Album Rating: 3.6

Dead Butterflies is fucking incredible goddamn



earthgang tracks is fucking sick too

Album Rating: 4.0

The Now Now blows Song Machine out of the water to be honest. The new album is all over the place and is really inconsistent both in quality and style. Reminds me of Humanz. Still a 3/5 because I like these guys, but I'm not a fan of a lot of their recent work.

Album Rating: 3.0

the now now has this tired aura to it that i don't enjoy at all... the new one's thematic coherence is weak, yes, but i don't really need that to enjoy an album, so it's fine. Also, i never really thought of Gorillaz as a project whose stronger aspect was that thematic coherence. I think it's more Albarn's ability to give his own twist on any given genre/artist: the gorillaz' interpretation. I think as Damon's gotten older the gorillaz has ceased to be this tongue-in-cheek inner joke between roomates, or a way to critique the music industry, and it's become more of Albarn's personal playground. A place for him and any colaborators to play around in, have fun and get creative.

Album Rating: 4.0

I agree with all that for sure. I don't want to use the featured artists argument because that alone doesn't make the album good or bad, but this doesn't..."feel like"...Gorillaz to me. I guess I just prefer when they were more of an inside joke. When I listen to Humanz or Song Machine, I feel like I'm listening to mainstream pop radio on shuffle. The Now Now had more cohesion, as did Plastic Beach, and I prefer those albums for that reason. Their older stuff is objectively their best, although I am more personally attached to Plastic Beach and Now Now. Hopefully I'll come around to Song Machine a bit (Humanz took some time but did work its way up to a 3.5), but for now it's disappointingly "decent" - I could certainly listen to it at any time without being annoyed or offended, but it does very little to excite me.

Album Rating: 3.0

weird, i felt SM had a much more distinct Gorillaz flavour than this. Some moments really take me all way back to like their 1st album, like momentary bliss' cheeky punk attitude, or friday the 13th heavy reggae influence.

Album Rating: 4.0

Definitely. Certain moments on SM go back to their old sound better than anything from Now Now, and that's what anchors it as above average despite its other inconsistencies. Now Now doesn't feel like vintage Gorillaz at many if any junctures, but I can't resist its summery vibe and cohesive atmosphere. It’s also catchier than anything since Plastic Beach IMO, which tbh is the main reason I listen to this band because their most innovative days are long behind them.

Album Rating: 3.0

i thought everyone listened to gorillaz because they like fun, catchy pop songs with quirky production and ecclectic vibe...

Album Rating: 3.6

as a big Now Now fan Song Machine crushes it, so much more creative and diverse but it's super consistent too (Friday 13th is the only miss)



idk how we're saying they're not innovative anymore when they just dropped a track like Opium lol

Album Rating: 3.0

literally me when friday the 13th is the best track by FAR and everyone hatin on it



https://bit.ly/35vpL2U

Album Rating: 1.5

Yah, Friday the 13th is good. Honestly the new one is probably their most consistent since Demon Days IMO. Humanz is a turd with a few undigested delicious peanuts and this one has like two memorable songs that I can't remember anything about.

Album Rating: 3.0

I love the Beck song so much



I agree with Porklips

Album Rating: 3.0

song machine is super dope

Album Rating: 3.0

Beck song is second worst track

Album Rating: 3.0

Agreed that new album is inconsistent to a degree that parallels humanz

Album Rating: 3.0

You're a loser baby

Album Rating: 2.5

A gorillaz album, inconsistent?



Perish the thought

Album Rating: 3.0

I guess gorillaz albums have always been inconsistent to a certain degree, but s/t, demon days, and plastic beach much less so than anything after except the fall which is probably their most consistent (consistently mediocre).



But the quality disparity on those first 3 wasnt quite as jarring and there was a fairly masterful conceptualization to those 3 that helped to iron out some of the wrinkles created by the flops here and there.



They've lost that conceptual allure since plastic beach imo, and it was a pivotal aspect to what made their releases successful as a whole rather than just a mixed bag of singles

Album Rating: 2.5

Remember when Plastic Beach was considered a huge drop off in quality? SMH. Love that album.

Album Rating: 2.5

I've just always thought of Gorillas as being a pretty inconsistent act, like even Demon Days which is probably their best album has a handful of duds. Agreed that dropping the more conceptual stuff has really hurt their album cohesion tho

Album Rating: 2.5

Song Machine is easily the best Gorillaz since Plastic Beach. Has a similar playful atmosphere and great features. Not every song bangs, but there are a quite a few absolutely great ones that steamroll The Now Now and especially Humaz.