For those unacquainted with the band Gorillaz, here’s a crash course. What began in 1998 as a “virtual band” created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett has since evolved into a sprawling multimedia art project that has lasted for over two decades. The band’s lineup consists of four fictional members: Murdoc, 2-D, Russell, and Noodle; all of whom have backstories that are expanded upon in music videos, comic strips, and the like. Together they’ve dabbled in a wide variety of genres, and collaborated with a dizzying array of pop icons, from Elton John to Snoop Dogg to Lou Reed. Their latest album, Cracker Island, is significantly more mellow than their previous work — and at times it’s a bit too mellow.
Having said that, the album’s opener, “Cracker Island” is anything but boring. It’s a pulsing funk roller-coaster of a song, fueled by a hypnotic Thundercat bassline. Albarn and Thundercat’s spacey vocals, combined with rambling lyrics about “the collective of the dawn” make you feel like you’re being drawn into a pleasant trance. The album’s marketing campaign is full of cult inspired imagery, and by the end of the first song you feel like you’ve had one cup of spiked Kool-Aid too many.
The album’s energy takes a nosedive on the next two tracks: “Oil” (featuring backup vocals from the legendary Stevie Nicks), and “The Tired Influencer.” By the time we get to “Silent Running” the vibes are so chill they’re almost sleepy. Luckily the next song, “New Gold” brings the energy back up. The chorus (sung by Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker) is deliciously infectious. “Baby Queen” is a dreamy recount of Damon Albarn’s real life meeting with the Princess of Thailand adorned with psychedelic synths and echoey vocals. “Tarantula” is somehow both funky and melancholic in a way that works. Both songs are enjoyable, but the production is noticeably clean and radio-friendly, a sharp contrast from the grimy hip-hop sound of the group’s earlier work.
Speaking of their earlier work, the album’s eighth song, “Tormenta,” has officially usurped the most popular Gorillaz song “Feel Good Inc.” on Spotify. This is probably thanks to Puerto Rican superstar (and Billboard’s Top Artist of 2022), Bad Bunny, whose smooth vocals are the perfect addition to this tropical track. “Tormenta” is probably the last high point on the album before “Skinny Ape” and “Possession Island” end the album with a whimper instead of a bang. For those craving a little more hip-hop, the deluxe version features tracks like “Controllah,” “Crocodillaz,” and “Captain Chicken.” After listening, it makes sense that those last two were cut from the final album, but in my opinion “Controllah” didn’t deserve to be snubbed.
Cracker Island, while a pleasant listen, isn’t the most ambitious Gorillaz album out there. The funkier, bassier tracks like “Cracker Island” and “New Gold” are sure to become fan favourites, and slower tracks like “Baby Queen” induce a feeling of pleasurable tranquillity. But between these high points, the album meanders. The synth-pop production blends many of the songs into a homogenous and flavourless smoothie. If this album is meant to evoke a vacation getaway, it does a decent job. But like all vacations, the longer you’re away, the more you start to wish you were back home.
Matthew Iddon was born at an exceptionally young age. He aspires to one day become old. He currently resides.