You can divide artists roughly into two camps, for the most part: those that
seek to remain accessible with the public, and those that strive to conjure
mystique around their art and themselves.
Gorillaz
have extended the latter
option insofar as to recreate themselves as cartoon characters who play
their songs as a projection, while the musicians themselves play behind a
covering. Certainly, Pink Floyd have incorporated similar elements of such
a stage show during "The Wall" period, in which the majority of their set
keeps them behind a gigantic wall that crumbles slowly in the course of the
performance.
However, Gorillaz do not simply rely on the gimmick as a mere visual stunt.
In fact, with their second full-length CD "Demon Days", the music
complements the eccentricity of their Japanese animation alter-egos quite
well. The CD opens with what sounds like a bass clarinet, immediately
prefiguring the off-kilter tone of the album. It's like watching their
cartoon adventure as it unfolds in a haunted house, and there are layers of
various background, creepy noises to sustain that tension.
The next several songs do well enough to diffuse the dark, brooding tone
musically. Case in point: "Kids with Guns" starts with a very simple
guitar/bass riff and drumbeat, while the singer sings, offhandedly, "kids
with guns" repeatedly. I have a hunch that some people at this point would
think that the group is either really stupid or really funny, and I can see
valid arguments for both sides. However, as the music develops, the song
becomes really cool, and the lyrics become, yes, more insightful. This is
what I find special in their music; it may start off as the goofiest, almost
child-like sketch that builds momentum and reveals layers and context, which
cultivates a true sense of cohesion upon repeated listens.
The fifth track is when things start to get really interesting. "Dirty
Harry" (yes, a nod to their first hit "Clint Eastwood") is just an all-out
funky song with some dark sardonic lyrics with regards to the growing
extremes of wealth and poverty, in my opinion. The song then layers with
children singing the lyrics as well, which again strikes the balance of
child-like vs. brooding.
The first single off the album, "Feel Good, Inc.", currently has my favorite
bass-line in a song. It's that song where, once it kicks in, I have to turn
it up that much louder to have it pump. It really is a fun,
ready-for-the-dance-club, sub-kicking party jam but occasionally drops to
quieter section depicting a more innocent time. The somewhat cryptic lyrics
make for an interesting ride, and it's really nice to see De La Soul guest
on a song that is on the cutting edge concept- and production-wise as
something off of "3 Feet High and Rising".
There are many reasons to like this CD. For one, plenty of the songs can be
played at a club, and people would be into the beats; the production is
fantastic and a refreshing departure from much of the mainstream. It is
also one of the simultaneously funniest, darkest releases in quite some
time. From what I gather, the CD is meant as a concept piece that deals
with mortality and decadence, and the lyrics do tie nicely together to paint
such a narrative. This makes me even more excited for Gorillaz's next
release.
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