In Rotation: Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

Gorillaz

Plastic Beach

3/5

In the five years since their last release, the Gorillaz have changed from the inside out. According to Damon Albarn, the brainchild behind the virtual apes, Gorillaz isn’t about four animated characters anymore. The focus is now on collaboration with other artists, creating new projects and pushing this idea as far as it will go.

Plastic Beach is the product of that idea. A follow-up to 2005’s Demon Days, the album employs a sweeping cast of guest stars from Lou Reed to Mos Def to Snoop Dogg, including many of the same existential, post-modern themes.

In the world of Plastic Beach everything is fake, super fast and jammed with glitz. But it isn’t a condemnation of this culture—instead it’s identifying with this new ecosystem, claiming that artificiality has its place in the world.

The Gorillaz became popular for their brilliant combination of electronica and hip-hop. With each release, the band dabbled in new genres (punk, trip-hop and children’s choirs) so it’s no surprise Beach throws in some reggae, disco and more. But this album pushes pop to the limit, almost losing track of the actual music. Most Gorillaz albums get right into the groove, but it takes nearly three tracks for this one to pick up.

Plastic Beach could do without the overdone orchestral intro, Snoop Dogg’s cheesy “Welcome” and the misplaced “White Flag.” It’s not until “Rhinestone Eyes” that we get the Gorillaz we’re familiar with.

Next is “Stylo,” the pumping, driving kind of single fans were waiting for. It even has the expensive video to match, starring Bruce Willis in a high-speed car chase alongside some high-end computer animation.

With the amount of fame and glamour associated with this band, how can they condemn the silicone-obsessed, money-loving culture they’re part of? The answer is they don’t. And they aren’t about to apologize.

Other highlights from Beach include Lou Reed’s appearance on “Some Kind of Nature,” the depressingly poppy “Melancholy Hill” and the industrial-dance groove “Glitter Freeze.” But overall, the music doesn’t have the strength or direction it used to. The album fizzles out with the lazy “Pirate Jet,” leaving a resounding “that was it?”

The Gorillaz know better than anyone all that glitters is not gold, but that isn’t to say shiny, fancy things are worthless. Plastic Beach isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, but the few tracks with strength make the album a worthwhile vacation.

originally published in Flag Live