 | 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: 03/09/2010 | |
| | other reviews | sobelecta (4.5)
Album number three doesn't disappoint from the former Blur man.... | TheSmoke (4.5)
Plastic Beach is an very good album that nerver gets boring, it´s dreamy and it´s not compareable ... | 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 69 Lists
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| Summary: Round 3 for Albarn and co. proves that third time is still indeed the charm. |
28 of 29 thought this review was well written
“I’m so f*cking sick of drawing those characters” – Jamie Hewlett
I’ve always considered the Gorillaz a rather interesting enigma, an unusual entry into the music world. There are the obvious examples of course; I mean how seriously can you take an animated band that relies just as much on its back story as it does on actual music releases? And that’s where I’ve always managed to find a problem; I’ve no interest in a band/group that spends far too much time setting the scene when I’ve always found them lacking in the actual musical goods. That’s not to say I had written them off completely; both their self-titled effort and Demon Days were not without their charms, but it always seemed that they were unable to carry one idea throughout a whole album. While that obviously allowed the superior songs on each L.P to shine even more, both albums always seemed half realized and inflated with an air of pretentiousness and smugness. Needless to say, I believed that Gorillaz (read: Damon Albarn) were squandering their potential, wasting it away on songs that seemed catered to their eager audience, as opposed to songs that sounded like something Albarn really wanted to write for himself. Luckily Plastic Beach does a wonderful job of blowing away all the notions and feelings I ever had towards this band; and I couldn’t be more surprised and happy in equal measures.
Damon Albarn proclaimed in the build up to release date as saying that this was going to be the Gorillaz’ most pop oriented album to date. But, without a single track on here bearing any resemblance to ‘Feel Good Inc.’ or ‘Dare’ that really isn’t the case, and the album comes off a lot stronger as a result. There’s no overwhelming track to break the flow of the album, Plastic Beach rolls along at an almost soothing pace and all the tracks on offer serve only to compliment each other. While there are obvious highlights there’s no sense of any one song attempting to dominate the whole album, as such every track becomes integral and significant to the overall sound and theme of the album as a whole. But just as Demon Days and their self titled albums started, so does Plastic Beach; this isn’t an album that begins lightly, or remarkably strong either. Even with Snoop sounding more laid back than ever before with his pimpin’ drawl and rap dub approach coupled with a rather suitable overture acting as the introduction to the album, it’s not until ‘Rhinestone Eyes’ (brilliant) that Plastic Beach really feels like it’s begun. ‘Rhinestone’ is all dream and haze, with its ‘80’s throwback vibes and retro appeal. With its abstract poetic imagery “your rhinestone eyes are like factories far away”, it’s an early album highlight. And while containing all the necessary ingredients that make up a typical Gorillaz track, it still sounds fresh and full of life with its greedy synth literally bouncing off the walls.
‘Stylo’ starts up next, a genre mashing number and well deserving of the title “first single”. An addictive bass line leads the way forward as Mos Def drops in to lend his talents. It’s a brave track, relying more on Bobby Womack’s thunderous arrival (it’s rumored that his performance caused him to pass out in the studio) than a catchy chorus or hook to see it through. And it’s here that Damon deserves the round of applause that’s been long overdue, because I’d love to know how anyone would be able to make a track featuring Mos and Bobby Womack (his bottom wails are a treat) sound as if Gary Numan was sitting behind the production booth. Out of everyone that stumbled out of the wake of the whole ‘Britpop’ scene Albarn still remains the only chief player still interested in defining himself as a musician. At one end of the spectrum you have ‘Empire Ants’, all melancholic and minimal with only the pitter patter of a drum machine keeping Albarn’s suitable drawl company. And then at the other end there’s ‘Sweepstakes’ with it’s almost dancehall approach, bombastic in its splendor and hip hop aesthetic.
There’s enough going on in this album to make sure that it won’t be dropping off the radar anytime soon. And chances are it’ll take away as many awards as all their previous works, and so it should; the guest spot by Lou Reed (obviously out of his comfort zone) is a gem to hear and much more inspired than some of the group’s previous collaborations, and serves as just another of the many album highlights. But what I’m left wondering is will this album take away all those awards simply based on the Gorillaz stigma? Or will it survive on its own and manage the distance under its own steam? Because this is a different beast all together; this is a much more soothing and relaxing approach for the Gorillaz. It’s a snapshot of a colorful and inspiration filled mindset, and ends up standing head and shoulders above the rest of their discography. Whatever notions you have about animated characters making music this is an album that demands attention. It’s a lazy dub like ride that while running at a 100mph feels like it’s barely moving at all, it’s everywhere and nowhere all at once. Something good washed up on this beach.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
For Eclectic & Romulus
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Awesome album
Digging: Scaremaker - What Evil Have They Summoned...
| | | Album Rating: 3 | Sound Off
good review. pos.
but d00d, if you like albums without any standout songs to disrupt the flow. you should DEFINITELY check out panacea's a mind on a ship through time.
Digging: Madlib - Madlib Medicine Show #7: High Jazz | | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
It's not that I don't enjoy them, it's just i always felt that Demon Days revolved around Feel Good and Dare, every track here is almost each other's equal
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
Really wondering why Gorillaz are listed under hip hop
| | | Album Rating: 3
Because they incorporate it in some of their songs?
Digging: The Sword - Warp Riders | | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
Yeah, some. I just think that there's so much more in this band than just hip hop
| | | Album Rating: 3
Well that's why they're also listed as alt rock and pop
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
I meant on the hip hop page. Idk, I just think their overall sound would be more suited being listed on the 'other' page
| | | Album Rating: 4
Can't wait to hear this.
Digging: Darkthrone - The Cult Is Alive | | | Album Rating: 4
listening now, the snoop song was meh but im liking the intro to white flag
Digging: Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty | | | Album Rating: 3
rating will probably go up, but so far it's just good
Digging: 90 Day Men - To Everybody | | | Album Rating: 4
the world turns, the cush burns
pos'd
Digging: Asher Roth - Seared Foie Gras With Quince & Cranberry | | | Album Rating: 4
this rules so far. holyshit.
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
white flag onwards is what i consider the actual album, first two serve as more of an introduction
Not really a big fan of White Flag tbh
Can't wait to hear this.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124114812
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
well nm me doing one of these,
this about sums it all up, awesome job.
Digging: Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty | | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
Thanks man
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hands down one of the worst albums ive ever heard
your review is stupid too especially you're grammar
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
especially you're grammar
Yeah okay genius
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Is that sarcasm or am i confused. if it isnt thanks i am a genious 
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