 | Tracklist:
1. Orchestral Intro
2. Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach
3. White Flag
4. Rhinestone Eyes
5. Stylo
6. Superfast Jellyfish
7. Empire Ants
8. Glitter Freeze
9. Some Kind of Nature
10. On Melancholy Hill
11. Broken
12. Sweepstakes
13. Plastic Beach
14. To Binge
15. Cloud of Unknowing
16. Pirate Jet
Release Date: 2010 | |
| | other reviews | TheSmoke (4.5)
Plastic Beach is an very good album that nerver gets boring, it´s dreamy and it´s not compareable ... | Deviant STAFF (4)
Round 3 for Albarn and co. proves that third time is still indeed the charm.... | piero (4)
Maybe Plastic Beach represents the beginning of the end of musical labeling, the start of an embrace... | DhA (4)
Not that different from previous releases, although the lack of a killer single may make this a fans... | Peter Tabakis (4)
Damon Albarn establishes himself as a pop auteur. Pop hits be damned, consistency rules here.... | insomniac15 (3.5)
After two brilliant efforts, Albarn & Co. are back with a bigger number, this time more serious and... | Plutonio (3)
Plastic Beach is another album from hip-hop's eclectic superheroes; this time their eclecticism can ... | Nick Butler STAFF (2.5)
An identity crisis caught on record.... | clavichordwolf (2)
Plastic Beach is nothing but candy-coated bullshit played for satire.... |
On 156 Lists
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| Summary: Album number three doesn't disappoint from the former Blur man. |
2 of 2 thought this review was well written
Gorillaz have always a bit of an enigma. Originally a concept by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett, with Del The Funkee Homosapien and Dan The Automator, over the years it has changed, bringing in Danger Mouse and multiple guest stars on 'Demon Days' (the bands second effort, after the self titled debut), till now, where it is mainly the work of Albarn and artist Hewlett. It also features some of Albarn's most expansive and ambitious work, and yet his most successful.
The idea of Gorillaz still being a side project is a bit silly now, third album in and millions of sales clocked in, but the fact that Albarn has this template seems to make him more ambitious and open to try out many new styles and ideas, which he couldn't do with, say, Blur. And let's not forget this is an animated band, which was the original concept behind the group.
However, unlike another animated band, The Archies, there is something a little more dark and visceral lying here. Let's look at the tracks. The album starts nice enough, with an orchestral intro that is destined to split people in two. Personally I'm indifferent but it's a nice start to the album. Then after what I think is personally a weaker song on the album courtesy of Snoop Dogg, Welcome To The Plastic Beach, the album picks up. The tunes come thick and fast, with White Flag, Superfast Jellyfish, and Empire Ants (Little Dragon is some sort of revelation) being some particular favourites.
Of course, one thing you'll notice about the album is the amount of collaborations on it. This is very much what 'Gorillaz' is about. It's like an episode of the sitcom 'Extras', where the guest stars are very much integral to the plot to the album, and while some may be more superfluous than others (Snoop Dogg and Mark E Smith, mainly) they all provide a different element to the album. Like Demon Days, it also makes some who could be considered has-been's regain their relevancy. Like Demon Days revitalised Shaun Ryder and De La Soul to record some of their best material in years, Plastic Beach turns Bobby Womack's emotional R&B/soul croon into one of the most soulful (and powerful) turns so far this decade in the wonderful first single 'Stylo'.
Of course, the album has some issues. Like the previous two, it tends to drag near the end, and it can be argued it's just a bit too long, and there isn't enough of Damon's voice on the album (or 2D). But these are minor squabbles in what's another success for Damon Albarn. It's a superb, eclectic album with big names and even bigger ideas. Damon Albarn said this was his most pop album he's ever made, and in a weird and wonderful way, it sort of is.
KEY TRACKS:
White Flag
Stylo
Superfast Jellyfish
Empire Ants
Some Kind of Nature
Broken
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
I think it's kind of annoying. Empire Ants is still my favorite track from this
Digging: Thinking Fellers Local 282 - Strangers From the Universe
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
i need to listen to this till. this review gives me high hopes for it.
Digging: mewithoutYou - Ten Stories Digging: mewithoutYou - Ten Stories | | | Album Rating: 3
Superfast Jellyfish is the only track that I thought was great. I probably won't get this.
Digging: Ne Obliviscaris - Portal of I Digging: Ne Obliviscaris - Portal of I | | | Album Rating: 4.5
album is boss.
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music | | |
this really needs a better review
| | | Album Rating: 4
Superfast Jellyfish and Empire Ants are the best tracks.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
this really needs a better review
hoping mine doesn't suck :D
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Really really want a staff review for this
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
Rhinestone Eyes is the best to me.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
This wouldn't be a bad first draft of a review. Definitely needs some work on commas, etc. Also, going a little more in-depth with the songs would be nice.
| | | Album Rating: 3 | Sound Off
@Matt - you should review it.
| | | Album Rating: 3
I'm looking forward to this. A lot.
Digging: Regina Spektor - What We Saw from the Cheap Seats | | |
Dear reviewer,
fix your run-on sentences and general grammar.
I should listen to this.
Digging: Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself Digging: Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself
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I should listen to this.
Yes, yes you should, and then you should review it so we can have a good review of this.
The other two reviews weren't terrible per-say, they were just frustratingly mediocre. I think if we'd had a staff review and THEN these two, these wouldn't seem so bad, it's just that a lot of people are getting annoyed at the lack of quality material.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
some kind of nature is a wonderful track. my friend says to get loyu reed metal machine music. is t worth it
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music | | |
Pretty sure we will have a staff review, though I can't remember who has dibs on it.
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Was contemplating reviewing this myself
Digging: Amon Tobin - Amon Tobin Digging: Amon Tobin - Amon Tobin
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^That sounds good, I love your reviews
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Deviant/unnamed staff to the rescue
| | | Album Rating: 3 | Sound Off
moar leik tihs album.
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