Is it just me or did Gorillaz give up long ago?

Submitted by Fooking-Degenerate t3_124dlm8 in Music

I remember listening to Plastic Beach at release (2010), an amazing (although not perfect) album. Really loved it, one of my fav albums.

Then the next release (Humanz, 2017) which was... disappointing (not really counting The Fall as a release since it was given out for free).

Recently saw they just released a new album (Cracker Island, 2023) - even with a collab with Tame Impala, cool!

But it sounds... like diluted soup? Is it me or you can't feel any emotion in there?

Did they give everything they had in Plastic Beach and then gave up following the relative failure of the album at the time? Sounds like they're just going with the motions now, not even trying anymore. So disappointing, because they showed such potential.

WDYT?

Edit: Obligatory "Great-for-you-if-you-like-it-obviously-I'm-not-trying-to-poop-on-what-you-love-I-just-want-to-discuss-this-opinion"

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emalvick t1_jdyxt43 wrote

Considering Albarn has been making music for one act or another for 30+ years, one probably has to hold their expectations in check. He's been a part of some great albums, it's unlikely he'll have any more that top what he's done in Gorillaz, Blur, or God Save the Queen (and anything else he's touched) in the past. Just doesn't seem to happen for even the best artists.

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Fooking-Degenerate OP t1_jdyydbj wrote

I don't know about that, most of my fav artists seem to only get better with time;

But maybe you're right, maybe after decades there's nowhere to go but down. Or maybe you do end up losing some of your passion, idk.

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emalvick t1_jdyyole wrote

He has never been one to thrive under constraints, so perhaps Gorillaz maybe has just run its course.

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Fooking-Degenerate OP t1_jdyywsj wrote

Agreed

Also Idk much about behind-the-scenes but it feels like with big money comes big executives constraining you; some of the collabs feel "imposed"..

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NonagonSerif t1_jdz3ufn wrote

I think most artists DON’T tend to get better after 20+ years, or at least after they’ve hit their creative heyday. Damon’s had skin in the game since the 90s, and most of the best 2000s bands I can think of just don’t even hold a candle to their old stuff. Seems like a pretty natural progression of artistry tbh.

Also what about Song Machine? That was pretty fire.

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thegroovemonkey t1_jdzw6ne wrote

Being able to stay relevant for multiple decades is an accomplishment in itself.

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IdleBonobo t1_jdzo2ca wrote

Just curious, what artists have got better for you that have been making music for over 30 years?

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Fooking-Degenerate OP t1_jdzphe2 wrote

The last Daft Punk album (25 years in iirc?) didn't feel at all neglected, you can still feel a lot of passion in what they're doing.

Brian jonestown massacre is 35+ iirc and their latest single (Fudge, 2022) is absolutely fantastic.

Godspeed you! Black emperor is about 30, yet their latest album (2022) is just incredible, best thing they did since Storm.

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IdleBonobo t1_jdzq9uz wrote

Yeah good examples of artist making good music after their peak. I’d still say they did their best stuff earlier in their career though. ‘Discovery’ and ‘Lift your skinny firsts…’ are better in my opinion. I can’t comment on ‘Fudge’ though as I’m not familiar.

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Fooking-Degenerate OP t1_jdzx3of wrote

"Discovery" and "Storm" were more groundbreaking at the time, they defined their genre for a decade, but imho the latter albums shows more complexity and growth as artists, both for Daft Punk and Godspeed. Or maybe I'm liking them more because they have a more contemporary sound... probably both imho

> I can’t comment on ‘Fudge’ though as I’m not familiar.

Man you're in for a treat: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1nl-rN2hpU

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emalvick t1_je0afqw wrote

I feel like it is a matter of perspective and what one likes. I personally like the last Daft Punk album most, but I'm not well versed in that kind of music, and I don't know that I'd argue it is better (but it could be).

Brian Jonestown Massacre really haven't been much different than your argument about Gorillaz. Of course, like any act that's been around there will still be great songs, but the albums have hardly been that consistent. Aside from the recent album, which is a bit better than other recent releases, I feel like the past 10 years have been up and down. And, I guess that's how I feel about a lot of bands that have been around for over a couple of decades.

Doesn't mean Albarn won't make another great album with someone, just means I don't expect them to all be great.

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NonagonSerif t1_je05ocl wrote

Well with the Daft Punk record, they’d only released like 3 albums total before Random Access Memories. But even then, Damon had been releasing albums with Blur way before all those other bands. It’s important to keep in mind just how many projects he’s came out with. Also he’s the sole musical contributor to Gorillaz, while all those other bands have multiple members, too. I think cases like BJM are pretty rare cases tbh.

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Fooking-Degenerate OP t1_je0de4s wrote

> they’d only released like 3 albums total before Random Access Memories

You're not counting the Tron soundtrack here and I def think you should

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24O1Penitent-Tangent t1_jdyz4dz wrote

I actually really like Cracker Island

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Photodan24 t1_je02vh2 wrote

Agreed, but it made me wish the rest of the album had a funk theme too.

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poindxtrwv t1_je00ksu wrote

Same here. Full disclosure, I've never owned nor listened to a Gorillaz album in full aside from the first one once. I have always liked their singles. "Cracker Island" and "New Gold" both caught my ear, so I figured I would give the whole thing a chance. But having no frame of reference from past albums, I do enjoy their new one. I'd really like to go see them live.

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brandonsfacepodcast t1_jdyx1ik wrote

Cracker Island is full of filler and not very cohesive. I was optimistic going in but ended up being pretty disappointed.

Damon's voice is great, and the features that were chosen had massive potential but I was pretty let down with the album. I am glad other people are liking it though, maybe it's just not for me.

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dj_ghostcat t1_jdzmiml wrote

The first album had something really special. The original set of collaborators brought a LOT of creative energy and interest to the project (Miho Hatori in particular, but of course also Del and Automator).

The collaborations on Demon Days weren't as strong. Danger Mouse brought some great sounds, but his productions don't have the level of personality (or even quality imo) as those of Dan Nakamura. Miho and Del were also both absent, so the sort of goofy, playful quality was really pulled back.

I haven't heard anything great from the band since then, with the exception of Plastic Beach, which has a handful of really good cuts, and is a more cohesive album than most of the stuff since DD.

It seems like Damon is just wanting to collaborate with a lot of different people, but he's not picking artists with very strong, unique voices comparable to the original Gorillaz. The albums end up being just sort of left-field-ish pop projects with tons of features, really not too far off a Bruno Mars record.

These days Gorillaz represent average songwriting, good production, inconsistent narrative and style, awesome visuals, and Damon's vocals (which are always solid imo).

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Fooking-Degenerate OP t1_jdzpsgv wrote

> It seems like Damon is just wanting to collaborate with a lot of different people, but he's not picking artists with very strong, unique voices

I'm wondering how much the publisher executives have a say in his creative choices

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dj_ghostcat t1_jdzqzh2 wrote

I wouldn't think very much. It's a pretty bankable project, so he should be able to do more or less what he wants.

He also knows a lot of really interesting international artists through his work with Honest Jon's. He has his pick of cool, unusual collaborators, but lately seems more interested in Gorillaz being a pop project with kinda goofy concepts.

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PsillySpirit t1_jdznm37 wrote

I think we’re both just swayed by nostalgia and their music style has changed a bit. It’s not worse, it’s just a little differently.

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Fooking-Degenerate OP t1_jdzpp9b wrote

I don't think it's "worse" musically speaking, they are still master of their trade; but more bland, surely, less vibe and spirit, at least that's how it sounds to me, just my opinion.

I don't think it's nostalgia in this case, I remember the first time I listened to Plastic Beach VS first time I listened to Humanz, not the same experience

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PsillySpirit t1_je5f3q8 wrote

I think it sounds more bland as well. I also can’t stand the direction they’ve gone with their character designs. I miss how cartoony everything used to be.

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BeardedDragon1917 t1_jdztt2q wrote

>So disappointing, because they showed such potential.

I'm sorry, this is a bizarre thing to say about a wildly successful, decades long musical project. There will be up and downs, and different people will like different things, but to think that Gorillaz haven't fulfilled their potential makes no sense. What are you even comparing them to? Another virtual band?

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Fooking-Degenerate OP t1_jdzxdx4 wrote

> What are you even comparing them to? Another virtual band?

Just comparing them to themselves? I mean Damon's is a brillant musician, but it's been a while since he treated us with something really great, like he did so many times.

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BeardedDragon1917 t1_je0xcmq wrote

Seems like he's happy right now noodling around making a bit of pop music, never know what he'll be up to in the future. The Sound Machine stuff and the Now Now were darn good. Cracker Island was fine for a listen or two. To say Gorillaz "gave up" is just asking to be proven wrong at some point in the future.

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Compulsion02 t1_jdzxfis wrote

I felt like maybe this was true until I heard Song Machine. There are some brilliant tracks on there that feel very fresh and energized. I think it is proof Albarn hasn’t given up but maybe needs to catch a spark with collaborators to hit the highs he used to.

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Karl_Marx_ t1_jdzsmml wrote

Tamr Impala also sounds like diluted soup to me.

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Fooking-Degenerate OP t1_jdzx7av wrote

"Currents" is a pretty exceptional album IMHO. Lots of bangers on that one.

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So_frickin_tasty t1_jdzzpuy wrote

The Now Now is nothing to shake a stick at. Not for everyone but hardly an indication of poor quality.

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HeilTeemo69 t1_jdzj48g wrote

Did you listen to the Now Now I love that album a lot. Also cracker island to me is alright silent running is great and so is baby queen the rest are alright imo.

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fatboyslick t1_jdzx1ix wrote

“Potential”? They peaked with their second album. This is hugely normal really.

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yumbles18 t1_jdzxwmn wrote

Silent running is a tune tho. I feel like the recent albums still have their moments, even if they are mostly filler. Gorillas are amazing live tho, would highly recommend. When of the best shows I've ever been to

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undescript t1_jdzynw5 wrote

You didn’t mention Gorillaz - Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez which is any awesome album. One of my favorites by them.

There’s also The Now Now which is a cool, lower key release as well.

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wutangjan t1_jdzz6az wrote

For me the line that showed the death of the Gorillaz was from "Some Kind of Nature" off of Plastic Beach. It was so painfully true that they remixed it to become unintelligible, but it still hits like a bowling ball.

"The needy eat man-mades, They wear phony clothes, they sit with our picture up until they grow old."

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TechnicalTrash95 t1_je03ehc wrote

I liked the first couple of records but don't go back to them often like I do with blur. I don't find hip hop to have much of an emotional effect on me.

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strudel_morph t1_je1b8y4 wrote

I feel like some singles might get better, but overall album quality will drop because you have to change it up. You don't want to write the same song over and over which makes it difficult (especially after how many songs he's written) to stay consistent. I enjoyed the cracker Island single, haven't given the whole album a shot yet but I will. I'll say a large part of this perspective is definitely personal taste, you could argue about whether it is "technically better" but you'll like what you like.

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GatoradeNipples t1_jdzmc7d wrote

I don't think they gave up, they just... changed.

Like, it kind of reminds me of the career arc Trent Reznor went through, except Albarn is still in his "trying to find his new niche after kinda crapping the bed" stage that Reznor got through much quicker. Humanz and Cracker Island feel like albums from an artist who's realizing he's getting old as hell and trying to find a new angle.

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