Okay, do you ever get this feeling that you must have an album, even though you've only heard one single from the CD? You just know that you're going to enjoy the album? Or, you have such an appreciation for the creativity of what you've heard and seen, that you are compelled to check it out? Well, that's how I felt about Gorillaz, when I heard the single "Clint Eastwood", and saw the video for that song.

A band that is really a cartoon? None of the characters actually exist? That's awesome! Great idea, but the music must suck right? Not at all! Just like the idea of a cartoon band, the music is also very planned out and innovative, it's like nothing I've heard before...I guess you'd call it techno...but I don't like the idea of placing a label on it....it's just so different.



The Lowdown:

The band Gorillaz, 2D, Murdoc, Noodle, and Russel are all cartoon characters, and they were created by three bored guys, I believe two are musicians, and the other is an animator. Get this, they're touring now, and the whole show is on a big screen, cool hun? If you've seen either of the two videos that have been put out, you know that the animations are awesome, very talented work there. But, you may not have noticed the music, which is really better than you'd guess. This isnt' just some notes, weird sounds, and voices thrown together, just so they'd have something. This is stuff you'll actually want to listen to, and then listen to it again.



The Songs:

Track one is called "Re-hash" Now, let's get something out of the way right now, it's hard to tell what any of these songs mean, mostly because the lead voice is so slurred, and incoherent that you don't actually know he's saying. Also, I don't think these songs are really about the meanings, they're more about the sounds, which is cool, and I think works very well with this concept. Track one isn't my favorite, but its a great start to the CD, it kind of gives the feel for it, and takes you in nicely.

Next is "5/4". This one's a little rougher than the first, and is one of the really rockin songs on the album (as far as sound goes). It combines rock guitars with freaky sounds effects. This one is also not one of my favorites, but it flows nicely, and it sounds great.

Next is one of my favorites, "Tomorrow Comes Today", one of the songs that I can actually tell what it's about. I think you can probably tell by the title, it's about putting something off, and then finally having to deal with it. The sound of this one is great, it has a great back beat, and slow soothing rthymn flowing with it, and even a blues harmonica sound, great song.

Number 4, "New Genius (Brother)", is kind of annoying at the beginning with this little tapping on a cow bell sound, but get through cuz the song is cool. Again, I'm not sure what's being said, he could be telling me to join with Satan and find new power, but I'd never know cuz it sounds so great, sort of entrancing.

Next comes the first single, "Clint Eastwood", where the creaters have taken a familiar riff and made it their own. I guess this song is about drugs, or the "streets", but whatever....I don't really think it has a very deep meaning (like all these songs), so don't strain your brain trying to find it. It's not about meaning, it's about sound, which I think is great in this case. You'll find yourself listening to this track over and over.

Number 6, "Man Research (Clapper)", is kind of a freaky song, the sounds are bizzare, and so is the topic. Again, this song could easily be about drugs and usage, but for me it's all about the sound. I always catch myself grooving to this one without even thinking about it.

"Punk" is my least favorite song, it's kind of ripoff of groups like The Ramones, and just has no appeal to me.

"Sound Check (Gravity)" is definitely my favorite song on the whole album. It begins with the sound of crickets, and the strumming of a quiet guitar, it makes you think of every back porch in the swamps of Louisiana. Very calming, then it breaks out into a beat, and some scratching turn tables with the sound of a deep voice in the background. Awesome sound, I grove like nobody's buisness to this one.

"Double Bass" comes next and is completely instrumental (if that is the proper term). Very cool song, it's hard to explain why, it's just one of those things that you'd have to listen to for yourself. There's a voice near the middle of the song that says, "All of which makes me anxious, at times unbearably so"....you can make of that whatever you wish, for me personally I love that!

"Rock the House" sounds like a combination of 70's disco and 70's motown rhythmn. It's a rap song, just about dancing and having a good time. At certain points you hear the sound of a flute or something like that, and it takes you back even farther to the late 60's. You'll be dancing for sure. Every time I hear this I can just see somebody like Pootietang emerging for his pimped out caddy or with his big platforms on...LOL! :)

"19-2000" is the newest single, and the video fits so well with it, I almost feel like you shouldn't have one without the other, but the song actually holds it own. In the video the boys are running around in their "Geep" wrecking havoc on an interstate. The music reminds of you of jumping shocks, and pumping oil wells (both things are present in the video)....very nice work.

"Latin Simone (Que Pasa Contigo)" is, obviously, a very Latin sounding song. It sounds like two 40 year old Latin guys singing about something so beautiful that it just couldn't be expressed properly in Enlgish....whatever....who knows what the heck they're saying, but hey, it works!

"Starshine" is number 13, and another of my favorites. It has a very creepy sound, and you'll find yourself looking over your shoulder with nerves, it a song you can really feel.

"Slow Country" is my favorite behind "Sound Check", it's about somebody from the country moving into the city, and feeling completely out of place...I can relate. The sound fits incredibly well, you'll hear what sounds like heavy machinery, and rushing, but it's non-motivational rushing. Ya know, like going because you have to, not because you want to. "You won't get money, from doing what you lovin'" Very cool song.

"M1 A1" is the only song that I skip over. It's remisicent of "Punk", but a little worse. The sound is not pleasant, and the words are unintelligible....no reason to stick around for it.

"Dracula" is another creepy track. Very soothing sounds, and creepy subject matter. You can actually see Bela Lugosi stalking around in his cape looking for the next victim. There's actually a sound clip from the old movie, sweet!

"Left Hand Suzuki Method"...now that title sounds kind of gross, but have no fear, the song is not gross...at least I don't think so. It's a very Japanese song, and a Japanese voice pops up to do some voice over at points in the song. It combines some heavy beats with a remake of some old traditional music, very cool sound.

Last, but not least is a remix of "Clint Eastwood" set to a faster beat, and with more rap lyrics. Definitely more dancable, and leaves you wanting more, so you just start listening all over agian. You really won't want it to end.



Overall:

Gorillaz is such an innovative idea, and it's not just a lot of gloss and shine with some crap music thrown in to complete it. It's the total package, you'll be thrilled by the animation, and moved by the music.

I gave it a five, I would've given it a four for the few mediocre songs, but I like it so much, and you really don't notice the boring songs because you're so involved with the music and sounds. Definitely worth your 13 bucks!



Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Cleaning the House