What happens when you mix Grey Album dj Danger Mouse with cartoon colors? The new Gorillaz CD, “Demon Days.” These are demon days we live in, and the CD isn’t afraid of “Kids with Guns,” of living “All Alone,” (though a violent website game isn’t really encouraging them to put the guns down). The website is incredible, complete with floor maps of the character’s homes and illustrations of them dancing. You can explore the different band members’ cartoon selves and see how they all mix together. All of this certainly has the effect of creating distinct personalities and sounds that blend to form the collage-like music on the CD.
A spooky instrumental introduction indicates this isn’t cool shoe shine territory, which is also hinted at by the CDs more ominous, almost angry, mug shots of its cartoon stars. “O Green World,” combines a melodic longing for lush environments with a city’s harsher gritty edge, a layer of scratching and synthesizers that make lead singer Damon Albarn’s vocals almost indistinguishable. The first singe from the album, “Feel Good, Inc” features guests De la Soul (just in time for a summer hit). The beat works really well with Damon’s more distant vocals crooning about windmills and other things that make him feel good. “All Alone” juxtaposes the upbeat “Feel Good,” with similar hip hop beats but much harsher sounds and a scary repetition of “All Alone,” that’s sure to make you feel just that. One of the best tracks on the album is definitely “Dare,” where Albarn’s distorted voice loops over itself with a layer of melody and a layer of lyrics. Danger Mouse’s influence here is obvious as the layering, his strength, works so well to make the tracks more musically complex than the Gorillaz’s earlier work. It maintains the best elements of the earlier relentless rhythm with the subtlety of more layers added to just accentuate appreciation of that returning beat.
While the music is interesting, enjoyable, even creative at some points, it isn’t much better than anything by any of the other creative mixers making a name for themselves without PR teams and expensive websites. But their website www.gorillaz.com is still worth seeing, and their album is worth hearing. |