Gorillaz - Demon Days

Gorillaz
Demon Days
Virgin Records
Grade: A-

For the many that thought Blur frontman Damon Albarn’s cartoon side project would eventually implode on itself or run out as useless, they need only watch television for a minute before being bombarded by the IPod ad with the Gorillaz’ “Feel Good Inc.” The hook on “Feel Good Inc.” immediately draws you back to these musical monsters and you welcome Demon Days with open arms. Four years after the unanticipated success of the Gorillaz debut, Albarn and co. recruited a wealth of guests and producer Danger Mouse (most known for his Grey Album remix) to finish this fifteen song endeavor. Besides from various other musical endeavors, much of the length between records came due to a several month failed attempt to bring the Gorillaz properly to film. While it became too much, maybe the future will see a realization of this project. Relative to the Gorillaz’ debut, Demon Days is bit of a hodge-podge of tremendous singles and questionable filler. This may be a natural occurrence of including scores of guests and including fifteen tracks – where some are going to have to come up short. Still, there are enough singles on Demon Days to keep you moving and the Gorillaz in business for some time to come. As noted, the incredibly hot number “Feel Good Inc.,” the sixth track, is the first to grab you and you don’t want to let go. Featuring De La Soul, a pulsating bassline and a completely melodic rock vocal breakdown by Albarn, you mom even knows this number thanks to IPod. Yet, this is one of the few moments where Albarn puts melody into his vocals and typically they are ultra-low-key and flat (e.g., “Kids With Guns”). Nodding to “Clint Eastwood” off of their debut, the Gorillaz offer up the beat-driven “Dirty Harry,” where Bootie Brown from the Pharcyde and San Fernandez Youth Chorus provide vocals. The many voices in “All Alone” gets lodged in your mind even if it can be quite annoying. Before being treated to Dennis Hopper on “Fire Coming Out of the Monkey’s Head,” the electro-dance “Dare” tries to get you moving with appearances from Shaun Ryder and Rosie Wilson. The aforementioned “Fire Coming Out of the Monkey’s Head” has Hopper reading a story of a town of happy folk that goes to hell over a creeping beat. The Gorillaz channel Beach Boys’ melody on “Don’t Get Lost in Heaven” thanks to the London Community Gospel Choir. Demon Days naturally closes on “Demon Days,” a strung out number that again engages the London Choir providing the song an uplifting element. Though not a tightly kept as many would hope, Demon Days has enough to offer to keep listeners happy for another four years.