mi fino sjeda ovaj album. Davno sam to slušala i stvarno nisam duugo duuugo, tako da mi je skroz fora sad novim ušima poslušati. Osim najvećih hitova, Tomorrow Comes Today mi je skroz oke stvar. Pa baš onako fino popodnevno, eto. 4/5, 7.5/10.
8/10 Fantastican prvi album multimedijalnog projekta bivseg frontmena Blura, Damona Albarna. Nisam ga bas preferirao kad je izasao jer su mi spotovi ko klincu bili nepovezani i apstraktni, ali 20+ godina kasnije cijenim svako izdanje Gorillaza iako daleko od toga da mi je svaki album dobar. Ovog dosta volim, najvise zbog toga sto je bio dosta inovativan za svoje vrijeme (ne samo s glazbene strane), imao je dosta kolaboracija koje su postale temeljni sastojak i za kasnije albume, te su se pomijesali mnogi žanrovi u meni dosta logican i smisleni "đumbus". Tesko mi je izdvojit najdraze stvari, ali na ovo slusanje bi istaknuo Re-Hash i Double Bass. Kasniji albumi su mi jos bolji tako da se nadam jos kojem na ovom popisu!
abcdefghi boool bom
I have always enjoyed this - it has a few weird spots and a few dead spots, but most of it is fresh, innovative and fun.
i ain’t happy :( i’m feeling glad :D i got sunshine in a bag :D i’m useless :( but not for long :D
Good album that was ahead of its time. Better than the sum of it's parts but not thatany actual good songs though
Nostalgic for me, second half of this album is so strange though
Not quite a masterpiece in my mind, but a banger of debut album. The whole concept of the digital band is great, well executed and it's no surprise they're still around 20+ years later. Great record musically, with still one of the best songs of the 2000s on it (Clint Eastwood).
I'm not sure what to say other than I like this album a lot. It brings back a lot of fun memories. Genre-wise it's a bit all over the place, but there is some unique stylistic sense that holds it all together. Beats the hell out of anything britpop and that one of the Gallagher brothers hated this album is all the endorsement it needs really. "Latin Simone" is probably my favorite track on this album but there are so many classics. 8/10
This is a classic, takes me right back to college.
8/10 I’m a fan of Albarn’s work - including Gorrilaz - and don’t listen to this as much as the subsequent 2 albums. I had expected this to not have aged particularly well, but I was wrong. The simple - almost old-fashioned - production of DTA has held up really well, the songs are solid, the songwriting good. Songs with Del are the highlights here. It’s Albarn, so the influences are wide. Lots of punk/new wave, Clash, Fall, Beasties in here. Maybe there is a little too much “getting rejected Blur ideas out” here, but that had ceased by the next album. Where it was route one poppy - Clint Eastwood is a huge standout - the direction for the band is set and clear. Best: Clint Eastwood
Following the success of Blur in the wake of '90s britpop, frontman Damon Albarn found himself inspired by the growing popularity of trip hop near the turn of the millennium. While Albarn had been experimenting more with the previous two Blur albums (s/t and 13), Gorillaz seems more like a bunch of song ideas that wouldn't fit well with Blur. Musically, this s/t debut sees Albarn also reaching into his network and collaborating with a number of fantastic artists, including Dan the Automator, Del tha Funky Homosapien, and Tina Weymouth along with Chris Frantz. The quality on this album tends to range from impeccable classics to just fine. Clocking in at just over an hour, I don't think much would be lost by cutting off a few of the weaker tracks (including the remixes). It's an all-around strange album but it's strong points justify its existence more than anything. That's all I'll say on the music. But it would be disingenuous to view the album in isolation, no? Gorillaz wasn't just a Damon Albarn solo project, but a conceptualized virtual band with artwork from Jamie Hewlett (best known prior for the comic Tank Girl). This established the projected image of Gorillaz, not as a vanity solo project from a musician breaking off from his successful band, but as an expressive spoof on the contemporary music industry and the mega personalities of celebrities. The tour would have the actual performing band behind a screen while projected images and music videos of the virtual band were used to substitute the experience of seeing the actual band perform, though they would ditch this concept after the first tour. Despite, this Gorillaz were still able to maintain their presence as a virtual band by having surreal animated music videos, with recurring characters and a through thread of lore that fans could invest in. This shifted the spotlight off of the actual people behind Gorillaz, creating a sort of stand-in to avoid the usual hassle that comes with celebrity worship. The result is a more interesting, creatively fulfilling project that carries the music and the visuals in an equally important weight. For that, it earns an extra star.
Massive when it came out and still good now. Stand out tracks: - 5/4 - Clint Eastwood - Sound Check (Gravity) - Rock the house - 19-2000 - Latin Simone (Que pasa contigo)
Happy memory from my youth. Reminds me of what I liked about the artist Beck. Woo youth!
This is a great debut album and Clint Eastwood is still an all-time jam but Demon Days better be on this list because it's one of the best albums of all time despite the switch up in producers from Dan The Automator to Danger Mouse. Dan The Automator is a legendary producer though and glad he's made a second appearance on this list so far with the other being Dr. Octagon. This is also another Damon Albarn joint and anything he does is going to be decent at the very least. Also hoping to see more Del Tha Funkee Homosapien on this list because he's an underground hip hop legend and I think Both Sides Of The Brain and Deltron 3030 (with Dan The Automator) should easily make the cut for this list, those albums are top tier. Anyways, onto this album. Despite the powerhouse tracks of Clint Eastwood, Rock The House, Tomorrow Comes Today and 19-2000, there is a lot of filler tracks that aren't that memorable. It probably doesn't need to be an hour long and can trim some of the fat but still a solid effort and definitely belongs on the list just for being a fictional cartoon band with some insane talent behind it.
Dig the grooves....its better with eth animation of course.
🤘cool
Listened to this one for the first time a few months ago and really liked it. On revisit, I love how this sounds. Especially on a grey day like today - this creates such an atmosphere. The album becomes a bit too repetitive on the second half. When it's good it's brilliant, but most of it I found a bit boring. It's a 5 up to Clint Eastwood (and M1 A1), but a 4 overall.
Really great electric.
hay mejores albumes de gorilocos se puede decir
Cine
Great! Never really listened to this when it was around. It's good stuff.
7.5/10 A large variety of good ideas, but turning these ideas into coherent songs is something Gorillaz did much better on the albums that were about to follow. Shame these aren't in the list :( Highlights: Sound Check Clint Eastwood 19-2000 M1A1 (should have been the opener) Tomorrow Comes Today
4.0
Love the gorillaz,
This is #day85 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... unlike Blur, which funnily enough, I got just yesterday, Gorillaz holds a special place in my teenage years. I was 15 when Demon Days came out, and tracks like "Dare," "Dirty Harry," and "Feel Good Inc." were all over the radio and TV... Although I've never listened to the debut album straight through (same as the sophomore up until last year, I believe), I'm familiar with "Clint Eastwood," of course. Maybe a couple of other tunes as well. Truth be told, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the album flows; it’s an enjoyable, laid-back listen packed with dub, hip-hop, and trip-hop hooks. The project is truly one of a kind, there's been nothing quite like it before or since. I mean... virtual band in 2001, man. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day 86.
It's da Gorillaz
It grows on you.
Already familiar with this one and love it. Not quite as much as plastic beach or demon dayz, but it's good.
Good experimental first step of genre blending, definitely a bit more on the incomplete side to my ears, but still holds more than a couple fun and engaging songs
just one of the coolest ideas for a band ever!
Such a strong start and they only got better with time.
Solid
Fun
I really loved this album when it came out and listening to this again really dates me. Their newer stuff is so much darker, and listening back it really feels like an experiment that got away from Damon albarn. I think the blur albums after this album were so much better because of this as well as the rest of the Gorillaz albums became way more nuanced, but this now sounds like a guy noodling with some musical toys. Still really good, but not as good as I remember
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).
Interesante. Muy conceptual en algunas partes
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…
Decent first album. With some great hits, it's interesting to hear their experimentations and what everyone tries to bring to the album.
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.
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 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).
I’ve always loved this album, although it’s not one of my favorite Gorillaz albums