18 replies to this topic

[Overstreet]

Pitchfork on Gorillaz' new album:

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Lots of Gorillaz updates today! Just hours after first single "Stylo" (featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack) leaked, it has been announced that the new Gorillaz album, Plastic Beach, will be out in the U.S. on March 9 via Virgin. "Stylo" will be be officially released January 26.

Here's the story behind the album, according to a press release: "The band have taken up residence, recording on a secret floating island deep in the South Pacific, a Plastic Beach HQ, made up of the detritus, debris and washed up remnants of humanity. This Plastic Beach is the furthest point from any landmass on Earth; the most deserted spot on the planet."

Guests on the album include Snoop Dogg, Lou Reed, Barry Gibb, De La Soul, Mark E. Smith from the Fall, Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals, and Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of the Clash.

[Tyler]

So, they recorded it on the island from Lost?

[Andy Whitman]

tyler1984, on 22 January 2010 - 01:28 PM, said:

So, they recorded it on the island from Lost?

Possibly not. But it's certainly where they found the guests. Who knew that Barry Gibb was still alive?

[Josh Hurst]

Neil McCormick just posted a first-impression review on Twitter:

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[B]rainmelt channel hopping, multi-tasking attention deficit disorder pop. I feel like I've listened to 3 albums at the same time.

[Josh Hurst]

Here's McCormick's full article.

[Josh Hurst]

Irish Times:

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This is a Lernaean Hydra of an album. It displays a colossal sense of ambition and it succeeds in scaling some vertiginous heights. It contains some of the most exhilaratingly different music you’ll hear all year. It’s a freakout on an Oceanic daydream.

Not entirely sure what all that means, but it sure makes me want to hear the album.

[Andy Whitman]

Josh Hurst, on 26 February 2010 - 09:13 AM, said:

Irish Times:

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This is a Lernaean Hydra of an album. It displays a colossal sense of ambition and it succeeds in scaling some vertiginous heights. It contains some of the most exhilaratingly different music you’ll hear all year. It’s a freakout on an Oceanic daydream.

Not entirely sure what all that means, but it sure makes me want to hear the album.

I'm hearing it as more of a Thebean Cynogriffon of an album. Jeesh. And scaling vertiginous heights doesn't sound all that great, either. It's a long way down. We're talking about rock 'n roll, right?

[Josh Hurst]

Streaming at NPR!

[Hugues]

Thanks for the streaming link. I'm playing it for the first time. I'm at the Lou Reed sung track. So far it's a pleasant listen, but nothing terrific either. I like the following track right now, though, quite poppy. I guess I'm more addicted to pop than hip hop. Hip hop sounds like an environment to me, whereas pop offers mental landscapes.

Edited by Hugues, 01 March 2010 - 12:03 PM.

[Josh Hurst]

Here's my review.

Is no one else enjoying this one? I think it's a blast, myself.

[Josh Hurst]

The Quietus review is the best that I have read, and comes closest to summarizing my own feelings about the album.

[Josh Hurst]

Has anyone noticed that the Barry Gibb song was, apparently, left on the cutting room floor?

Disappointing.

But the album itself is more impressive to me every time I play it. This may be the purest pop record Albarn has ever cut.

[Hugues]

After two or three listens, I think this record can only be overrated. But it's just me, and more listens could change my mind. Unfortunately, there are many other records out there requiring listens as well, so you have to make choices!

Which 2010 releases did I purchase so far? Freedy Johnson, Owen Pallett, Vampire Weekend, Get Well Soon, Beach House, Patty Griffin, Scout Niblett, Josh Rouse, Shearwater, Joanna Newsom, Anaïs Mitchell, She and Him, Jeanne Cherhal (a French one)... and I sure won't miss the Loudon and Rufus Wainwright's new ones (not together - not yet), neither the Living Sisters (a trio with Eleni Mandell) nor the New Pornographers, nor the new Françoise Hardy (out around March 26). I'm sure you've heard of the latter (another French one). Ah! Françoise Hardy!

Do I digress? Not completely: Damon Albarn made a duet with Françoise once (he's a fan)!

Edited by Hugues, 17 March 2010 - 04:25 AM.

[Josh Hurst]

When it was announced that Gorillaz were taking over for U2 at Glastonbury, I wondered exactly how a Gorillaz show even WORKED.

Well, Neil McCormick has the answer, and it's kinda cool.

[Tyler]

Josh Hurst, on 24 June 2010 - 07:23 AM, said:

When it was announced that Gorillaz were taking over for U2 at Glastonbury, I wondered exactly how a Gorillaz show even WORKED.

Well, Neil McCormick has the answer, and it's kinda cool.

That link isn't working for me. Is this the story you're talking about?

[Tyler]

$5 on Amazon.

[Tyler]

Live in Damascus.

[Tyler]

I downloaded the album for $1.99 on Amazon. It's part of their Black Friday promotion.

[Tyler]

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN-wPYsKbI&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.c...feature=related[/url]

Featuring Andre 3000 (Outkast) and James Murphy (LCD Soundsystem). The song is part of a cross-promotion thing they're doing with Converse. A video will follow, and I've heard there will be a 12-minute version of this song, just in case this isn't enough for you.