Gorillaz- Plastic Beach Review
To be honest, I was never a fan of the Gorillaz. I had always known that their music was really beloved and attracted many fans, but I never felt the urge to delve into their music. With the arrival of their album Plastic Beach my previous wall towards them was let down, quite quickly actually.
The virtual group’s first single to be released was Stylo. Already a Mos Def fanatic, I knew I was going to thoroughly enjoy the track. Featuring music legend Bobby Womack, Stylo is probably my favorite track off the album. The simpleness of the song is really what is so attractive, and the spurts of the featured artists creates a smorgasbord of excellence. In all, the soul feeling of the song creates a euphoric and captivating line up.
Sweepstakes (another Mos featured track) is also another one of my favorites. It is the groups collaborative efforts that really shine on virtually every Gorillaz track. The artistry within the group, as well as their ability to allow featured artists to shine as much as they do is something very special, and if you are going to be in a collaboration with the Gorillaz, you are sure to come out with a resounding success.
Overall, the album is a must listen. It features some of the best artists of our decade, and is just plain fascinating. If you are already a Gorillaz fan, you are sure to admire this effort, and if you are not, you will certainly find a new appreciation for the transcending talent.
Gorillaz featuring Mos Def and Bobby Womack- Stylo
Gorillaz featuring Mos Def and The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble- Sweepstakes
Gorillaz featuring Snoop Dogg and The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble- Welcome to the World of Plastic Beach
‘sweepstakes’ is one of my least favorite tracks off of the new album – the instrumentation is just kind of too spacey and dischordant, I think, and the lyrics… how long do they keep calling out “sweepstakes! you’re a winner!” Whenever this one comes on, I nearly always end up skipping it before it’s over.