The Good, The Bad & The Queen

So every time Damon Albarn has a jam session with someone, is it gonna show up on the list?

10/10 I FCUKING LOVE DAMON ALBARN

That was a delightful surprise. Exceptional musicianship, great performances, and out-of-this-world production. The only reason this doesn't get a full-5 score is because several of the songs feel like they're... stuck. They build tension and feel like they're heading to a climactic bridge or something... but never quite get anywhere. They just fizzle and stop. They're great songs. But they don't go anywhere. I really did enjoy the hell out of this. I just wish the band hadn't been content to just let these songs circle the hole without ever sinking the putt.

Pretty good, but for the life of me, I will not remember this.

Rancid. Has to be one of the worst 'supergroup' experiments that ever came to light. Damon Albarn has the most grey, most boring, most featureless singing voice imaginable.

I had never heard of this band so as soon as I heard Damon albarns voice I guessed that it was another one of his projects just like the gorillaz or blur or something but apparently it’s the 2000s art rock version of blues traveler, which is pretty cool. I had the same reaction to this as I normally do to Frank Sinatra/big band stuff in that I thought it was totally fun and pleasant all around even though nothing really stuck out to me. The first track and Herculean were my favs.

English super group, huh? Feels less than that. Certainly something from 2007. It didn’t really stick with me kinda in one ear out the other. Cool cover though!

Amazing album. I love Blur, the Clash and other associated acts. Only makes sense i would love this album. Going in regular ritation

Didn't have to listen to this to give it a 5. Probably one of Damon Albarn's top 3 albums of any of his projects. I love this! The atmosphere; the British 80's come to life. The instrumentations (the bass playing by Simonon), the song writing, lyrics and melodies and the production are great!

I would call this psychedelic prog folk dub. Too psychedelic for my taste, but it's good (if you can stand Damon Albarn's singing). Favorite song: Herculean

Coming off from one of his most commercially and critically successful albums, Gorillaz’s Demon Days, it’s surprising that Damon Albarn would go in a more Baroque-esque direction on his next album but it ends up working remarkably well Favourite tracks: History Song, Northern Whale, Kingdom of Doom, Herculean, Nature Springs, Three Changes

This was a lot of fun. I marked it for further listening later on. Did they call the queen ugly? Feels like they called the queen ugly. Best track: Kingdom of Doom

Man this album is boring. I forgot I was even listening to it at one point, I had to double check it was still playing because my brain had tuned it out as white noise. I only 'came to' because of how shit The Bunting Song is. There's really not much to say about this, it's not offensive or bad necessarily, it's just boring as fuck. I constantly kept looking at the track list hoping I was close to the end. Go listen to the Gorillaz instead.

Damon Albarn is extremely overrated. 4/10

This is fascinating, it sounds equally like it could have come out yesterday and as if it couldn’t have come out any time other than 2007. It’s the echoes of Burial’s Untrue that really sell it for me, but there’s an element of folkiness that I also really enjoy. It’s a mix that I don’t think should work, but it’s just kinda fun, mostly because I think Damon Albarn sounds like he’s having fun, experimenting with stuff that he couldn’t get away with in either Blur or Gorillaz. I think I might have to give this a five. The excellent closing track is clinching it for me

I actually loved this album. The sound of this group kind of reminds me of other bands I listen to so it was very enjoyable.

Absolutely amazing album, one of my favorites. I remember listening to this album while traveling around the UK. Will forever be a 5/5 for me.

Amazing lineup of musicians but I found it boring until the last tune, which I liked a lot. Should have been a single instead of an album.

If this wasn’t made by a supergroup of legends who play better on their worst days than 99% of the global population, no one would say this album is well made, memorable, or noteworthy. Too British and too bland for me to care.

Just posted phenomenal. These songs are moody and interesting. Of course, it’s all anchored by an all time rhythm section.

The Good, The Good & The Good

how is this so good 9/10

better than Gorillaz

Dunno how I originally stumbled across this but I've been a fan for like 15+ years now. Love hearing the Gorrilaz guy do something a bit different.

Better than Blur for being quieter, moodier, less reaching after cleverness, and considerably less impressed with itself. And for DA's obvious decision to make a Radiohead record. Musically it's interesting, vocally pretty flat, and not especially dynamic, with a vaguely ominous feel throughout (hello Danger Mouse). Feels decidedly non-AfroBeat-y given the drummer. Glad to have heard. Not especially likely to hear again though wouldn't rule it out completely.

Really liked this, it's going into my regular playlist.

Fuck England. Your music is too highly represented on this website.

This album is full of stupid songs, which tracks with the past productions of the lead singer of Blur. whinge whinge whinge

If you like artists that wear their influences on their sleeves, but have zero interest in exploring their influences at all, Damon Albarn might be the guy for you.

Solid album. The rhythm section is tight. This album sounds like some highly skilled musicians having fun. No bite of the commercial apple has been taken. Another good discovery from the generator.

Well, I wouldn't have known that this is a super group, didn't recognize the names of any of the musicians and although I do know their bands, I don't think any of those bands are amazing (although they do all have a couple of good tracks). Nonetheless, this was a good album. Musicianship was great, songwriting was tight and effective. Not even much more to say about it. Just a good album at the top of its genre's game. Enjoyed this one a lot.

Catchy, fun, and unique. You can hear the similarities to the members’ other bands, but they come together to create their own new thing. If I had to explain them briefly I would say an analog version of the Gorillaz.

Damon alborn again baby

Top Three Songs: 1) Three Changes 2) Kingdom of Doom 3) Behind the Sun Bottom Three Songs: 1) ‘80s Life 2) Herculean 3) Nature Springs

9/10. Very unique sounds while keeping a steady rhythm on each track, made for a very interesting listen through. Added History Song, 80s Life, Kingdom of Doom, Behind the Sun, Nature Springs and the title track to the playlist.

I remember reading a long time ago that Damon Albarn had another band as well as Blur and Gorillaz, but for some reason I just never got around to listening to The Good, The Bad & The Queen until now. It sounds closer to the slower Gorillaz songs to my ear that it does to Blur. I wish I could have a Damon on standby to sing to me - his voice is just so delightfully imperfect and human. This album as a whole was exactly what I wanted it to be. It’s hard to find anything I didn’t live about it.

How could it not be great? The king of drummers, a bass player with attitude and riffs aplenty, a guitarist happy to play his part without overstepping, and a vocalist and lyricist who barely writes a duffer. Oh, and one of the great producers of the era! One of the defining supergroups - such a shame they shone so briefly.

Gorrilaz singer chill vibes

great!

Loved it.

Ya decía yo que la voz me sonaba ...

Reminiscent of the trippy '60s psych rock and the inventive '70s art rock. This album is a melancholic, dreamy, modern rock masterpiece.

Vraiment une belle surprise, dans sa subtilité et ses thèmes, des arrangements mélodieux sans être trop doux.

obviously

2007 - Similar to Gorillaz - Art Rock; Alternative Rock

If there is one excellent side effect of the BritPop fetish this list has, it is more exposure to this excellent album. I've loved it for so many years. It is so hypnotic between the keys and the amazing rhythm section (RIP Tony Allen). Very happy to have listened to it once again this morning.

It is a good music.

Ya decía yo que la voz me sonaba ...

Very cool!

Brilliant album. Another masterpiece by Damon

Really like this album, and it is holding up well. Each member of the band brings something special to the ensemble, and there's a pleasing amount of space in the mix where you can hear and appreciate each individual part as well as the whole. I first hear this when it came out, was already a fan of Damon Albarn & Danger Mouse, who produced it, and it led me to becoming a big fan especially of Tony Allen as well - his drumming really stands out and is a defining feature of their sound.

Radiohead and Gorillaz had one baby and it grew up with good insurance and was able to attend therapy and find a decent SSRI to mitigate its tough times. Nice album.

Definitely a mood on this. I've always really liked it. Very British and glum.

It took me a few songs to get into it, and I didn't realize at first who the lead singer was (just listened to it blind.) Since I'm a fairly big fan of Blur, it wasn't really surprising to me that I ended up liking this album quite a bit by the end and found myself putting it back on again shortly after. There's something here that is very compelling and I will revisit.

We won't make another record, and we didn't properly name the band, because a name is for a marriage. cool ethos for a super group. Northern Whale is a solid song. the drums on Three Changes are solidly wonky.

Danger Mouse.

this was an interesting listen, i didn’t know this was damon albarn’s 3rd band, he kept the quality in it as its was in the demon days era and i heared a lot of the african undertones

Will listen again.

Grows on me with multiple listens. Last 3 tracks are the best. Interesting choice for the list.

Decent album, but I'm not at all sure that this is a "must listen". Could have been any other Albarn side project, but maybe they're all on the list and I just haven't gotten to them yet. Bass lines get this from 3 to 4.

I *feel* like I've not only heard of this band before, but also that I might even own this album, yet I'm not entirely sure that's the case. Regardless, I really enjoyed it, especially the Gorillaz vibe (courtesy of Damon Albarn's presence and primary role in the project, but also with at least a couple of the other Gorillaz members participating). I liked nearly all of the songs, but particularly "History song", "Northern whale", "Nature springs" and "Three changes". It doesn't quite have the variety of, say, Gorillaz' "Demon Days" or "Plastic Beach", but the semi-concept-album approach of London life is intriguing, although at times a bit monochromatic. I also liked discovering that the collection actually has a number of Damon-Albarn-involved albums, mainly with a number of "Blur" albums; he's a really interesting artist/musican (to me, at least), and it's a nice counter-balance to the overweighted number of more classic artists and bands (although I'm not sure about having 3 different Blur albums, frankly, and bummed that there's only the one Gorillaz (debut) album).

Enjoyed this album. The first song, The History Song, is distinctive and sounds like the opening song for an edgy detective show a la The Handsome Family in True Detective, though more rock, less folk. The rest is a nice collection of well-done pleasant buzz-type songs.

I really enjoyed this! I had never heard of this Damon Albarn side project, but it’s like a mellow Gorillaz

fun. did not know this supergroup existed!

Enjoyed this one pretty well. It contained less Freddie Mercury than I originally expected. Favorite tracks: "Kingdom of Doom" and "Nature Springs."

One of these albums that is perfectly well made but that I would not have included in this list.

I think I enjoyed this more when it came out, but it is still a pretty decent album. Nature Springs is by far my favourite track, featuring Tony Allen's afrobeat drumming style.

Pretty fun. I've listened to this before. It's not a killer album but it is enjoyable. Nothing really grabs out and gets you but the playing is solid.

Very enjoyable. Slightly proggy art rock.

I enjoyed this a lot. Great drumming from Tony Allen in Soldier's Tale. The title track is excellent; I love the guitar tone. Also, really obviously a Danger Mouse production (that's a good thing). A high 4

I've never heard of the album or the project. But it's a lot of fun. That's exactly the kind of thing I do with One Album a Day. 4/5

Really cool! Didn’t know about this at all :0

I enjoyed that

This was a surprise. It was really good. Each song was a journey

History Song: If this intro is representative of the rest of the album then boy is the crowd gonna go mild for this one 80's Life: Interesting things going on with staccato strings here, this song definitely picked up a lot at the minute and a quarter mark as the backing and lead vocals worked well together. This song is arranged really well, mixing is great and it's a joy to listen to! Northern Whale: A bit of a drone, this song sort of blends into itself and didn't particularly grab me Kingdom of Doom: This song was good but in this song I became aware of what was irking me about this album so far. The mid 2000s bouncing piano line that was so popular at this time in music triggers a pavlovian response in me and reminds of how much I hated living in the 2000s. Looking past that, I am big fan of the return of the sweeping, distorted guitar work that was also on 80's Life. Cool song name, cool song! Herculean: Personally not what I would have picked as a single from this album. Arranged well, tasteful use of choiral vocals at the three quarter mark. I can see this song being played in Act 3 of a Danny Boyle movie about a rough-around-the-edges hero from council housing or some shit. Behind the Sun: A nice comedown from the last track (not that I disliked that), I think if I say I like the arrangement again on this track I'll sound like a broken record but these guys really know what they're doing. The Bunting Song: Not as fun as the other songs so far but not bad, bit of a drone. Nature Springs: You love to see it when you're enjoying what a song is doing and then it totally changes its vibe towards the end, the last minute of this song is a fantastic instrumental that just clicks for me. A Soldier's Tale: Good, short song. Three Changes: Opens like some circus music played by a shoegaze band, settles into a funky groove with british vocals that are NEARLY annoying. This song reminds me of getting drunk on only lager. Green Fields: I bet this song would have hit a lot harder in 2007 when the Iraq War was still going on and the boxing day tsunami was a fresh memory but this song kind of feels a bit kitschy now. Rega The Good, The Bad, The Queen: This song feels like a proper end track, totally ties the whole thing together. Nothing but good things to say about it. Had low expectations for this one and was pleasantly surprised!

A very pleasant surprise. I heavily fuck with the vocals on this, something about his voice makes me happy

I remember listening to this album when it came out and liking how unusual it was. My first reaction to seeing it on this list was surprise though. Surely, it's not even Damon Albarn's most noteworthy release by a mile. Upon revisiting it though, I have renewed affection for 'The Good, The Bad, and The Queen'. Particularly considering the status of the band members (including members of The Clash, The Verve and Africa '70). Usually you expect such an impressive supergroup to put out some big, chart-topping singles. Instead, the music is an unsettling portrait of a hyper bleak, but eerily beautiful, version of London. It's bizarre and tells a story that's quite unlike anything else I've heard. It owes a debt to some of the baroque pop of the 60s and 70s but feels like it's made by a post apocalyptic band of survivors trying to find joy amongst the rubble. At least that's the image that some to my mind. I'm always uncomfortable listening to this album but I find it very hard to stop. And surely that's one potential sign of a good piece of art.

My favorite Albarn album.

I wonder if I lived in London how I'd feel about this. Anyway, it's Damon Albarn, it's ok, I'll give it another spin some day. Fave: the title track

Hmmm, inoffensive enough, although not exactly captivating. I guess I enjoyed it enough while it was playing but nothing's really stuck with me, and I'm ambivalent amount more listens - might just not be in a receptive mood, I suppose. Fave track - "Northern Whale", maybe? "Three Chances" had me looking up the track name, too...

I'm a simple lady - I hear Damon Albarn, and I like. 4/5

I feel like this is a band that I'd be super into if I felt like getting super into a new band. Lol

I didn’t know this existed and now I do. It’s fairly good

Faktisk underligt jeg aldrig har hørt denne, jeg er ellers et ret stort albarn head

Har et meget nostalgisk forhold til den her, et af mine yndlings Damon Albarn projekter og han har mange fede projekter!

I didn't realize i enjoyed Damon Albarn's voice so much. Though I'm not particularly a Blur or Gorillaz fan, when he hits the tracks right (The Narcissist), they just hit, in his weird talking, not always melodic delivery. This album is pretty solid with the way that works for me... the first 5 tracks are stellar, with Northern Whale working best for me. A very enjoyable find.

Never heard of this before but knew Damon’s voice straight away. Very enjoyable.

Good stuff. Nostalgic to my late teens driving back and forth from tech college.

Damon Albarn jumpscare.

Damon, the musical magician.

Nice find, really enjoyed it. Not what I expected.

Not Damon Albarn’s best but still pretty good

This album was seamless. No skips!

Never heard of them before and was very impressed. This is why I signed up for this service. New music that, while not transcendent, introduced me to a new band that does a thing well.

Reading back through my Damon Albarn related reviews: - I dislike Blur, finding them mostly unremarkable. - Gorrilaz was better, but still lacked something special. - He laughably thought grunge was a passing fad. So my expectations were low coming into this album. Thankfully I’m committed to the process because this album is something special. The music is really good and I like his voice a lot.

Way better than I was expecting - a state of the nation report for the late 00s. Nice dubby basslines, the best non-Blur thing Albarn has done maybe?

Интересно записанный, сырой, но очень натуральный саунд

Had an interestingly gloomy tone to it on the first track which sets you up for what's to come later on. Honestly Damon Albarn's vocals carry the whole album for me personally. His singing is like the vocal personification of melancholy throughout the album which pairs well with the production. This was a solid listen, I'll definitely be coming back to a few of these tracks. Best - History Song, 80s Life, Northern Whale, A Soldier's Tale, and Three Changes No bad songs 3.5-3.75/5

I liked it 7/10

Albarn seems like kind of an annoying lil shit but I liked this