The Good, The Bad & The Queen

I remember when this was released, and I was genuinely excited. I've know Albarn for some of the more iconics song with Blur, and as teenager I listened a lot to the first Gorillaz. So a new project from the guy -- branded as a supergroup -- was super exciting. And I was a bit disapointed listening to it: it's an honest indie/alt rock album, but nothing absolutely outstanding. It's well written, well executed, it's not bad, but I wasn't particularly moved then and I doesn't feel like I'm more moved now. I don't know how to articulate this properly, but it sometimes remind me somehow of Belgian indie rock from the late 90s/early 00s (like Deus or Girls in Hawaii), and this (Belgian indie rock) is way better than this.

Just a note for international readers - not everyone in the UK lives in London, or wants to live in London, or even just visit it for a day out to remind themselves why they don’t want to live in London. Even if you’re a Londoner, a concept album about London from well known geezer Damon Albarn and pals is probably a bit much. It didn’t really grab me as each track seemed to just be indistinguishable droning over a bit of plinky plonky piano like a drunken sing along in the Queen Vic, but probably not as much fun.